This morning we got up at a quarter after five, groggily pulled ourselves out of the apartment and met up with another colleague and walked to the lake on campus to meet our Tai Chi instructor. The sun was just peeking on the horizon as we convened on a patch of grass in the midst of some trees. All around us, elderly people were practicing their own exercises, some groups doing Tai Chi and others doing yoga. The first year students who recently got back from their military training were up in the morning doing drills on the campus in their uniforms, most of which included running or marching. There is a real sense of respect for order and discipline here. In this country, people would never start rioting over something as silly as a hockey game.
We watched the instructor as he showed us the 24th form of the art of Tai Chi. I was terribly incompetent compared to one of the other students but our other colleague kept getting corrected for his waist which seemed to be too crooked. It felt pretty incredible to be waving my arms and moving my legs and body in this new way. Even though I was really tired, we managed to cover a lot of ground and learn some of the movements in only 45 minutes.
Tai Chi lessons are offered every morning for the next two weeks, where we will learn the entire 24th routine. Even though it's early, I'm looking forward to it.
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