Hello Peeps!
So, last night, after my last class of the week, which also turned out to be my only class of the week, as all my other professors punked out, I went to my first Erasmus Party, Erasmus being the European term for exchange students. It was crowded and crazy and just completely nuts! I went with a bunch of exchange students who came from Caen, Normandy by train, and Claire, a girl I met from school and her boyfriend, Yore, both of whom are from the Netherlands.
I was not impressed with the crowd. It was clear that at least half the males there were looking to get laid. My most memorable run-ins were with 2 sleazy guys, 1 who came up to me and started grinding up against me, at which point I simply walked away. He then followed me and decided to just grab me, and so I thought it was time that I pushed him the hell away from me. Apparently that was not clear enough of a signal and he grabbed me again. So I pushed him again and told him not to ever touch me again, then Claire and I left and got the hell away from him and his friends. Guy #2 thought yelling Happy Chinese New Year to me would somehow be charming. The first time he said it I just politely smiled and nodded. The second time I looked away and kept walking. He decided following me and consistently yelling those words would for some reason impress me. It didn’t. After perhaps the fifth time I turned around and gave him the finger. He continued to greet me with the phrase and to follow me. I then turned around and screamed fuck off. He got the message.
To my delight, Claire pointed to the stairs towards the front doors about 15 minutes after I was grabbed by Guy #1 and it turned out that the imbecile was being forcibly removed by 2 bouncers. He was actually being dragged out with his legs dragging across the floor, and there had to be 2 bouncers because he wasn’t cooperating. It was a pretty terrible sight, with everyone watching. I guess he kind of deserved it though.
Despite everything, I had a pretty good time there. I had too much rosé way too quickly before I got there, thanks to Christian and Alex, and I was drunk before I even got there. And although the crowd and the club itself, including the bouncers, were rude and arrogant (the bouncers kept pushing people around) and completely not my style (so Richmond, guys! boy do I miss Neutral and Velvet and Funhaus!), I had fun with my friends while I was there, and that’s what counts, as always! (U know what I mean, my usual clubbing posse: Ang, Claire, Tim, Natasa, Carla, Michelle, Jenn, Judy, Rankin, Mark C., Paul Fig.,…and TYLER!)
Anyway, pictures from that night are posted on Facebook. I’ve decided, for privacy reasons, to post all my pictures on Facebook. There are 3 albums from before I started this blog that are posted on Facebook as well, they are Fée Mini Thé Vegetarian Restaurant, Paris Randomness, and Shopping in Montmartre. Please do look at them and enjoy!
Again, much love from Paris,
Meagan
February 9, 2008 at 6:37 am
Your posts make em so nostalgic!
Sounds like you had a pretty typical night out in Paris…men in France seem to think it’s appropriate to grab women they don’t know and/or poke them with their penises on the dance floor by way of saying hello….i found that elbowing people was usually the most effective way to tell somebody to fuck off….anything else was taken as an invitation….hope you’re having fun despite the offensive behaviour. Wish I could go clubbing with you in Paris until all hours of the night!! xoxox
February 11, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Eww. I’ve heard that French men are really aggressive. I guess they missed the “no means no” campaign in the 1990s. It’s been a bit nutty at Neutral lately, too. I told the bouncer he shouldn’t let (young) guys in anymore, they ruin it for those of us who are there for the music!
ta ta for now,
Carla
February 11, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I’ve heard similar stories from Canadians that went on a class trip to Paris. I heard a few people say they would be just walking down the street and a French guy would attempt to drag you away… the same situation in Canada would likely call for some mace in the eyes or a stun gun. I hate guys like that.
March 4, 2008 at 9:37 pm
I recall that happening when I was a student in France too. Crazy that it still happens.