The First Five Times

I promised myself that after Bryan abandoned me, I would get a gym membership. I am now a proud member the Myung Sung Sports club. Thursday after work, Sally and I descended into the depths of our building to check out the health club. A few months ago I learned that there was a pool and gym and golf in the basement of the school building. I was shocked to think that a pool could just be down there. Thursday, while checking out the gym I finally saw this huge pool. The pillars of the building actually take up a lane of the pool. I wonder if this is a good idea. I digress. We found the gym area of the health club and the receptionist gave us a pamphlet outlining services and fees. We took the pamphlet back up the teachers room and had one of the Korean teachers translate. For the rather steep fee of 70,000₩*, we learned we could get access to the gym and to the sauna, but not the pool or golfing. As someone who can only just barely stay afloat and who hates golf, this is OK, but Sally was bummed about the pool; she is a swimmer.

We decided to look around a little bit more before we settled for this place. A few blocks away on the fourth floor of building which also has a a convince store, a pharmacy, a glasses store, and Korean traditional doctor and a couple of restaurants and an apartment building, we found a another gym. We took the elevator to the fourth floor and stepped into a remix of the Boys Before Flowers theme song** and gym full of extremely fit men. It was three in the afternoon. Is that weird to anyone else. Eventually we figured out that also for 70,000₩ we could work here and this one didn’t appear to have a sauna and was way busier than the basement gym. We choose convenience and didn’t bother to look anymore. Basement gym it is.

Friday after work, we once again descended into the depths and paid for a one month membership at the Myung Sung Sports Club. The receptionist gave us keys and showed us to the change rooms. After we changed, we tentatively entered the gym. It was pretty empty, only a few guys who look like they work out to much and one lady I wouldn’t want to fight. Sally stared with the treadmill and I tried out a bike first. The bike wouldn’t turn on so I moved over to the step machine. This action immediately brought the trainer out who wanted to show me how to use it. Unfortunately, the trainer doesn’t speak any English. He started pointing at the buttons on the stepper telling me what they were for, like Enter and Quickstart. Sir, I can read English. This drew the attention of one very short, muscular, and sweaty body builder (who had his shorts rolled up so he check out his leg muscles while he worked). They assumed (incorrectly) that I didn’t know who to work the machine that was in English. The body builder made me prove to him that I could do it. He said show me, so I showed him and they finally left me alone. I was sweating and I had even started my work out. Nobody bothered Sally on the treadmill.

After about four minuets on the step machine I was bored and wanted to switch but I was too embarrassed so I stuck it out for 21 more minutes. I guess embarrassment and shame is one way to stay motivated. After I found Sally and I some towels at the front desk, we decided that it was enough for day one.

We left the gym and the trainer said hi to us as we exited. I think that is the only English he knows.

We are going back today and we are going to get him to show us the weight machines. Ask before he awkwardly intervenes. We will have him demonstrate and then maybe he’ll leave us alone.

Sally compared starting at this gym to starting a new job. It is going to be hellish and awkward until we get used to going there and they get used to having us there. Eventually, it won’t matter anymore and we’ll become comfortable. I hope that happens sooner rather than later.

*I just made a shortcut key for ₩, control+4. Now I don’t have type won. Only, I’m not sure if it supposed to come before or after the number.

**The link is the original version not the remixed version I heard at the gym