11.19.07
My Kingdom for a Cup of Tea
posted by Regena Rafelson | 7 comments
In the past weeks, I have found myself at three Saturday speech events. Each was different: one was actually a workshop; the second was a novice event; and the last was a full-scale competition involving twenty-six schools, over three hundred well-dressed teenagers, and over a hundred judges.
What they had in common was no tea.
You see, a speech event requires one adult volunteer for every four competitors. These volunteers not only give up their time, but they must evaluate anywhere from two to seven young people in a round of competition. Only one of those youngsters can be ranked in first place; second through sixth places feel like losing in our trophy-driven culture; and, sadly, someone will be ranked last. Aside from this judging trauma, judges must write specific suggestions for improvement on each ballot. Any of you who have the honor of sharing time and space with a teenager know how carefully you must choose your words to avoid bruising tender egos-in-training. To further complicate matters; judges at these events rarely know any of the students they judge for six rounds on a typical Saturday. There won’t be an opportunity to debrief later. What you write on the ballot stands alone.
With this in mind, the hosts of a speech tournament take good care of judges. The judges’ lounge looks like Zabar’s Delicatessen. In the morning there are sweet rolls; muffins; bagels with all the condiments; fruit, and half a dozen two-liter boxes of Starbucks. No tea. Around lunch time, a subway sandwich the length of a first down is scored, along with forty pizzas, six enormous bags of chips, and several cases of soft drinks. No tea. In the mid-to-late afternoon, twenty dozen chocolate chip cookies and several cases of purified drinking water magically appear. (Speech coaches complain about the legendary “Speech Fifteen,” the pounds gained during the first season. Some of us gain an additional fifteen every season until we ultimately present a profile not unlike that of a double-wide mobile home .)
You guessed it: No tea. Not even a tea bag.
In just a few weeks of a very long season, I have distinguished myself at these competitions by: 1) being the only person who knew how to use booster cables; 2) alone in the how-to knowledge of tying a necktie, and; 3) the solo tea drinker.
Tell me, now that the savvy tea drinking public in the country has shifted to whole leaf brew, how long will it be before the genuine article is available at the bank and the PTA meeting?
November 19th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Good Morning All, Regena what a timely subject. Giving what myself, and several other parties here in the “tea starved” Lehigh Valley are engaged in. It is actually a post unto itself, as I think about it.
I am now starting to work with the educational institutions here on several levels. (all business opportunity driven) Tea will play a major role in this developing endeavor. Hopefully to cure the malaise that you so eloquently describe. I will work on that ‘post”. perhaps turning it into another series, to include input from everyone on this blog….PJF
November 19th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
I think we’re on our way Regena. It will take people like you who, when attending a function, ask to speak with someone in charge and kindly request some TEA. Each time someone calls it to their attention, it will help for the next event. It’s hard to be patient but this is the path we must travel.
I personally always bring with me a filled tea bag from home. Whether I’m going out for dinner or to a friends house for the evening. Most Asian markets carry packages of empty tea bags that you can fill with whole leaf teas. Here at T Ching we’re looking for the best type to sell at tchingstore.com
Image yourself being a boyscout and remember their theme……….”Be Prepared” and you’ll never be without your favorite cup of tea……..where ever you are.
November 19th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
I would bring some extra tea to share and gauge the level of interest. If there is sufficient interest from the attendees, then the next step would be to contact the hosts of these events and let them know that this is something people want them to start offering. Or you could pretend you asked people about their interest and just call the different venues and tell them everyone wants tea so they should offer it.
This applies to any venue, whether speech events or PTA meetings. At least one person needs to speak up and make their needs met to get the ball rollling. My hunch is that once it is offered, it will be readily enjoyed.
November 19th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Great idea! Rafelson’s Tea Times move to speech tournaments. Never thought of that. . . grow the ranks of adult tea drinkers.
Another reason I love this blog. . . creative solutions for the community.
November 23rd, 2007 at 5:29 pm
“…how long will it be before the genuine article is available at the bank…?” Regena, Human bank tellers are no longer available at my bank! Who will make the tea?? JD
November 29th, 2007 at 2:57 am
Hello Everyone! I’m new to this blog (and blogs in general for that matter) but T Ching is…and I can’t believe I’m actually going to say it…but…Yes! It’s just my cup of tea!!
Just a quick comment about always being a prepared tea drinker in this soda-swilling, coffee-crazed country.
I have become well known among family and friends for my refusal to go anywhere without not only some tea, but a teapot as well. I carry the small fillable bags too, but if I can use the pot (a small British-made aluminum pot that is feather light and strong), I will. Having witnessed my packrat tendencies, my very talented, very creative step daughter designed and made a beautiful tea tote in which to store and transport all the necessary items. It’s a beautiful silver Chinese brocade, has a large main pocket for the pot, and pockets all around the main one for the different varieties of tea, my measuring spoon, etc. It’s beautiful and practical and now essential and I love it.
If you happen to know any talented, creative people who know their way around a sewing machine, I suggest you put them to work!
November 29th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Welcome Kristin! I love your thinking: Have Teapot Will Travel. We met a ceramicist who makes beautiful teapots and he goes hiking and camping with a small zisha pot that he keeps in a special padded case. He’s been doing it for years without any mishaps. I, personally, feel it is a completely different experience when you drink tea brewed from a pot as opposed to brewed in your cup with a bag. Bravo Kristin!