Hull, England–I hope you’re all keeping the states live and well for my return! I like to think I’m giving England a run for its money, but really living here is running me out of money!
Not that I mind, though, because I’m having the time of my life, and the good times are going to keep rolling this weekend. My housemates and I have planned an absolutely massive American-style Halloween party, and I will be sure to let you guys and gals in on all the gossip next week.
Continuing the theme of parties for this week, I’ll tell you about my first real nightclub/DJ experience. A few weeks ago, the Hull University’s very own nightclub, Asylum, hosted the Australian DJ group Pendulum. According to Wikipedia, they hail originally from Perth, Australia, but have relocated to the UK. They create drum and bass/electronic rock, are working on their third album, and, I can say from experience, do a killer remix of “Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon.
Tickets to the show were eight pounds (12 American dollars), a bit expensive, but my Australian friend promised me it would be amazing. She was completely right! We all gathered at her place beforehand and had a couple of drinks. We got there at about 10 p.m., even though pendulum did not start until midnight. We headed to the dance floor, etched out a circle for all of us to surround each other, and attempted to dance. I say attempt because the DJ before Pendulum was utterly disgusting. Terrible. But we toughed it for the eight pounds.
At one point, we decided to go to the bar and get a drink. My half-Chilean friend, half-Italian friend, Australian friend, and Austrian friend and I were standing together, sipping our drinks, when a very drunk Englishman with green paint-like substance in his mouth and on the side of his face approached us.
“EnglishspeakEnglishspeakEnglishspeak!” We looked at each other, laughed, and looked back to him. “I said, where are you all from?” he said. We laughed again and told him where we’re from. “EnglishspeakEnglishspeakEnglishspeak!” We looked at each other, laughed, and looked back at him. This pattern continues for a while, and then we left him in the dust and got back to the dance floor.
While dancing, our other Australian friend, joined us for the night, and we continued dancing. Soon, I noticed greenfaced guy dancing next to our circle, so I moved over and let him in. He started dancing directly in front of me, so I started dancing with him half-“assedly.” I couldn’t look at his face without laughing.
Eventually, the horrible DJ set was over, and it was time for Pendulum! People bum-rushed the dance floor as they were introduced. My friends, especially the Australians, moved around to see them. Pendulum was well into their set by 1 a.m., and we all were in the groove of the music, or at least trying to be, but it was completely packed. One can get really into the music, only to be bumped off rhythm by someone going to get a drink or two people casually and carelessly making-out. People were passing though our little circle of friends.
Greenfaced guy made one more appearance, but my male Australian friend completely, and a bit hilariously, snubbed him out of the group, which made for a very interesting live-action psychology lesson. Greenface guy slowly sauntered away, disappearing into the crowd, leaving me and my favorite mates to dance the rest of the night away.
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