Dress code at the gym

A local friend of mine suggested that I should try the gym at the National Institute of Education (NIE) instead of the NTU gym that I usually go to. Indeed, the NIE gym was just renowated, is much larger and has better equipment.

A panorama view overlooking the inner court of NIE

NIE gym

Another shot at NIE gym

I had been training there for about 45 minutes when a guy comes to me and asks something about my shoes. I was wearing sandals. He said they are not proper shoes and I should go change. He also commented on my sleeveless shirt, which turned out to be prohibited there according to rules.

— Why are there such rules? All other gyms allow this outfit.
— Because we have a dress code here at NIE and because of the hygiene.

So, you have a dress code just because you have a dress code. Marvelous. And the hygiene? I'm pretty sure my sandals and the dry sports shirt are much more hygienic than the other guys' dirty sneakers and sweaty cotton tees, thank you very much.

I shouldn't have thrown away my shoes and a shirt that got extremely shitty when trekking at the volcano in Lombok...

After all, this wasn't amazingly surprising to me anymore. Most people here seem to follow all rules no matter how absurd they are. I learnt on a course that it's called a high-context culture with a high power distance, meaning that (among other things) you are not to question anything set by your superiors.