貝魯特的太極練習課…

During tai chi class tonight in Beirut, our teacher reminded us to relax and practice the movements with “le visage de Buddha”–the face of Buddha. From the outside, tai chi looks simple and graceful, but practicing this meditative art in (slow) motion is no easy feat. After class ended, a Lebanese DJ offered to give me a ride home–since it was on his way to a gig nearby. While we were cruising on the Corniche along the sea, he flipped through his music collection, and landed on a song performed by the McIntosh County Shouters–celebrated ring shouters from Georgia–who are helping to preserve a musical tradition from slavery thought to have died out in the early 20th century…