I am a new player of American Mahjong. Learned the basic game by NMJL rules in early March and have been playing solo and online since the first day. Started looking for a table open for beginners immediately and soon realized it to be kind of a hard quest because many experienced players prefer to play with other experienced players🤷🏻♂️
Last week I found a very nice lady, whom I’ve never met, who offered for me to join their game as an observer, if nothing else. I joined the group; 2 tables were set. The group was very welcoming and players invited me to join the tables for my first in-person game. They were playing for money but did not expect me to join in the gambling aspect of their game. Needless to say how excited I was!
Even though I didn’t make Mahjong, I think that I handled myself pretty well for a beginner. I felt the warmth of the community and the excitement of the game. I made new acquaintances and received an open invitation to join them any time I was available. Also, the next day one of the players in the group extended me an invitation to join another game gathering in a different location. This is what the community should be all about.
Although I have seen some negativity among certain players in this and other social media groups, I was happy to find out that it is possible to find a welcoming group if you search patiently. Thank you to the wonderful group of people who gave me this opportunity. My love for Mahjong is growing, I am obsessed!