“Present for You” – Moscow Expat Life Update #7

Two nights ago I toured a couple of gyms. The first place, after I got the non-English speaking staff to call an English manager for me, was great. The second place I needed some staff member to accompany the manager and I on the gym tour in order to translate. The translator didn’t quite speak fluent English. For example if I joined the gym I would receive a free 15 minute “message”. Also everything is a present here. I would say “it’s included” or “for free”. Here people say “present for you”. It’s so weird having personal translators. The concept of it isn’t foreign, but it’s such a strange feeling when you are the one needing the translating.

Last night night I decided to try the first place I toured and I did my first exercise class in Russian! Initially I had to contain my inner giggles. To me it was like I was hearing and responding to gibberish. It was as if the gibberish was making me do exercises. Overall it was fairly simple and uneventful though. I could follow along with what we were doing pretty well. I would like to say that is because of my fitness ability, but it is probably more do with the ability to just copy what someone else is doing. On my way out the front desk person started to talk and I gave my usual helpless shrug, smile and “no Russian” response. The guy responded “ohhhh yes, no Russian”. But based on his tone and expression it was more of “oh yeah you again, you are the non Russian speaking person, I remember you!”

In general the gym was very similar to the gyms I have been to in the US as well. They even have Les Mills exercise classes, which many gyms in the states have. I think I will join the gym. It’s at least half the cost of what I would be paying in the US. Hopefully all my upcoming classes will go just as smoothly and I might even learn some Russian when I am at it!