My first clubbing experience ever (Friday, September 24th)

I know I have this titled as happening friday, but it technically encompassed Friday night and Saturday morning. I really debated posting a post about this because it kind of ended a little embarassingly to say the least, but the whole experienced showed why it is so important to go out drinking with people you trust, which I did.

My friend Shannon finally got her financial aid money and wanted to celebrate so we decided to go out to a club. I had never been to a club, even in America, so it was a whole new experience for me. Shannon helped me get ready. I wore fairly modest yet dressy attire, and we headed out.

We went to Hirakatashi eki (Hirakata City Station), and met up with a few friends to head out. We were a little late because Sachi, who was leading us to the club was a tad late, but it was no problem at all. We rode the train to Kyobashi and then switched to the JR line to head to Namba. As we were walking to the club from the Namba station I ended up kicked in the shin and slapped in the face by accident. One of our other friends with us was gesturing where something was when she brought her hand back and I was behind her and got smacked. It wasn't too hard just caugh me off guard really bad. Then I stood too close behind her as we headed down some stairs so her foot came back and hit my shin.

From there we walked to Club Pure. It was actually kinda snazzy, but the whole environment was totally overwhelming for me. There were even pole dancers which totally caught me off guard. I have no idea what clubbing is like back home, but this was an experience all its own. Also on a side note we caught the last train there so we had to stay until trains started back up at 5:00am (hence why this encompassed friday and saturday somewhat).

We all drank quite a bit but I watched myself. I got pretty drunk but I always made sure I could still focus and still maintain direction and still tell off guys I wanted nothing to do with. Randomly out of no where some Japanese chick walked up to me and kissed me on the cheek, grinned real big and walked away leaving me standing there confused and surprised out of my mind. Then a few minutes later she walked back up, motioned like she wanted to say something to me. When I turned to look to see what was going on I got made out with. I was terribly confused to say the least. I am a fairly modest person in general. This totally caught me off guard and i was stuck standing there probably very goofy looking like a deer in the headlights.

The rest of the night for me went on pretty much without incident. I won't comment on my friend's experiences since that is there business if they want to share that information with others.

After we left the club we went to a small Denny's style restaurant to chill out until the trains started running again. I was feeling awesome. I was somewhat goofy but otherwise good. This great feeling would have continued if not for anyone aware of my tobacco/smoke sensitivity (I stress sensitivity because I can stand it just not if I am totally engulfed in it or if I am handling it for an extended period of time, like at a tobacco register).

If a few people are smoking around me in a big room I have no problems. This restaurant however was filled with smoke, a fact my drunk mind didn't realize until I sat down and the smoke hit my nose and I breathed in. I instantly felt a lurch in my stomach and knew what was coming. I jumped up and made it into the bathroom, opened the stall and then before I could get to the toilet you can guess what happened. I cleaned up my mess because I don't believe in making others clean up my mess especially one that gross.

I went back out, but forgot about the intial cause of my ill feeling. Once I sat at the table, and was back in the smoke, I felt uneasy but not necessarily sick to my stomach so I sat there with my ehad on the table for a few minutes, lifting my head occassionally to comment on the conversation of my commrades.

However, I was so glad Sachi and Shannon were there. If it wasn't for the fact that those 2 people I knew I could trust were there I wouldn't have drank at all because about 10 minutes after I sat down Shannon turned towards me to say something and my head went to the side of the table and I got sick again all over her leg and the floor. I felt so terrible and embarassed I began to cry and was afraid to sit or stand up, but Sachi calmly comforted me, helped me up and to the bathroom and even helped clean me up.

When we returned everyone at out table, except Shannon and 2 guys who were hanging with us, had left saying they couldn't deal with the fact that I had gotten sick. It isn't like I meant to and I would have been great had it not been for my smoke/tobacco sensitivity. Shannon, Sachi and the 2 guys were very calm about it and understanding. I was so glad I was with people who cared enough to not abandone me in my time of need.

We hung out for a little longer, my stomach now too empty to get sick again at this point. We chilled out for probably another 20 minutes before heading out. The two guys helped make sure we got to the train station and on the right train to go back home, Sachi got off at a different stop because she stays with a homestay family.

Me and Shannon caught a bus back to Seminar House 3 where we cleaned up and went to bed. I will never forget how kind her and Sachi were to me during a tough first attempt at going to a club and I hope my experience highlights to others just how important it is to make sure you travel with people you trust when you go out drinking. Have fun if you go abroad its a new place where you can try new things, but be safe.