Sharing Tea with a Teacher

A small and happy moment just occurred that I think is pretty special.

I decided to come to the TESL Library here at Concordia, which I have now dubbed my second home, so that I could study a little bit.  One of my TESL teachers came in and asked if she could borrow the kettle to boil some water for her tea, and of course I said yes.  Her office is right around the corner and she is just a great person to be around - very happy and positive with a demeanor that makes you feel as though she really cares about what you are saying, whether it be related to class or not.  She also has this great smile that is completely infectious and she has this way of tilting her head to one side and leaning towards you that lets you know that she is listening to you.  Her first words when you approach her are always, ''Tell me,'' with her adorable and lovable Spanish accent.

So, this wonderful woman forgot about the kettle and I decided to just bring the pot to her so that she could enjoy her tea and she decided to reciprocate the gesture by bringing me a tiny little cup of this AMAZING vanilla tea.  She was very cute about it too - she asked me if I would like some, and then she explained how she would bring it to me once it had finished infusing.  She came in, holding this miniature cup in her hands, and offered it to me as though we were participating in a tea ceremony of some sort!!

I let it cool a short while, and the smell of tea has wafted throughout this small room so that I now feel completely at ease and relaxed.  The taste itself was so comforting, like the smell of sugar cookies baking in your house during the holiday season and it hit my palate in such a delicate fashion.

My teacher and I shared our love of tea and a few smiles or two while enjoying a second cup in her office, and it was just a very enjoyable, miniscule fraction of time that has punctuated a very long day!