.
Jack B referred to The Rocky Horror Picture Show in his comment, and all of a sudden I was transported back to when I first arrived in this country. I started remembering these bits and pieces of my times in the US when I was, for all intents and purposes, an FOB.
You may still remember my tale of landing in the middle of corn field where the Champaign-Urbana airport is located and wondering why everything looked different from the American films I had seen back home. I wanted New York! I knew the Midwest was going to be different. But CORN FIELD as far as my eyes could see? *sobs*
It was the summer of 1993 when temperature routinely reached over 90+ (at least as I recall). As I struggled to my dorm room with my two gigantic suit cases (in one of them I had packed a rice cooker, typical FOB international student behavior), my jaw dropped when the door opened to reveal a tiny, tiny closet masked as a “room” with NO air conditioner. Tears started stinging the corners of my eyes.
It was a nightmare. I had made a mistake.
The International House (or whatever the department that is in charge of the lucrative trade of luring international students who receive no financial aides and pay full price) paired the newly minted students up with volunteers who would introduce these foreigners to the American culture. They forgot, however, that most of the foreign students were GRADUATE students (so perhaps a bit on the geeky side? Definitely not walking on the wild side… ) and the volunteers were all young undergraduates. My “volunteer” showed up at the door of my dorm room and, picture this: Tina from Glee reminded me of her. Only that this girl standing in front of me was a bit more Goth (before I even knew what Goth was and that Goth existed).
We had an uneventful “getting to know you” session at a coffee shop. The conversation was halting at best. Remember: I landed in a strange country less than a week ago and I had no prior experience conversing chitchatting strictly in English. Before we ended our first session, she mumbled something about taking me to a movie. Sure. I am game! But why did she ask me to bring a water gun, toast, and to wear a rain jacket? I was certain I had heard her wrong.
At this point, the memory channel gets really fuzzy. All I remember now is confusion. Lots of it. I remember there was a movie playing in this auditorium that was not particularly clean. I seem to remember that “Tina” was a bit annoyed I had showed up empty-handed. There were people on stage dressed in outlandish costumes. I distinctively remember a guy in revealing women’s lingerie (and yes, it did take me a while to realize that was a man in full makeup and a full wig…) and stuff being thrown at various moments throughout the movie.
Oh. That’s what the TOAST is for.
I was sprayed with water and saw toilet paper rolls fly through the air. I also remember having popcorn dumped on me but that could just be real popcorn for eating at a movie theatre and not part of the Ritual.
Now some guy (Was it the guy in drag? I can’t remember for sure) asked demanded,
Where are the virgins? Give us the virgins! Where are you? Stand up if you are a virgin! Get up here. NOW!
Again, utter confusion as I desperately leafed through the pages inside my head to locate the word “virgin” and its definition.
OOOOOOOHHHHHH.
I was not. I thought.
Think again.
“Tina” pulled me up from my seat and physically delivered me to the stage… I was not a ham the way I am now. I was not at ease at all standing there, spelling out AWKWARD in blinking neon letters with my mere presence. I am pretty sure I was insulted (as demanded by the Ritual) but thank goodness for my lack of verbal English comprehension back then. The audience surely was laughing, slapping their thighs, cat calling.
I think I blanked out this part of my life: the rest of the evening after the man declared we were hereby deflowered and were no longer virgins and were allowed to get back to our seats. More screaming and foot stomping and cat calling. For something that should have been memorable to the extreme, curiously, I cannot remember what happened afterwards and NO alcohol nor medication was involved.
“Tina” and I never saw each other again after this. Heck, I don’t even remember her name. As a matter of fact, I did not remember this episode in my life, my indoctrination into crazy American Pop Cultures, until Jack’s comment. So thanks.
My only regret is that I wish I had a blog back then (since keeping a journal has always been out of the question for me – it’s just not for me). I would have recounted everything as soon as I got back to my sauna closet. Wait. Wait. I would have taken tons of pictures. Just imagine: The awesome blog fodder. The even more awesome tantalizing title for this post:
I Lost My Virginity at the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
.
.
Related posts:
- We got a picture of Chairman Mao @ Tian An Men
- Inside the Chinese palace is full of tragic tales and horror stories…
- The Legend of Kung Fu again: video of the curtain call performance… the actual show is 100 times better
- Would you want to have your wedding picture taken with Chairman Mao? Apparently lots of newly weds do.
- My first picture taken inside the Forbidden City is a sign that warns against vandalism
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
“Dammit Janet!” So did I (-:
Until this day I can’t hear the name Janet and not think “damn it” right after it. It’s very distracting.
