<p>Today I was interrogated by a floormate (who I've played a bit of soccer, both real-life and on the PS2) because "he hasn't seen me at parties" hahaha. I gave partially-genuine excuses (hallmates gather and go to them on a fairly spontaneous basis), but really I only attended a few parties in high school. Additionally it always seems that people go to them when I'm about to in the "play video games/sleep/quietly read a book" and conversely when I am ready everyone's already left or just chilling. </p>
<p>My floormate was actually quite concerned lol -- and he's the coolly bespectacled Egyptian type -- to the point of suggesting a wardrobe change too! The other day one of the advisors for one of the student support groups I joined told me, as we were passing by a frat party, (we were doing a scavenger hunt lol) that frat parties "were part of the UVA experience". Mentally I was "O RLY?" to the point of bemusement. </p>
<p>Now I'm aware, and even the people who tell me go to them are aware, that parties aren't everything and there are other things out there, moderation is good and it's not a good idea to get wasted, etc. etc. But then even in this forum there are people who treat returning home at 4 am as a routine thing, and the type of demographic who didn't go to them in my high school are frequent attenders of them, which is much to my surprise. Then I see huge chunks of people who look like the type who would go to them happily fret their time into the wee hours of the morning in the computer lab (and it's the first week of classes, so it can't be working on assignments). If there are frat boy / sorority girl stereotypes, they often appear to be turned inside-out. </p>
<p>Now are these parties just basically a bigger and badder version of what goes on in high school? I've never had any really good fun in what are essentially big club dances. It's funny because I love going out at night, whether everything's bustling and lit up, or whether it's stargazing, etc. But I'm not really into clubbing, and the idea of "hooking up" at a party seems strange to me. Now is this is just due to an unchangeable personality difference, or is my lack of previous party experience something that can be remedied? Is it also bad form to try seek one out without being in a group? And how diverse in nature are these things generally? I get slightly curious when floormates tell me in the morning with red eyes how the party they attended was the craziest thing?</p>
<p>And are there such things as [frat] parties at UVA that do not essentially consist of club-dancing and drinking? </p>
<p>I assume LAN parties are out of the question?</p>
<p>Personally, from my little experience here, I'd say the frat parties are part of the UVA (or any other college) experience. </p>
<p>Certainly parties aren't everything. I work hard for most of the week, maybe go out (not too late) one night, then have fun on Friday and Saturday nights. Stumbling in at 4 am regularly isn't the way to do things (but tonight it's 2:30 and last night was 4:30, I guess it averages out ;)).</p>
<p>The parties are similar to high school, lots of booze, games, hook ups, but often with more people and wilder. </p>
<p>If you didn't like that kind of party in high school, you probably won't like it in college, but you'll never know if you don't try it. Go down to Rugby next Friday night (with a couple of girls...good luck alone) and check out a frat party. If you want to "remedy" your lack of party experience, go out more. </p>
<p>The moral of the story is, have fun the way you feel comfortable. If you don't enjoy going to a frat party, don't feel pressured into going. However much I beg to differ, I guess you can have fun at a lan party if all else fails.</p>
<p>Haha, it's so funny being the only truly-sober person awake in the lounge while everyone's intoxicated to some extent. Alcohol definitely makes people more sociable and less guarded though. (And some even do better at Guitar Hero?) Maybe that's my issue at parties and why I don't enjoy many of them as much. Damn Asian flush syndrome (two mutated genes in the alcohol metabolism process!) ... I'm not blessed with the party genes am I. :(</p>
<p>Methinks adults stop partying, because they realize its time to settle down and have a relationship with commitment, not just hooking up and fooling around anymore.</p>
<p>Dont worry galoisien, not everyone goes to parties. I havnt gone to a party yet at UVA and if i do it will only be a few. I found a couple chill hallmates who share the same interests and situation (we're all in long distant relationships) so we just stick together and have fun working out at afc, watching youtube videos or just chilling and talking.</p>
<p>Adults still party, some more than others, but like anything, college partying is a phase in life. An adult party doesn't consist of keg stands, but of champagne dinners. Everyone goes through college, and eventually finishes that phase of their lives. </p>
<p>With maturity and age, you need to settle down, and raise a family. If you go out to a club every night, there is no way you can raise a happy family.</p>
<p>My school sends relatively few people to UVA, and my first year the one other person from my school, a 3rd yr, was really upset that I had never been to a frat party, but I still haven't gone to one... Actually Brown has its own crazy parties but I don't go to those either. If you don't like drinking then there's still plenty to do around UVA. I haven't started getting emails for this year yet but there is a Hoos Sober mailing list that sends out weekly non-alcoholic events. I think partying is only a part of the UVA experience if you feel like you are missing out by not doing it. I know what to expect there and don't really care to experience it first hand. Plus, especially when you have a roommate and it's your first year, you need some personal time to relax, watch TV, play games, whatever, by yourself... I always did this Friday nights my first year and would AIM chat with my friends from home, and I pretty much still do. It depends if you want relaxing at the end of the week or partying to celebrate success or whatever.</p>
<p>There are quite a few groups who have non-drinking dance parties. Parties do not have to be drunken frat blow outs. They come in all shapes and sizes. They're fun as long as you find the kind that fits you.</p>
<p>Whatever the euphoria of an alcohol high ... there's no way it can beat a swimming high. Plus the "hangover" and the lovely feeling of chlorine aftersmell and aching limbs will beat any alcohol hangover any day. </p>
<p>Perhaps we can combine the two and try to create a swimming version of beer pong ... but I'm not sure if it's safe to drink and swim.</p>
<p>There is a swimming version of beer pong with an inflatable table, very fun! It's safe too, you fall over on the ground and you break a bone. Have you ever heard of anyone falling over in a pool and breaking anything ;)
Would you like me to bring the table after thanksgiving?</p>
<p>Floating beer pong in GrandMarc is where it's at. And swimming and drinking isn't safe. It's why we do it. Live on the edge a bit, it keeps you grounded.</p>