Search and Find! – Just click on the “search” button!

They say that if you wanna win the lottery, you just need to buy a ticket first, right? Well, it’s true! Using that very same strategy when you search for something, you just have to click on the “search” button of your Chrome, Firefox or any other engine you use! That’s how I found out about several anime/manga fan clubs in the city of Athens!

Who knew that there are such things in Greece?! Only those who tried and searched for them, of course! Well, I had already found out about a J-music/K-music/cosplay party somewhere in the city about a couple of weeks ago, but I wasn’t really expecting any more than that (like that alone isn’t much, it’s Greece we’re talking about!). I’ve also met people in my school (mostly boys) who were watching anime regularly, but most of them were watching only the big-shots, Bleach, One Piece, Naruto and such. To make a long story short, the only person I’d ever met personally and I could really consider as an otaku (and I’m using the word “otaku” with respect) is my brother, Eri!…

Until that day, of course! As I was saying, I had already found about that party… on a Facebook community (one more reason to keep my Facebook account activated)! Looking a liiiiiiittle bit closer, I saw a link to a Greek anime forum… “Hmmmm, why not click on it?” I thought (that track of thought can prove dangerous since there are a lot of viruses around, though!). And that thought led me to a relatively well-made forum, where a post about a meeting for an anime movie projection was featured first! And here’s the best part; I saw it just 2 HOURS before the meeting time!!!

I didn’t even realise when I started getting my hair done, looking at Google Maps and putting on the first piece of clothing I found in my wardrobe, all the while going up-and-down the hallway of my house, Eri and dad wondering what the hell I were doing!!! Of course Eri got jealous when I told him about it, since he had swimming practice and couldn’t tag along, heheh! I asked dad to drop me off somewhere halfway to the sub station, the other half I used a bus and changed from sub to train linesat some point since a part of the city rails is under construction! When I finally reached the station closer to the meeting place, I started asking passers-by for direction and finally found the place just in time!

Out of breath, I looked around. It was a cafe, a rather big party sitting on the outside tables, all talking happily. “Is that the place?” I wonderer, when a guy appeared next to me and talked to the people seated “It’s movie night, tonight, huh? Long time no see!”! I didn’t need to hear anymore, I went ahead and asked “Are we watching a movie tonight?” and they answered “Yeah! Welcome to our little gathering!”…!

After I introduced myself (real name AND username), I was offered a seat and started chatting with the people closer to my seat! I didn’t really had to try to fit in, I was already a member of the team! After a while we got in the cafe and went upstair, where was a big projection room! YAYZ! I took my seat and joined the people I was talking to before and we all watched “The Place Promised in Our Early Days“. The movie didn’t really matter, though, as the most interesting parts was me and the other girls of the party exchanging opinions and information about many anime and manga titles and genres in general! I really had so much fun!

I left the meeting with two other boys, since we where heading to the same train station, and talked about anime and manga and upcoming events in the city! It was already late at night, so it was pretty dangerous to be out’n'about (especially when you’re a girl) and I was really tired, plus I left home without notice of where I was going at all so I was hurrying back to avoid getting scolded too much, but all in all it was a great experience! I had made a promise to attend next time with Eri, had new friends requests on Facebook and unexpectedly learnt more about the city centre (how’s that?!)! I’m so glad I didn’t chicken out at the last moment and went ahead with it!

So, if you don’t have any friends who are interested in anime and manga like yourself, just type “anime clubs/forums/meetings/events *your country* *your city*” or anything amongst these lines and click on the “search” button! I’m sure you’ll find something interesting and it’s worth the try! Your new friends might be just a click away! See ya!

Tagged as: Just Mentioning, Real Life