The importance of television

Saturday, 30th of April 2016

Television is an important media for information, as well as entertainment, but you never miss it until it is gone and is no longer part of your daily life.

When I was in Germany, I had neither a television or a computer, since mine broke during my first week and was only repaired when I got back to Lisbon, but to be honest, I never missed those things, I had my books and even more important, I had my friends.

Rarely a day went by without me having company at all hours of the day. When I got up, I had company to go to classes with and after that we would go to the city centre for a walk, shopping or something to eat. My close group of friends would hang around the common kitchen for lunch or we would all eat together at one of our apartments. During the afternoon we would be relaxing in the park, playing table football or going to explore the amazing city we were living in. And at night it wasn't any quieter since we rarely had time to have dinner before going out to the bars and clubs. Even when we got back home at early hours in the morning, you could find us having theological debates and drinking our favorite turkish tea.

I had no use for a tv, I had all the noise and talk I needed. Of course it was complicated not having a computer, mainly when it came to university work or when I needed to skype, but my phone got me through it.

Now that I stand in London, the scenario is completely different. As I told before, I still don't have broadband and with that my life has been more difficult than necessary, I can't communicate with my friends and family, I can't watch a video online, hear music or even watch the news.

But a tv is what I really miss, not only because I miss watching my shows, I do, but mainly because having a television at your apartment also means you have noise and sounds, you hear people talking and it distracts you from constant silence.

My books have been my salvation, since I arrived I have already read 27 of them and is helpful to distract yourself by imagining scenarios in your head, relating with the characters and dreaming with the stories. Yes, it is helpful but it doesn't make you as much company as a television would.

When I am reading the only noises I heard are the constant water pipes, the fridge and the wind banging on the window of my apartment and sometimes I just wished to hear something different.

From a girl missing watching "Dr.Phil",

Mariana Fidalgo