He didn't understand why everyone loved California so much. It was hot. It was humid. The people were much more rude than what he was used to in Minnesota. No one said hello, but they were quick to harass you for reasons you might never understand. Everyone loved to party and drink in California. Rehabs were common though, so that wasn't too bad he thought. He wasn't judgmental or anything, he just didn't really like to partake in the party culture as much anymore. He was 23, but he felt and behaved much older than he actually was. He had lived his entire life in Minnesota, and now he was in hot, humid California, trying to fit into a world he didn't understand. Grad school at CalTech had brought him here, but the culture pushed him away. The college was competitive, cutthroat, and disingenuous. Maybe that was why so many of his peers drank or did drugs. The appeal there made sense, but little else did.
He tried to fit in, though, despite his hesitations. A girl from his engineering class had invited him to what she referred to as a “low-key” party, and he had went. It was awful. The whole place smelled like dingy mold, and he couldn't see through all the smoke. He only spoke to her for a few moments before she became vacant and distracted, and she hadn't talked to him in class since. He still didn't have room to judge, though. People do different and strange things to relieve stress, and he knew some of those kids had it harder than him. He was full ride, and he was lucky. Most weren't. He just wasted his time and stress on video games, a pretty harmless distraction, and a lot cheaper than a case of beer each week. He had actually done the math. 24 bottles cost 25.99. If he bought one case every two weeks, he'd be spending a little over 50$ each month just to drink. Not to mention if he had gone to the bar. They upcharged there. Hit was 3-4$ per bottle at most of these college-town bars, so he averaged it at 3.50. If he went out just once a week and had three beers, it'd be 10$ a week, 40$ a month as a minimum. He just couldn't see the reason in it. But he wasn't there to judge. His dad had drank a beer every night, and nothing had ever come of it. While some of these kids ended up getting DUI's or tossed in prison a little too early, a little stress relief was harmless. He doubted he would ever get invited back to a party, though, so he wasn't sure it mattered. What was important was not to judge others for a little healthy relaxation just because he didn't' participate. He still wasn't a fan of the heat, though.
He tried to fit in, though, despite his hesitations. A girl from his engineering class had invited him to what she referred to as a “low-key” party, and he had went. It was awful. The whole place smelled like dingy mold, and he couldn't see through all the smoke. He only spoke to her for a few moments before she became vacant and distracted, and she hadn't talked to him in class since. He still didn't have room to judge, though. People do different and strange things to relieve stress, and he knew some of those kids had it harder than him. He was full ride, and he was lucky. Most weren't. He just wasted his time and stress on video games, a pretty harmless distraction, and a lot cheaper than a case of beer each week. He had actually done the math. 24 bottles cost 25.99. If he bought one case every two weeks, he'd be spending a little over 50$ each month just to drink. Not to mention if he had gone to the bar. They upcharged there. Hit was 3-4$ per bottle at most of these college-town bars, so he averaged it at 3.50. If he went out just once a week and had three beers, it'd be 10$ a week, 40$ a month as a minimum. He just couldn't see the reason in it. But he wasn't there to judge. His dad had drank a beer every night, and nothing had ever come of it. While some of these kids ended up getting DUI's or tossed in prison a little too early, a little stress relief was harmless. He doubted he would ever get invited back to a party, though, so he wasn't sure it mattered. What was important was not to judge others for a little healthy relaxation just because he didn't' participate. He still wasn't a fan of the heat, though.