My Experience With Assault In Paris's Red-Light District
Start writing a post
Entertainment

My Experience With Assault In Paris's Red-Light District

It could have been a lot worse, but nobody should have to deal with being assaulted.

225
My Experience With Assault In Paris's Red-Light District
Chau Cédric

Last week I got the opportunity to spend five days in Paris with my best friend. As we are both college students, we sought out restaurants that had good food and drinks but that also wouldn't break the bank. This landed us in the Pigalle neighborhood, famously known as the location of the Moulin Rouge and infamously known as the red-light district of Paris.

The first night we spent in this neighborhood we didn't have any problems. However, the second evening is when things took a turn for the worst. We had found a cute restaurant that had really good happy hour deals, so of course, we got some drinks there before heading to dinner. After dinner, around 9 p.m., we went to catch the metro back to where we were staying. As I walked onto the train, a man whispered something in French in my ear. As I do not speak French, I laughed because I assumed he was just being innocently flirty. I did not feel that there was any cause for alarm.

So my friend and I ended up having to stand as the metro was extremely crowded. I was facing away from the man, but my friend had a perfect view of him. She informed me that he kept moving closer and closer to me and blatantly staring at me. I turned around to see, but I thought it was a different guy who had whispered in my ear, and the guy I thought she was talking about was a couple people over standing by the door not paying attention to me. Given that, I was not worried.

However, moments later the guy who had actually whispered in my ear suddenly grabbed my butt and began whispering in my year again. Because I don't speak French, I told him to "f**k off" and tried to exhibit a strong demeanor. My friend and I then moved spots and found a seat far from him. However, nothing that I did seemed to deter him. He followed us to the seats and sat directly across from us. There was only one seat so I was sitting on my friend's lap, and there were two other men besides the one following me. He then began speaking in French to me again while staring at me with an ominous predatory gaze. He then began to touch my legs. Even after I hit his hands away and told him to leave me alone, he continued to try to touch me.

The man sitting next to us simply got up and moved seats. My friend looked at the other man sitting across from us and asked him to help us, he looked scared and replied: "I don't know what to do."

The guy wouldn't stop touching me, so my friend and I got off the metro at the next stop and were relieved to see that the guy did not get up. We went couple doors down and got back on the train so we could make it home. When we sat back down and looked out the window, we saw the guy did actually follow us off and was looking around for us outside. The train doors finally closed after what seemed like hours, and the severity of the situation really hit me.

That night back at our cabin it took me hours to fall asleep as I just kept seeing that man's eyes and hearing his voice. My mind was consumed by the fear that he would show up to the cabin. I felt better the next day, but it changed my perspective on men I encounter. Whenever a man gets too close or looks at me for too long, my heart begins to race and I stop breathing.

My situation could have ended a lot differently and I am thankful to have made it away from that man safely, but nobody should have to go through something like that.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

50298
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

32119
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

955495
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

180626
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments