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This year, more than any year in my recent history, feels like a new school year. This is ironic since it’s the first year since preschool that I am not attending a school or teaching at one!

One of the things I’ve missed the most while living in Italy is not having a gym to work out in. At first, it was a question of money with my teacher’s salary, as gyms are much more expensive here than stateside. Then, my teaching schedule was so unpredictable, having a gym in either Milan or Pavia seemed useless as I never knew when or where I’d be for a break.

This year, I decided it was time to stop complaining and get to it!

I was lucky to find a gym about 5 minutes from my house by bike - I can walk there or take the tram as well. This gym has a little pool, hot tub, sauna, and steam room as well as the basic treadmills, bicycles and weight rooms. It also has two classrooms and I am furiously studying the schedule. It’s actually a lot nicer than any gym I’ve ever been a member of in the States, and it wasn’t that much more expensive!

September 1st was my first day of my new gym membership. I like to think of it as a trial run, a beta version of what I’m sure my final experience will be like.

I decided to go and workout, shower at the gym to try out the facilities and then head straight to work after. Mounting my bicycle with my sling bag full to the brim with everything I’d need that day, I had an embarassing discovery.

My shorts, which are the perfect length for running, are waaaay too short when sitting on a bicycle. In rush-hour traffic at a huge intersection. I kept tugging on them as I biked, and finally just said screw it. Thighs on parade.

I arrived right at 7:59 or 8:00am (opening time) since I wasn’t sure how long everything would take and I wanted to get to work on time. The women running the front desk were shocked.

“The first day of September, right when we open, and she has her money with her to pay?” They laughed about my eagerness.

“Obviously, I’m not Italian.” I also joked. But it wasn’t a joke about my accent. It was true. And since they didn’t have the change for my �50 note (naturally), I let them keep it and apply it to my next payment. I was the ideal gym member, and oh, so not Italian.

“Yes, I forgot that you (Americans) are used to working out so early.”

Yes, I used to work out at 5.30/6am, and I loved it. I’m glad the rest of this country hasn’t caught on. The gym is pretty deserted at 8am and in the two weeks that I’ve been going, it hasn’t increased much.

I also noticed that most people don’t come to the gym already dressed to workout, but prefer to go down in the locker room and change. Oops. Strike two for today’s presentation.

I took my place on one of the many treadmills and started walking while I tried to orient myself to the control panel. Crap. I would have to calculate my speed in km/h…is 7.5km/h fast? Feels fast enough for me. (Later I would find out that it’s only about 4.5mph but it felt like an accomplishment at the time)

Once deciding the speed, I started to go faster and then I realized something was missing. My energy battery, or my “audio lithium” as I like to call it. I had left my iPod, so carefully loaded and sorted with energizing music two days before, at home. Ok, today I’m roughing it.

Because of my strategically-placed treadmill, I was able to “enjoy” the full 360 degree experience: seeing my body bouncing in all angles of the mirrors surrounding me. Rolls of this, rolls of that. Good motivation.

After 3 years of not regularly going to a gym, I was proud of those 21 minutes I ran without stopping. I ignored the skeleton next to me that had been running for over an hour. Other than her, everyone else came and used the treadmills for less than ten minutes. I guess they hadn’t heard you need at least 20 minutes of cardio to make an impact!

Afterwards, I headed to the locker room to shower and get ready. I tiptoed into the shower stalls, all without doors or covering, but with frosted panels between the stalls that seemed to be mocking me. I took the last stall “because I needed to stack my things out of the way and that was the best spot.” Right. I noticed a sign, “Shaving your beard or body parts is not allowed in the showers.” They saved money using one sign for both locker rooms. I hoped. I never knew who/what I’d run into since my neighborhood is full of transvestites.

After I finished I quickly dried off with the hand towel I had brought to save space in my overflowing gym bag. I struggled throwing my clothes on because, let’s face it, you never get completely dry with a hand towel.

Just then, another woman walked in from the locker area. She was ready to take a shower. She had her towel and everything. Except she was completely nude and carrying the towel instead. I didn’t grow up in a “naked house” but luckily after years of team sports nothing really shocks me anymore. I guess adding that final touch of actually wearing the towel felt too contrived for her.

A note to other gym frequenters: If taking a shower at the gym after your workout, you will probably need a comb. Especially if you have naturally curly hair, like me. Putting it aside in the morning so that you remember to bring it doesn’t count if it doesn’t actually make it into your gym bag.

That day I arrived at work, still sweating, lugging a huge bag behind me, and was sporting what I like to call the “Windblown” look.

But I felt great, and on my way back to normalcy.