We Travel World

Serious Guns
The guy on the left aint that small either…Yesterday I joined a local gym which is another great example of something that is seemingly insignificant to most of my readers but a fascinating experience in East Africa. Avoiding the usual expat trap, I decided to boycott the more expensive Novotel Hotel gym and opt for the real deal; local, cheap, smelly and certainly authentic..grrrr. My gym is part of the national football stadium (Amohoro) which is just up the road from my house and costs a grand total of 22 GBP per month.

Entering the weights arena for the first time was pretty intimidating. After overcoming the usual stares of fascination at the intrusion of white skin into an otherwise totally local affare, I quickly came to realise that I was also by the far the skinniest whipet in the room. Others were either bulging with muscle or horizontally challenged. Nevertheless as you learn over here, the best strategy is to carry on as if everything is totally normal and soon enough you will come to be accepted or at least ignored.

The equipment was pretty basic and it forced me to become innovative with the exercies, wrapping my legs around poles and hanging from bars seemed
You Can Do It!
Trying my best to look lean and mean to do the trick. Just beyond the waits room, there was simultaneously an aerobics class going on (see behind me in pic on the left). This was hilarious, cheesy 80′s dance music was blaring (sounds system most expensive piece of equipment in the gym by a long shot) and overweight middle aged men and women danced around the room, clapping and singing with such joy that it was a delight to watch. I compared this experience to Esporta back in London where the music is played at a level which is barely audible and people look like this is their last work out before doing something terrible to themselves.

What was most fascinating about the whole experience was witnessing a country in its very early stages of growth. To be seen at a gym means something. It is a sign that you care about your health (just as they do in the developing world) and that you are willing to prove it with your hard earned Rwandan Francs. It is a gathering point for the aspiring middle classes to flex their political as well as physical muscles all under one roof.

Where’s Paulie
Now you see why I stand out like a saw thumb