The secret life of Longstreet

by Jelena Mitrovic (Serbia)

I didn't expect to find Switzerland

“Does everybody around here dress up like that on a Saturday night?”, I asked my friend Armin as we were strolling downtown Zurich. Even though it was mid August, that evening was unusually chilly. It even smelled like autumn, however strange that may sound. Despite that fact, the subject of my attention, a young black girl standing on the corner, was wearing nothing but a short-sleeved bright yellow crop top, a leopard printed ultra mini skirt and a pair of golden stilettos. Completed with long braided hair almost covering her back, huge flashy earrings and heavy make up, there is no way you could tell her real age judging by her looks. But you could definitely tell she is way too young to be outside at a late hour. She and both of her friends, this feisty hazel-eyed Latina who seemed like she was the leader of their little group, and a Thai teen who just kept quiet the whole time. “That's just typical Langstrasse”, replied Armin. I didn't have the slightest idea what the phrase “typical Langstrasse” meant. And not just because it was my first time in Zurich, but because that surrounding differed a lot from everything I had previously seen travelling through Saint Gallen, Winterthur, Aarau and Luzern. Colorful, Vegas-like neon lights everywhere you turn, huge crowds of people buzzing in and out of clubs, and music – loud, deafening music. Nothing too unusual, one would say, since tourist pamflets define Langstrasse as the heart of Zurich's nightlife: the place that never sleeps where urban young people come looking for good restaurants and hip cafes. “Don't you know where we are?” He took my silence as a “no”, and said:”This is Longstreet, one of the city's districts famous for prostitution. Don't get too surprised if somebody stops you to ask what's your price.” As insulting and tacky as that comment sounded at first, it was nothing compared to my latter state of shock. One of the biggest and most beautiful cities in the country of watches, diamond jewels, chocolate and tennis is also one of the biggest european centers for prostitution and sex trafficking. Even though it is well-known that the oldest proffession in the world is legal and well organized in Switzerland in the terms of regulations, the age limit and the rights of the sex workers (or maybe exactly because of that), you'd never expect to see so many young girls shattered around looking for customers like they were human merchandise on a flea market. “Do you really think they would dare to ask such a thing with you walking right beside me?!”, I exclaimed. “Why do you think they wouldn't? In their book, I am most likely your pimp”, said Armin chuckling. And he was right. If you pay enough attention, you'll soon realise that every group of girls is followed and closely monitored by at least two or three men standing just a few steps away with their hands on the belt, ready to pull out a gun or a knife if necessary. To them, these girls are their investment and an important source of profit. In another reality, each one of them is somebody's daughter, sister, friend. I came back to Langstrasse the next day, curious to see if maybe I let myself jump into conclusions. During the daylight here you can actually have good coffee and try delicious food. You can also find decent accomodation, close to the main trainstation, and even meet interesting people. But when the night falls, this is when Longstreet shows its true colors. And they're not as nearly as bright.