RICARDO TEIXEIRA
Every week Perdeby publishes an experience piece, but today we’re publishing something extra in celebration of Valentine’s Day. This week one of our journalists Ricardo Teixeira went on a blind date for the first time.
Blind dates. We have all seen them in our favourite rom-coms or have a friend who has gone on one. Often, we wonder what they are like, and what they could lead to. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I was set up on a blind date by a fellow member of Perdeby, with one of her res mates. I myself have been on a few dates, but never a blind date. I will admit, I was absolutely terrified by the thought of it.
With the date independently organised by our mutual friend, we were both only given each other’s names, hers for this article will be “Celeste”. We were also told minimal information about each other, such as age, course of study and how we knew the match-maker-wannabe. The location and time were set, and the day seemed to come at lightning speed. As a modern man, I like to dress well, but for the life of me, I did not know what to wear. It seemed illogical to leave my lucky floral shirt at home, but at the advice of some friends, it remained on the hanger.
As I arrived on campus, there seemed to be a feeling in the air. It was of course the 34-degree heat, which caused a sense of panic, no one wants to be sprouting sweat stains on a date. I spent my classes ignoring my lecturers, thinking of possible conversation topics and running through the dos and don’ts of first dates. Gents, here’s some tips: don’t talk about how you and “the boys” love hitting the floor at Jolly’s and knock back shots. Also, avoid mentioning ex-girlfriends, your dedication to your sports team, and limit the swearing. Skip the small talk, get her talking about herself. First dates are about getting to know each other, and this is crucial when on a blind date; after all, you know nothing!
The time had arrived. Taking the advice of Sun Tzu, I arrived early to the battlefield, Bravo’s Pizzeria on South street. This was mainly due to my anxiety about being late and wanting to get comfortable with the location. Fifteen minutes later, Celeste arrived. Thankfully I had time to calm my nerves with a mango juice, otherwise I would have been panicking.
First impressions, I thought she looked stunning. With a witty joke to diffuse the tension, we greeted each other and sat on one of the comfortable couches Bravo’s had to offer. Being comfortable helped ease the scenario. The conversation flowed seamlessly, as we had one big thing in common. We’re both Portuguese, finally someone who can pronounce my surname correctly.
Time seemed to fly by as we were lost in great conversation, and we both had a laugh when we happened to “run” into some familiar faces. Some of the Perdeby editorial happened to “coincidentally” decide on getting a quick drink at Bravo’s. Thanks guys. We ordered a pizza to share and had the age-old argument about whether pineapple belongs on pizza (It doesn’t). Celeste was for it, and I am not, so we agreed to disagree.
Soon we had finished our pizza and found ourselves deep in conversation, discussing our bucket lists and dreams. At the point where the date could have ended, I found myself not wanting it to, so I asked if she’d like to grab a drink at the greatest of all student watering holes, Oom Gert’s. Celeste thankfully was up for it, so we headed over to catch a pint.
Before we knew it, campus had stilled, and the day was reaching a close. We bid each other farewell and went our separate ways. She exchanged her number for the name of my blog, which I hesitantly gave up. I had the idea to only reveal my interest in seeing her again in this article, and the answer is yes, I would.
Image: Sally Hartzenberg
