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8/2
First class
8:30 came early, as it usually does for me. Mr.Li, teacher Du and I went outside
for the Tai Chi practice. In the back of the hotel was a very nice shaded area, kind
of a large gazebo built out of big slabs of cut stone. Soon Pei joined us and we
started. Just like last year, I felt as if I didn't know anything, since even my
basics were wrong. (I was so sure I had them right this time!) The beginning
of the form, which I've been practicing all year and was a bit proud of, had to be
re-learned. By the end of the day I had a cramp in my right thigh, which was a bad
sign for things to come. However, I'd anticipated this (after last year's trip) and
brought with me 2 bottles of TinTzat pills. I began taking them regularly at maximum
dosage.
Dinner alone
That evening, at dinner, Mr.Wang joined me at the table long enough to call me a
friend, down a full glass of beer (I struggled, but pulled it off - life is tough!) and
tell me to "eat, eat, eat". My dinner menu consisted of two appetizers,
three main dishes and a large bowl of soup. I didn’t finish.
Afterwards, my brain got a welcome break from Chinese - the TV showed an episode
of XFiles in English.
8/3
More Tai Chi in the morning - and I'm having real problems with the basics.
Sports University
In the afternoon we go to the Jinan Sports University, where many of Mr.Li's
students work out. This is a very large building with separate areas for a pool, a
basketball court and some other very large rooms. One of the rooms is for Wu Shu.
Mr.Li lines everybody up and does a semi formal introduction: everyone's name is
pronounced slowly and clearly for my benefit, along with a short list of achievements (Pei
translates). A lot of push-hands champions. Then I get to sit on the bench for
a long time and watch people work out: Tai Chi, push-hands and wushu. The push hands
looks pretty rough, almost like stand-up wrestling. Then, a series of exhibitions.
One of the senior students, himself a teacher from a neighboring town, does the
Chen Second form, "Cannon Fist". This is a treat for me, as I've never
seen in live before. It has a lot more "energy discharge" movements then
the First form.
I’m up
So I'm enjoying the show, when suddenly Mr.Li says (something like) "And now,
our American friend, Yegor, will perform the 1st Chen form". (Pei translates
everything for me.) Hmmmmm. Everyone claps politely, then silence.
Luckily, I'm already used to being stared at by everyone in the room, so there's no stage
fright. Also, Mr.Li allows me to do just the 1st portion (which is as much as I've
gone over, so far), and it's a good thing, too, because not even half way through the
form, my mind goes blank. So I enjoy a brief moment of Zen, then bow out. All
in all, it's an easy, relaxing afternoon, and my legs get a much-needed break.
Sake for dinner
That evening Mr.Li invites me to dinner with two of his friends, one a student of
his that I hadn't met before. Mr.Li asks me if I'd like this to be a beer night or a
sake night. Not wishing to be a bad sport, and expecting just a few drinks before
dinner, I say "sake". Not wise. The beer glasses get taken away,
we're left with "shot" glasses for sake. This sake is not like the sake in
Japanese restaurants in US. It is some kind of clear liquor made from rice. A
little thick, a little sweet, smooth and pungent, and very warm as it goes down.
There's a lot of conversation during dinner, completely lost on me. Mr.Li remembers
my preference for the stewed crab, and it's one of the dishes. I eat, I drink.
I get a little drunk. Then, "Gumbei!" OK, "bottoms
up". Eat more, drink more.
My stomach rebels first (my head's ok). Like enlightenment, which comes
between one breath and the next, I realize: "I'm gonna puke right on the table!"
A great internal struggle begins. (Is this a Tai Chi lesson?) Mind vs.
stomach. I try different breathing techniques, I sweat, I drink tea, I try to eat
rice. It's a stale-mate. I visualize the alcohol getting absorbed into the
blood stream and filtered out by the kidneys into the bladder. Come on, come on!
Do your job, liver! Mr.Li lifts his glass and looks at me. I make a
wimpering sound. "A little", says Mr.Li, "a little".
Everyone's watching. OK. A little. I take a little sip. The mouth
tells the brain and the brain tells the stomach. Another bout begins (it was close
to settling down). I know I can't take another one and push the shot glass away from
me; this gesture needs no translation, I hope. For the next five minutes, it's all I
can do not to chuck it all on the table (stewed crab, fish, sausage, roasted cashews,
funcky beef and two mystery vegetables).
It is at this point that the door opens and in comes Mr.Wang with a freind.
I know what that means. Luckily, his friend speaks English and makes a semi formal
speech of friendship and good will. At least two minutes, time I desperately
need. Then comes the inevitable: two more little glasses are filled for a toast.
I look at Mr.Li and, covering my mouth with my hand from Mr.Wang, I say
"Mr.Li, no." He understands (my plight is fairly obvious) "a little,
a little." This is both a permission not to do a "bottoms up" and an
admonishment to be strong and "do the right thing". Mr.Wang toasts, but
does not drink, watching what I do, instead. I steel myself and take a sip, making
it seem bigger than it actually is. "Ahh", Mr.Wang says (obviously
disappointed), "no cheers". Mr.Li says something by way of explanation,
but I loose face. Loose face or loose dinner? I hate throwing up.
back || next - 8/4
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