‘Living It Up’?

Last time, I was writing about how I looked forward to embracing student culture on campus and living the “perfect varsity experience” dream.
What I didn’t expect was exactly how far out of my comfort zone this “perfect varsity experience” would take me, and how much I would love (and hate) every minute of it.

It all started one Monday night during supper. There I was- concentrating on my food, trying hard not to choke on the bone stew which they are so fond of serving- generally minding my own business, when one of my friends made a statement: “we’re going to the party on Friday”.
I was caught off-guard: we go to parties now? But before I could object, another friend piped up with “yes, guys- let’s go. We need to live our lives!”
And so it was settled.

On Friday, I was actually pretty excited to go to this party, and the fact that I was going to get in for free and thus wouldn’t have to spend much of my non-existent student budget didn’t hurt either. 😉

As is the trend with all these student bashes, nothing much happens before 11pm. When I arrived, the DJ was only warming up and there were about 5 people- my friends and I included- standing around pretending to dance.

I was determined to make this party one of my lasting First Year Memories, so as soon as the music picked up my friends and I danced all our “omg-we-have-an-assignment-due-on-Monday-what-are-we-doing-here” worries right away.
We were having fun, but, as is also an unfortunate usual feature of these bashes (I mean, even that word- “bash”- should’ve warned me not to set foot anywhere near the place), there were random alkies running around doing their best to invade unsuspecting girls’ personal space, and succeeding.
I don’t even remember how many of these hopeless inebriates were screaming in my ear and grabbing my waist while I was trying to enjoy myself with my friends, all I know is that they made me so angry: I will never understand why some of these guys think that it’s completely okay to just waltz into (or, more specifically, stagger into)people’s lives, breathe booze into their faces, shatter their eardrums with all that hollering, and then act completely surprised when a life-long friendship doesn’t ensue? Why?
For now, though, all I can do is try my best not to kick these types of people in the teeth.

Aside from all that drama, I had a lot of fun that night. I won’t say I’m becoming a party animal or anything, but at least now I know that it is indeed true that some people do come home from these things in one piece and with minimal lasting emotional trauma.
😉

On the occasion of a friend’s birthday this past weekend, I was exposed to the many ways in which people “live their lives” off-campus.
After scraping together some money, my friends and I got in a cab and made our way to Melville’s 7th Avenue.
I was so excited to finally see what all the hype was about this place.
We were in good spirits when we arrived at the first bar, ‘Liquid Blue’, but after seeing the ridiculous prices on the menu we moved on to the next place. A place where the patrons were practically falling out of the doors, and the music was 80s dance flick soundtracks. A really cool place called ‘6ix’.
We took many ridiculous pictures, a few of the group experimented with shots while I had a fruit smoothie, and we laughed nervously as the bouncer carried out a random man who had taken the liberty of hoisting himself up onto our table and dancing in our faces. It was wonderful.

After we had drinks, we decided to walk in search of ‘Roxy’s’- a club which the birthday girl was looking forward to checking out. There was, however, a slight problem with the idea of walking to Roxy’s: none of us knew where it was. We walked in circles (me in my heels and fighting the urge to just sit down and stretch my toes,damn two-hours shoes) for about half an hour before we decided to go right back up the street in the direction we came from – and by now the waiters, bouncers and managers know us- to a place called ‘TranceSky’. The famous TranceSky, where I have heard many students go to chase away their varsity blues.
Inside, it was packed. And I mean ‘packed’ as in: people were standing in the doorway and hanging all over each other just to fit inside. But they all seemed to be having the time of their life. Immediately after we stepped in, I felt painfully out of place. I felt like I wouldn’t be able to enjoy myself completely while I felt like people were staring at me thinking: “what’s she doing here?”, but then I realised that most of the people were either too drunk or too busy making out to notice a rookie, so I stood up and did a few of my signature party moves and I made the best attempt at enjoying myself- I wasn’t about to go back to res saying ‘what a waste of time’, that’s not what I got dressed up for.

20 minutes in, we decided that the whole “mind over matter” thing that we were trying to practise was a lie, and we accepted that it was not okay to hang out in such dives, not matter how good the music is, so we left.

Outside, while we were deciding what to do about getting a ride back to res, we watched an evangelist walk up the avenue with a microphone and an amp on wheels, shouting about “there are only two ways on this earth- God’s way and the devil’s way- and you’re walking the devil’s way” and “change your life now”. We just laughed so loud! I mean, really?? On a Friday night in the middle of the street when people are just trying to enjoy their weekend? How many of those people, in reality, are even listening to a word anyone has to say about how the debauchery of their youth won’t get them eternal life? Really? So it was the irony of it all that was just so funny.

When I stepped into res, I was glad for two things: first, I was glad that the driver of the car didn’t drive like how he looked- drunk; and secondly, I was so happy that I could take off the high heeled shoes!

Overall, I would say that the night was…eventful.
Granted, it wasn’t filled with the events I imagined take place on a “night on the town”, but I got a good photo out of it, so I’m happy.
😀