Thursday, October 16, 2014

Differences between gyms in Austin and Kuwait

           






           After I settled in Austin, my cousin and I decided to sign up for a gym. At first, I thought of the University’s gym, but I was told that it is always crowded. So, we searched up online for a close gym, and 24Fitness popped up. It’s located near Hyde Park on 38th street. We were lucky because on the day we went to sign up, there was a great discount that was going to end at that same night.

            I have been going to 24Fitness for about five weeks, and I realized something that was very different from Kuwait. First, the gym included men and women. Back in Kuwait, all gyms are separate. But that’s not the thing. The thing that surprised me the most is that there were many old people who worked out. I am talking about seventy years old and above. Wow!! I understand that this might not surprise you, but if you were Kuwaiti, you will be astonished. Back in my country, most of the old people just sit at home, eat, watch television, and that’s it. Nevertheless, here you can see how people care about their health.

            Also, I noticed that people respected the gym’s policies. For example, if they finished from a dumbbell, they would return it to the appropriate place. In Kuwait, teenagers outweigh the older people, and most of them don’t respect the rules; they would just return it to the wrong spot and don’t care about it.

            That said, there is something that annoyed me. Here in Austin, when gyms get full, you should wait for people to finish their whole sets, and then you could go after him/her and use the machine.  However, in Kuwait, you can go to someone and ask him to share a machine. For example, you would do a set, and rest while the other is doing his set.


** If there is something that confused you, please ask me in the comment box below. Thanks!!

4 comments:

  1. Hi Sulaiman,
    Nice article. That's a thing I have noticed in my country too and I was really suprised. I also thing that old people back in my country should take example on them.
    Thank you.

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  2. Hello Sulaiman! I envy you for having the will to go to the gym regularly. That is always my "Sunday's resolution" but I never accomplish it.
    I didn't know gyms are separated in Kuwait; I understand it had to be pretty astonishing for you to see how men and women work out all together here.
    Looking forward to your next post!

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  3. I find the turn-taking sometimes awkward at gyms as well, but sometimes you can arrange the sort of thing you mentioned. The response you get will just depend on the personality of the person you ask. I find that at the swimming pool most people are willing to share lanes.

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  4. hi Sulaiman,
    it is really surprising for me, too. in my country old people rarely go to gym. as for respecting each other in the US, I really appreciate that.

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