[1]For most of the bloggers in Taiwan and around the globe, Dec 1st is World AIDS Day, but for HIV+ bloggers everywhere, everyday is AIDS day.
Two days ago I yelled on my personal twitter: “Does anyone know any HIV Positive bloggers?” Soon I received lanhenry88's reply [2]. Following the links he gave me I found a whole lot of bloggers who blog about their life with HIV. Initially, I was really shocked to know there are so many blogs kept by HIV-positive bloggers in Taiwan, but later, after I read them blog by blog, post by post, I was deeply moved by the way they blog and live. Below are only a few of them I would like to introduce.
Name: 傑(Jay)
Blog: 傑的祕密花園 [3](Jay's secret garden)(zh)
Location: Taiwan
Description: Discovered he was infected by HIV on Jan. 10, 2008. Jay wrote his first blog post “Twilight 2008″ [4] 3 months later. In another post “Fearless” [5], he described his experience when diagnosed as HIV-positive in the hospital. He told his mother that he was gay and infected, he felt deeply sorry to her and to his family, but she warmly accepted it. He said: “Thinking of my mother's love, I become fearless to face death, because I have had everything.”
Name: 原之人生 (Yuan's life)
Blog:原之人生HIV+ [6] (zh)
Location:Taipei, Taiwan
Description:Discovered infection by HIV on Feb. 16, 2007. He encourages people like him in a post [7] by saying: “Lift up your head, don't let the tears drop.”
Name:Eddy
Blog: 這是給感染hiv,還不須服藥者的新聞台 [8] (This is a blog for people who are HIV-positive, but haven't got the need of taking medicines)(zh)
Location: Taiwan
Description:Discovered he has HIV in Apr, 2006. Eddy is energetic and vigorous. He started his blog to help people fight against the virus. He publishes news, methods, and personal experiences to encourage other HIV-positive persons. According to his blog, his heath siruation is getting even better than before [9]. He suggests people (who are infected or not) keep a regular life and try “Qigong [10].” One more thing [11]: He says that thanks to Taiwan's heath care, it is almost free to get medicine against HIV.
Name: Wilson
Blog: HIV你好 [12]（Hello, HIV）(zh)
Location: Taiwan
Description: Wilson learned that he was infected on July,10, 2007, and started this blog 2 months later. He is somehow more afraid and according to his blog, he sometimes told lies [13] to protect himself and pretend everything is fine, even to his friends who are also infected. However, he has changed his mindset and no longer hates the man who infected him. He says [14]: “If this (HIV) had not happened to me, I would never be able to know so many volunteers, friends, leaders, who are cute, kindhearted, and willing to explore the true meaning of life enthusiastically.”
Name: 冠德 (Guan De)
Blog: 有了愛滋~還能擁有愛嗎? [15] (Can I still have love even when I have AIDS?) (zh)
Location: Taichung, Taiwan
Description: For 3 years, Guan De has posted and shared his HIV-positive life with love stories on his blog. He is very brave and optimistic toward his situation. He still desires to love and to be loved.
Name: 崇慕思 (Chung Mu Si)
Blog: 等待HIV的奇蹟 [16] (Waiting for the miracle of HIV) (zh)
Location: Taiwan
Description: Even though he started this blog to record his life with HIV for more than 2 years, Chung keeps his blog funny, informative and welcoming. His blog contains various topics, from love, politics, to gay news critics and hospital experiences.
Name: 祈寬 (Qi Kuan)
Blog: ♥我與HIV生活的日子♥ [17] (Everyday living with HIV) (zh)
Location: Taiwan
Description: On his blog he says: “I knew HIV, and started to date with “him” back in 2002. HIV is my boyfriend and lives in my blood, though I don't want him be my boyfriend, he still loves me relentlessly and all I can do is keep dating with him with my strongest determination.”
Name: 小底底 (Little Kid)
Blog: 底底18歲的生日禮物 H I V [18] (My 18th birthday gift: HIV) (zh)
Location: Taiwan
Description: A young victim of HIV, his heath situation is not good, but he gets a lot of encouragement via other more experienced HIV-positive bloggers.
For more information, please visit Global Voices’ special coverage page for World AIDS Day 2008 [19].
Photo above of Tapei 101 tower in Taiwan was taken by Flickr user Music Changes Everything [1] in 2007.