It was my second day ever at UEA and I’d spent almost the whole day crying. Nothing could’ve prepared me for how much I’d miss home here, I was sure I was going drop out. After a long facetime with my mum on the floor of the empty music and media building, she managed to convince me to put myself out there and go to the welcome party at the LCR.
So I got myself back to my flat, changed into a more party-ish top, and wore sunglasses to cover my red, puffy eyes (and because they looked cool). I pre drank a little in my room then headed to the LCR. Alone.
As I made took the miserable, rainy walk from the village to the LCR, I very much considered turning back. Did I actually feel like dancing by myself in a room of strangers? Should I just get on the first train back home instead? But then someone smiled at me and said ‘hello’. When she realised I was by myself, she introduced me to her friend and invited me to hang out with them for the night. We spoke in the queue about where we were from, our courses, how we were both inexperienced clubbers. It didn’t feel like forced small talk, I felt like she actually wanted to speak. I felt myself starting to relax a bit as we stood out in the drizzle waiting for our turn to enter.
Once inside, we danced as a group and went in the photobooth together. And for the first time since entering Norwich I found myself having a genuinely good time. I stopped thinking about how much I missed home, I was able to just embrace the moment and dance to nostalgic 2000s pop. That night showed me how clubbing was more than just loud music and alcohol, it can be a real opportunity for human connection.
You might think this story ends with us becoming best friends, but that’s not what happened. And that’s okay! The fleeting friendships I made that night gave me hope that maybe I would be alright at UEA. I hope those girls are doing well, maybe one day we’ll find time to hang out again. But if we don’t, I’ll always be grateful for how kind they were and how, because of them, I was able to have the best time at the LCR welcome party.
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