If there is a PC available I would suggest getting one nice copy of the latest Mozilla browser and start practicing your programming skills with JavaScript.
This way you get some beatifull debuging tools, you don't mess with compilers AND you can use the HTML DOM as the the 2D graphic API (wich is far easier to learn than a real language's one).
Beware, though, if you follow this way, FOCUS ON ONE BROWSER (at least for the start...).
Anyway that is the way I started some years ago (Amstrad CPC 6128 Basic 1.1 experience not included!
and now with a lot of reading and practicing I am a profesional...
