A Meeting of Cultures

On a winter weekend in the 1980s, I was teaching a T’ai Chi Chih course to a group of Caucasians in a beautiful setting, a recreation center in Edmonton’s North Saskatchewan River valley. As we practiced our TCC moves, glass walls on two sides of the room afforded clear views of the outdoors. It was a bright sunny day with snowdrifts everywhere and large snowflakes sprinkling down.

In the midst of all the snow and quiet, a Chinese family was observing us. They were bundled up in colourful snowsuits and scarves, walking on snowshoes. Through the glass, we were experiencing and enjoying each other’s cultures.