10月28日晚上，在国际事务部老师的带领下，我和其他29名山东大学学生代表来到山东日照市大青山参加“2017年大青山国际太极拳大赛”开幕典礼，作为我们中国文化体验的一课。
刚一到达，我就发现大青山充满生机活力，摄影师、记者和令人仰慕的太极大师们都已等候在大青山，热情地欢迎我们的到来。尽管是晚上，但是群山环绕间，大青山风景秀丽，我和其他人都对壮美的山峰赞叹不已。
根据统一安排，早上5点30分，我们离开酒店，怀着好奇之心，来到了太极晨练场，和诸位太极大师和学子一起进行太极晨练。我强压住激动的心情，聚精会神地听人讲解，跟着做太极拳基本动作。柔和轻缓的音乐在身后响起，我惊讶地看着太极大师与长者们在后面镇定、优雅、清晰地展示太极技巧。我敬佩极了，呆站着看他们表演，不禁回想起我儿时看过的功夫电影。
长者们也加入到了训练当中，他们给我们示范了基本动作，比如站姿，要倾斜45度，手放在臀部，左手收肘，向内防挡、出拳、踢腿再重复动作，左右侧分别练习多次。对我来说，这些动作简短而精准，就像一支优美的慢舞，但也要付出努力、有耐力才能做到。我坚定意志，全身心投入到动作中，努力跟上并模仿指导老师。尽管晨练一个小时左右就结束了，但在短暂的时间里我学到了珍贵的一课：打太极需要专注、投入、镇定和努力。
早上最精彩的部分是开幕典礼，气势恢宏，确实是最令人惊叹的“中华文化体验”。演出者们，无论男女老少，都身着各种各样色彩鲜艳的中国传统服饰，在台上纵情表演。那一刻犹如梦幻。
我们还有幸观看了其他文娱节目。其中有一组小朋友们穿着中国传统的黄色服饰，非常优雅地表演了一段太极拳法。另外一支中外太极拳展示队伍给我留下了深刻的印象。他们穿着一袭蓝底白衣，整齐划一而不失风采，缓慢而慎重地表演一个太极招式，叫人啧啧称奇。开幕式结束时，陈中华等太极大师们以及山东省领导发表了讲话。
下午比赛正式开始，世界各国的选手们在不同的项目里展开较量，有太极推手、太极拳、太极剑等等。我和其他学生兴致高昂地观摩比赛，为所有选手加油喝彩。本学期“太极拳”课程的六名学员也为大家做了“十三式”展演。
参加太极文化体验让我度过了一段难忘的时光。我了解了太极的历史起源和一些实操方法，这些都是非常宝贵的经验。学习太极，关键在于耐力、努力、决心与投入。
My Experience attending the 5th International Daqingshan Taiji Competition in Rizhao, October 27th - October 30th
On the night of October 28, myself and twenty-nine ( 29) SDU International students from the following countries, South Korea, Mexico, Peru, Albania, Thailand, South Africa, Uganda, Yemen, Afghanistan, Guyana, Russia, Sierre Leone, Nigeria, Tanzania, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Jamaica, travelled to Rizhao City to participate in the opening ceremony of the 2017 International Daqingshan Taiji Competition held in Daqingshan, Rizhao Shandong, China, accompanied by teachers from the International Student Office.
On arrival, it was noted that Daqingshan mountain was well lit, alive and charged with excitement, encircled by photographers, journalists and respected personnel's all greeted us with warm welcome. Surrounded by the mountain, the scenery of the mountainous terrain of Daqingshan was breathtaking and of course myself and the others were in awe by the beauty of the mountain.
At 5:30am, myself along with all the other International students, left the comfort of the warm hotel and with uncertainty of the unknown, we were ushered to the practice field to join in the Taiji (shadowboxing) morning Practice session with all the Taiji masters and students.
Bursting with excitement, eagerness and enthusiasms, I listened attentively to the instructions given and followed the basic Taiji (shadowboxing) movements. With soft soothing music chanting in the background, I looked around in amazement at the Taiji Masters and seniors at the back demonstrating the Taiji techniques with calmness, gracefulness and clarity. With admiration, I stood for a moment to watch the demonstration, which brought forth memories of all the Kung Fu movies watched when I was growing up in the past.
Joining the practice session, the seniors demonstrated the basic movements, such as how to stand, similar to a “45 degree angle stance, right hand on hip, left hand with elbow in, with a inward movement similar to a block, punch, kick, and over and over, we were told to do the same movements and later we had to do the same movements on the other side. For me, it was observed that the movements were short, precise and akin to a slow elegant dance, but yet required hard work and endurance. With determination, I immersed myself fully in the movements and tried keeping up by imitating all the movements shown by the instructor. The practice session ended approximately one hour after, but I learned a valuable lesson during the short time, that Taiji requires focus, dedication, calmness and hard work.
The highlight of the morning came when with grandeur and splendor, when the opening ceremony began, it was truly the most amazing “Chinese cultural experience”. Chinese performers of all age, dressed in various vivid Chinese traditional wear and colour, prance their performances on stage. The moment was surreal, and it became more surreal when most international students were given the opportunity to walk across the stage, wave to the large crowd of spectators, sign our signature at the end of the stage on an electronic board and then was further escorted to our seats. This was like a dream and felt like a true celebrity at that moment.
We were further privileged to witness other entertainments by other performers such as a group of young children decked out in Chinese yellow traditional outfit performing one of the Taiji techniques with grace and elegance. Additionally, I was impressed by the Taiji group with a combination of Chinese and foreigners draped all in white with blue lining on their outfit, in orderly procession, with effortless grace, slowly and carefully performed a Taiji form, which was amazing.
The opening ceremony closed with speeches by various dignitaries and Master Chen Zhonghua.
Later in the afternoon the competition was officially declared opened with competitors from various countries of the world entering to compete in the different competitions, such as Taiji push hands, shadow boxing and Taiji sword, etc. With elation, myself and the other International students watched the various competitions and cheered in glee for all the contestants in comradery.
The time spent participating in the Taiji Cultural experience was very memorable. I have learned some valuable lessons about the historical origin of Taiji and some of its practical method. Endurance is key to learning Taiji along with hardwork, determination and dedication.
By: Dahlia Patricia Sterling
SDU International Student
PhD. International Politics Major
【作者：政管学院 2014级 代丽娅·帕特里夏·斯特林 来自单位：新闻中心总编室 责编：佳丽】
