Oh how our world has changed. Technology and the media have brought everything to our fingertips. Any time. Any place. Not like my student days when life ground to a halt at 8pm every Tuesday evening.
Yes, folks, that was when Dallas was screened on South African television. Cinemas did little business, restaurants were typically quiet on a Tuesday night, and the TV lounge in my university hall of residence was packed to overflowing with students eager to keep up to date with the goings-on in that Ewing family. Those were the days before VCRs, iPlayers, PVRs, TVOs, SkyPlus and the Internet. We watched on Tuesday nights or bust.
Although I cringe ever so slightly at the thought of it now, it was something we all did in those days. Unapologetically. It wasn’t particularly cool to watch Dallas. But it wasn’t uncool either. We just watched.
Over an Easter weekend at the beginning of my second year, a bunch of us decided to go on a camping trip. We packed up the VW Golf and the VW Beetle and headed off along the Garden Route to a beautiful little seaside spot at the mouth of the Breede River, called Witsand.
We arrived at the campsite, set up the sound system and then pitched the tent to the sounds of Genesis’ Ripples. Two girls and four guys. We girls decided to unpack the VW Beetle and were watched by our male companions as we opened what we thought was the boot of the Beetle, only to find an engine staring us in the face. We weren’t to live that one down all weekend.
The weekend also turned out to be a hugely significant one for me, as it marked the start of a lifelong relationship with my best friend in the whole world. We laugh today when we think how coy we were to cross the line from best friends to being together, and how unsure we were of the cues.
My now husband looked up at the sky one evening and said to me, “It’s such a beautiful evening. Let’s go for a walk on the beach.”
I thought it was such a fabulous idea, I rallied everyone together and we all went and enjoyed the moonlit walk. I didn’t notice the muttering disappointment of my dear friend …
The weekend was punctuated with riotous laughter and a whole bunch of memories that we carry around with us today. If we six were to be in a room together right now, we would recount the events of that weekend as if they happened yesterday.
As the weekend progressed, we all realised we would be away from TV and Tuesday’s screening of Dallas. We happened to walk past the campsite manager’s house one evening, and saw that he had a television. No flies on us, we knocked on his door and asked if we could all come and watch Dallas with them on Tuesday night. Slightly taken aback, he agreed. We all high-fived and felt so chuffed that we wouldn’t miss our programme. Heck, we were students.
At about 7.45pm on Tuesday evening, we went to the campsite manager’s house, knocked on the door and trooped into his small and humble abode. His wife, whose first language was not English, greeted us shyly and showed us where we could sit. We overflowed from their meagre supply of furniture, and most of us sat on the floor. Cool.
The eight of us sat, rapt, through the hour-long episode. At the end of the programme, our host offered us coffee. The polite thing would have been for us to decline graciously, to thank our hosts and to beat a gentle retreat from their home. But nooooo, we were students and we jumped at the offer. Our hostess sat shyly in her seat as her husband went to the kitchen to make a truckload of coffee.
We commented on the photos pasted on the walls. They were of their many sons and she told us, in broken and stilted English, where her sons were and what they were doing. Not only did language separate us, but she was a whole generation older than we were and we soon ran out of conversation.
After an awkward silence, she ventured this to us: “I’ve read somewhere, I fink it’s in the Huisgenoot, that JR, in his own home, is really quite a nice man.”
[Huisgenoot, the House Companion, is a weekly Afrikaans-language general interest/gossip magazine.]
We all nodded in agreement, gulped down our coffee, and, as soon as our cups were cold, politely thanked them and excused ourselves. How kind and generous of them to share their home, their coffee, Dallas and their insights with us. But really – didn’t we just have a huge nerve to do that? I still feel my cheeks burn ever so slightly when I think of that evening …
Sunshine signing off for today.