If only math stuck with me as much as the memory of this flick and all of its “extras” did!
I remembered TOAST the best because it was like an A-Ha moment to me.
You were thoroughly initiated and you must have been a good sport along with the nervousness of newness. Great story.
Technobabe´s last [type]…The Older We Get
Thanks!
Woo!! Welcome to the Good Old U. S. of A.!!!!!!
What a partial memeory!!!!!
Yup. The best welcome party ever probably.
I, too, am afflicted with the Janet=Dammit connection for life!
You did not name any of your kids Janet did you?! LOL
Hey Lin:
I’ve got something for you over at my blog:
http://writerwoman61.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/handing-out-the-hardware/
Wendy
writerwoman61´s last [type]…Handing Out the Hardware…
Wooo. So excited!!!
Man, I love toast.
Elly Lou´s last [type]…Ukuleles Happen
We know you love toast. That damn song stuck in my head for a few days after you showed it to us. Great…
i never got the fun appeal of this cult classic. but then again i don’t like the electric, cha cha slide, chicken dance, etc. i need to do my own thing, janet. Damnit!
pattypunker´s last [type]…gettin my shop on
I think it is the communal experience that appeals to some people. The coming together to mess up a movie theatre without getting into trouble could be it too.
Wow, Lin…just getting to read today’s post! Amazing that you’ve only been on this side of the water for 17 years…makes me respect your grasp of English and awesome writing ability even more!
Hugs,
Wendy
writerwoman61´s last [type]…Handing Out the Hardware…
Awwww. Thanks.
I heard Glee is going to do a Rocky Horror tribute and that Susan Sarandon is in. I think I might have to bust into the Time Warp over that one …
Stacia´s last [type]…Belated Photo Tuesday
Yes yes yes! YEAH!
Ok, this may be hard to believe, but . . . I have watched the movie on tv, I have danced to the Time Warp in various dance recitals in my youth, but I am still a VIRGIN! Ohmygod, that’s so embarrassing.
Andrea, do we need to come kidnap you??!!
No point in my reading the other comments, because I’m still a virgin and won’t understand a word of them. Very rude of me; I usually think it’s only polite to read what the other nice people have to say, but I’m old now and rudeness is fashionable. You see how far it’s gotten Margaret and Helen, right?
(Oh, wait! I just read Andrea’s comment. Hi, Andrea!)
Dear, WTF is the Rocky Horror Picture Show all about? Pretend I just landed here from a foreign country.
Nance´s last [type]…I Cant Write About THAT!
We need to get you deflowered STAT!
p.s. Please don’t stop coming to my blog! LOL
While I still haven’t seen TRHPS (don’t stone me!) I have, officially, lost my blog button virginity to Miss Lin today! She made the graphic you see at end this post and totoally nailed it! This took at least 13 emails back and forth over the course of the day (what can I say? I’m slow) and through it all she remained an incredibly patient and tender lover. Even when I cried. *dreamy sigh*
Thank you so much Lin! I owe you big!
SisterMerryHellish´s last [type]…Flashback Friday! – Chewbacca- What a Wookie!
You are so very welcome. Look here! It’s Friday already! Where did the time go?
I want to partake in your Flashback fun.
I was in the cast when I was a teenager in Chicago, and for a year or so after I moved here. Primarily Magenta. Haven’t been to a show in years, though. I think it rather loses its charm once one is past one’s very early 20s.
Miss B´s last [type]…Mental Image
Hmmm. I wonder what it says about me then when I got super excited knowing that GLEE is going to have a Rocky Horror Picture Show tribute episode this season. LOL
SO COOL you were in the show!!!
Just the photo took me back. Let’s do the Time Warp again!
secret agent woman´s last [type]…Time to go back on the run
Should we stage our own production here? LOL.
Oh no. That sounds like a horrendous welcome to america!!
Could be why I didn’t remember it until recently?
Ah…the Fobs I met in college were great. Never took them to that show though. Wish I would have. That sounds epic and may have contributed to how you are today.
Nice.
mepsipax´s last [type]…Fun shit Friday
Yes, you should have. Then we’d have more FOBs that are plain crazy! And fun.
Yes…yes…
Also a victim of Dammit-Janet-itis.
Jennifer June´s last [type]…Love me- A quest for friendship on the Metro
I tried to say Dammit-Janet-itis and couldn’t. LOL
In some ways this is very similar to my first time at Rocky Horror.
Robin´s last [type]…Eden Lake
You know in GLEE, they are going to do Rocky Horror this coming season??!! We get to relive it!