I first tried E at an Trance gig four years ago when I was a teenager. While I definitely experienced all the typical effects of MDMA, for some reason I never really understood what was happening to me. I experienced the euphoria and empathy, but I just didn't categorize these experiences in my head. It was a great time, but I don't know, it didn't really leave a lasting impression, I didn't have the desire to do it again. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that the E seem to have a lot of speed in it and less MDMA (although the MDMA was there, 100%).
Fast forward several years later, I am several years into college and I fly over to the europe to visit some old friends. We decide to go to a rave and do some crystal MDMA.
OMG, the MDMA hit me so hard it was unbelievable. I remember on the peak I literally couldn't believe that you could even feel this way. It felt like the this experience was the culmination of my life. This experience was far better than my first experience. Incomparable really.
I think a lot of it really has to do with set and setting. The setting was excellent, I got to chill with friends who I hadn't seen in a while and I go to go to Europe. Furthermore, I had no idea what I was going to experience due to the nature of first E experience.
I really think the key to getting the most out of MDMA is to do it with people whom you really care about. When done with people like that, MDMA simply amplifies the feelings you have for each other, it allows you to take a break from the dull social BS and pointless inhibitions and maximize the feelings that are already there. Secondly, I think you need to do MDMA as little as possible. Optimally, you should only do it after an extended period of abstinence where you don't really remember what the MDMA experience feels like. With MDMA, less is truly more...