First and Second Smoke Ever

[pabloboliveira]

Hello all.
As some of you (actually, i don't think anyone) remember, by the end of last year I ordered tobaccos and pipes from 4noggins.com to try this hobby.
Well, after lots of waiting and a post office returning my order to Rich (I live in Brazil), after two months or more i got my pipes and tobacco. Unfortunately some more important things consumed my time in the last two months (like my graduation in Chemical Engineering and a work transfer) and i was unable to pick some private time to try it.
Well, a week ago i got my first smoke. I packed a corn cob with some three blind moose from 4noggins.com. Why i chose this tobacco? Well, I'll be honest: I like the name a lot. And since i don't have any experience, I thought it wouldn't really matter. I would just mess it somehow. Well, i packed the pipe with the Frank Method (I know, ambicious, right?), sat by a river in the middle of a forest (we got a lot of that around here) and started. The first thing i did, i charred the rim of the pipe, of course, trying to light it with a regular lighter. And, to pack the experience, I had three relights, no tongue bite, but also no taste. Seriously, i couldn't sense no flavor like i heard people say. Also, i couldn't smoke past half the bowl,it wouldn't stay lit.
Today I got some spare time again to try a smoke. I got the same tobacco and the same pipe. I packed it with the three layer method and sat in the balcony (with the carnival music not helping at all) and started smoking slowly. Well, the first quarter of the bowl was tasteless as the first bowl. Plus, I got no tongue bite at all. The pipe went out one time and relit it. I smoked with a little tongue bite but, again, the taste wasn't nice. There was almost no smoke and the pipe bowl was too hot. Then i had to answer my cell phone, and the pipe went out again. That was about half the bowl. I relit it and that's when the magic happened. The amount of smoke in my mouth increased, while i puffed slower than ever to try not to heat the bowl. And it tasted good. For the first time i could really taste the smoke. Believe it or not, the bowl burned all the way to the very bottom with no relighting.
Very nice experience, i can't wait to have another one, and try out another tobacco to perceive the differences in tastes. I hope i can do it right to taste it even better. I really believe that, although I was able to taste something, that wasn't all the potential of the leaf. Plus, the tongue bite may have affected the sensation a little.
I think this will be, with some time, a aquired taste and habit. The problem is I'm still a little self conscious about it. I'm 24 years old, and pipe smoking isn't exactly part of Brazilian culture. That is, I don't know anyone in town that does it. Well, i hope that will stay behind me with time too.
Just wanted to share with everyone and get some experienced opionions and maybe help another newbies.
Thanks for all,
Pablo

 

[rangerearthpig]

Glad you found the magic, Pablo. Enjoy your new hobby. :puffpipe:

 

[mso489]

I guess pipe smoking has been marginalized in the sense that any kind of smoking is prohibited many

public places, so people just don't see it done. Maybe you can find one or two others interested in at least

trying a pipe. You might order a bag of Missouri Meerschaum corn cob seconds, and share them with

a friend or three, to see if you could get a casual pipe club going. Pipes are a pretty good conversation

activity, if you can find a place to do it where you won't be hassled.

 

[fadingdaylight]

Glad to hear you got it where you want it. It certainly took me some practice, and Im still learning everyday, and sampling new blends constantly. But you know what they say, the road may be long, but the rewards are worth it.

 

[luckylabrat]

I understand your struggles with the first bowl. I know my first couple of bowls were challenging and probably not too pleasant. It takes a few times to begin to understand how to manage the practice of smoking a pipe. You'll find a comfortable method and things will come easier.
As for feeling self conscious, I understand. I'm only 20 years old so I feel like I appear to be "trying" to be somebody when I smoke my pipe. Being young, I'm afraid I come off as trying to project some "image," if you know what I mean. Really, I just enjoy smoking my pipe. So, I tend to smoke alone. Even at my local pipe shop, I just feel out of place! Perhaps, much of it is my own insecurity, I don't know! Anyways, I understand your feelings.
If you enjoy smoking, keep at it and it will reward you with wonderful moments, either alone or shared