₦airaland Forum

thesolosister:
The Paris Dream

Paris had always been a dream. The Eiffel Tower, warm croissants, cobblestone alleys, everything felt magical. Until the metro ride that snapped me back to reality.

It was rush hour. I squeezed into a crowded Line 1 train at Châtelet, holding onto the rail with one hand and my phone with the other. My backpack was slung casually behind me, rookie mistake.

Suddenly, I felt it. The faintest tug. Not from the jolt of the train, but from fingers too careful. I turned my head sharply, just in time to lock eyes with a man standing far too close. His hand was half-inside my bag.

I didn’t scream. I didn’t freeze. I stared him down and yanked my bag forward with force. He backed off, blending into the crowd like smoke. When the train stopped, he vanished into the sea of commuters.

A Lesson I’ll Never Forget

I was lucky, nothing was taken. But I wasn’t the same. That moment taught me that even in the city of lights, shadows exist. Now, I always keep my bag in front, zipped tight, and my senses sharper than ever.

Paris is still beautiful, but now I explore it with both wonder and wisdom.

GrammarNazi1:
This happens in France too?

Interesting to know.


Not good.

Check my signature for important GRE info.

MiddleDimension:
When you fill your mind with things honourable, you will find yourself writing like this. You won't know it; others will be the ones to tell you!

Leave the reading of good books, watching great podcasts and TED Talks and also having conversations with people who know their stuff, and then it is only a matter of time you lose the ability to write like this.

At that time, you will begin to see in others who still have what you once had and could not see in yourself, only other people saw it in you.

Gbadugbakun:
This reminds me of a Nigerian proverb which says "An elephant that swims in coconut oil can never use ATM to buy meat from the Pharmacy" 🥹

MiddleDimension:
Go to China and you will see they are not as common as they are in Nigeria, other parts of Africa and the Western world.

Aile:
At the end na still black man go do that rubbish.. black mentality

Eriokanmi:
They're everywhere in Paris, including at the airport. In 2007 I was in Paris. Cos I arrived late, I missed the last train to the city from CDG. I thought I was in Germany, Switzerland or US where you'd not be bothered about pickpockets. I plugged my blackberry key2 phone to my.laptop to charge, while I kept my Samsung tablet inside my bag and slept off.

By the time I woke up, my bb had gone. I quickly went to report to the police at the airport station. They were unable to help. I asked them to replay their cctv footages around where I was seated, they said it’s hard to do. They only said sorry, those africans who always come to the airport from the city always steal in the airport. I felt so disappointed.

OZIOGU1:
I was in Paris three years Ago, right inside the train from Paris to bordeaux for a training, i lost everything.

Those pickpockets a way smarter than you think, my colleague who came back this year in march was also a victim

UniQue84:
I dont get..were you sleeping or what that you lost or too drunk or high not to notice your present environment...if your belongs are in front of you or on your thighs and you are not distracted by one guy or babe but focus..how come you lost everything.

I think it's your fault your loose guard, not focused or you were playful..am not saying am too smart

GrammarNazi1:
This happens in France too?

Interesting to know.


Not good.

Check my signature for important GRE info.

Eriokanmi:
They're everywhere in Paris, including at the airport. In 2007 I was in Paris. Cos I arrived late, I missed the last train to the city from CDG. I thought I was in Germany, Switzerland or US where you'd not be bothered about pickpockets. I plugged my blackberry key2 phone to my.laptop to charge, while I kept my Samsung tablet inside my bag and slept off.

By the time I woke up, my bb had gone. I quickly went to report to the police at the airport station. They were unable to help. I asked them to replay their cctv footages around where I was seated, they said its hard to do. They only said sorry, those africans who always come to the airport from the city always steal in the airport. I felt so disappointed.

mirrael68:
Pls read the story again. There was no loss. Just a close call 🤙

G0odharddick:
There are lots of pickpockets in the US, especially in those cities in US filled with black Americans

Eriokanmi:
It's possible but I've never encountered one. It can't be as much as what you see in Paris, if it happens at all

G0odharddick:
In New York city, esp those ghetto areas, my brother don't even make attempts to go there. Even white cops are afraid of going there because of pickpockets and those notorious black thieves

Eriokanmi:
Which area pls? I'll have to fund out cos I spent quality time in new York.i schooled upstate,NY mid 2000s and I still visit frequently

G0odharddick:
You know see the ghetto area wey I write for there?

GrammarNazi1:
This happens in France too?

Interesting to know.


Not good.

Check my signature for important GRE info.

Skepticus:
A childhood friend was robbed of his phone in Paris sometimes in 2015. According to him, he wore a hoodie and appeared to be Caucasian by race. Crime is always a big issues in large cities of the world including industrialized ones.

Large cities attract a high population folks seeking for economic improvement and better quality of life. Unfortunately, it can only host a little while the others who fall off the economic ladder resort to petty theft and even violent crimes at some point.

Paris, Rome, San Francisco, Sydney, Barcelona, Brussels etc are some popular large cities around the world littered with a decent amount of petty criminals like pick pockets etc

GrammarNazi1:
This happens in France too?

Interesting to know.


Not good.

Check my signature for important GRE info.