Sunshine in London 
Your story brought back the memories of a packed student lounge in my college dorm every afternoon for “Days of Our Lives”. Guys and girls alike. I suspect the guys were only there because the girls were there but they were there just the same each day. I wonder how Luke and Laura are doing these days? Trip sounds like it was great fun! Thanks for sharing. Jeanne
Thanks, Jeanne. Yip, Dallas was also equally popular with guys and girls! How funny that you used to do the same with Days of Our Lives – I never watched that, but can imagine the similar setting and memories! xx
This post reminded me of the M*A*S*H party which our college class had when the last show was aired on Feb. 28, 1983…there were about six students from our program who boarded at the same house, so about 40 of us crowded into the living room (with tons of food and drink, of course) and watched the final episode of the program…fun times!
Hugs,
Wendy
P.S. Never really got into Dallas, but loved Falcon Crest and Knot’s Landing!
I loved M*A*S*H – your party sounds like it was wonderful fun! Ah, lovely memories, Wendy – thanks xx
Oh, Sunshine, I love it. Remember the “JR got shot!” and “It was all a dream…” episodes? I don’t remember much about Dallas, but I clearly remember my poor mother’s head nearly exploding over those two.
What a fabulous memory. How very sweet that you and your husband were best friends first–rather than after–you decided to be a couple. That kind of love is so lasting. Happy congratulations to both of you. 🙂
Yes, there were “Who shot JR?” bumper stickers in those days too! And nothing ever got leaked, so we lived with the suspense until we saw the next episode! I miss that.
Lovely memories indeed – thanks, Maura xx
O, to live spoiler-free again.
Sunshine, if imposing on a campground manager to watch “Dallas” is the only thing that gives you a twinge of guilt from your college days, then you’re a better person than I am!
Oh, if only it were the only thing … 🙂
Love the memory! Note to flyinggma: Laura went into a mental institution but is improving. But not fast enough for Luke, who is now about to marry Tracy. (I like to provide a public service whenever I can.)
Thanks, Renee.
I’ll bet that after they got over the initial shock, that couple was amazed to be able to share something with a bunch of English students.
Willie said that during the 1980s in the SA townships, the army guys were often invited into the homes of black South Africans to watch rugby etc with them. How weird must that have been at first?!
TV – the great uniter, how funny. Strange and weird and lovely all at the same time! xx
I think Willie’s story shows how much goodwill there has always been between individual South Africans of different ethnic groups.
Yes, you’re right. Very special and real.
The things we do as students. 😀 Good times. It’s good to have such chutzpah and then remember. My memories include a lot of things I would never be caught dead doing today, but it’s such fun to remember and share with friends.
Very true, Winn. The joys of student life! xx
As you shared your story of invading the home of strangers to watch Dallas, I couldn’t help but wonder how many times they have shared the same story from their perspective. Wouldn’t you love to hear their version? I’ll bet it’s as great as yours! Diane
So true, Diane – that did cross my mind as I wrote this post! I would love to hear their version! xx
Ah, the memories. We were hooked on Dallas, too, but over here in the US we watched it on Friday night. How nice of the couple to share their evening and coffee with you.
Glad we weren’t alone. Yes, I think the couple were amazing!
Haha, that’s simply brilliant!!! =) I love how you meet strangers when traveling and just because you are traveling you have an excuse tot talk to them. On the contrary to rude, I find it charming. So long as you don’t just do it to take advantage. I mean, when traveling, most of us are in need of something and that’s what make others open their doors for us.
Aww, this made me smile!!! =)
Glad it made you smile! And when you’re travelling students, you have more gall than ever, I think. Thanks for coming by.
My dad had to move his Scout Troop meetings because none of the boys would pitch on Dallas nights 😀
That’s so funny. In fact that’s hilarious! 🙂
lol. i’ve been in a few uncomfortable situations like that before.
Gritting my teeth through it simply wont do.
I’d have watched and run, run, run away. lol
That probably would have been the polite thing to do, but come on, we were offered coffee! hahahaha!
“I thought it was such a fabulous idea, I rallied everyone together and we all went and enjoyed the moonlit walk. ”
Oh Sunshine…that is priceless. It’s a wonder any of us end up in lasting relationships when you consider all the things that go wrong, isn’t it? 🙂
Isn’t that funny? My husband still rolls his eyes when he thinks about me rallying everyone together! 🙂