T.E.A.

Don't be too confused, turning that word into an abbreviation is just for effect. Ladies and gentlemen and everyone who chooses not to identify either way, we are indeed talking about

TEA.

You have stereotypes about the Brits and their tea.

They are all true.

Are you eating? Have a cup of tea. Are you not eating? Have a cup of tea. Are you stressed? Drop everything you are doing and have a cup of tea. Morning? Tea. Evening? Tea. Afternoon. DEFINITELY TEA.

So I'm all about living the British life while I'm an honorary Brit for 2 years. And this means I have abandoned coffee (if you truly know me, this should be SHOCKING!) and replace coffee with at least three cups of tea a day. Morning tea, afternoon tea, and after-work tea for the most part. With some impromptu teas thrown in for good measure during lots of other social situations. I think one reason I've come to drink so many cups a day is because that's just what people do. Another other reason is that tea has less caffeine than coffee, and breaking a caffeine addiction is not a fun thing :)

However, the funniest thing about this new habit that I've adopted is that I really really like it! It leads me to think of a quote from the movie "Invictus" that I watched on the airplane to Iceland. Morgan Freeman (as Nelson Mandela) says to Matt Damon, (something close to) "Ah, the English gave many things to South Africa, including the sport of rugby . . . but our afternoon tea, that is the greatest of all." This quote leaves me wondering why Americans don't have afternoon tea!? Is it because of the same reason we don't have a monarch? Is it just un-American? Is it because of that little protest in the Boston Harbor that happened back more than two centuries ago? Is it because we just haven't seen the light?

I'll just say this: even when I move back to the States, I think I've found a new habit that it's going to be tough to break.

Best,

Freddie