Name: Tu Meng-Chun
School: Queen's University of Belfast
Course: MA in TEFL

TEA TIME

Before I came to England, I have already heard something about "tea time" habit of English people, and I have never gave any second thought of it because I really had no idea what it's like in Ireland.

As soon as I started the courses here, step by step, I realized what its main purpose for and what it's so important to English people, even people in Ireland.

For example, once I had three and half-hours course, the only thought in my mind was that I would be worn out after that and how my classmates managed to do that. But just right after one and half of class, my lecture asked us all to leave the room and have a tea break. Then, I knew that people here were not supermen or superwomen, either. This was the way they filled up the spirit again and kept so energetic for their performance in the classroom, besides that, you really had to try it, because that's how to mingo with new friends and get to know more about your classmates. Because of nice friendship did help you a lot not only your study but also your life here. Both would be easier with friends' help, right?

Moreover, you really had to take the chance to practice your English or get used to their way of speaking and their accent that was usually the main problem of most of new-coming students here, including me. In Ireland, we called it as an "Ulster" accent more similar with American accent, unlike British accent. But somehow still a bit of different.

Except that, so-called "tea time" had many varieties. It was not just having a cup of tea. You could have a cup of nice, traditional English tea or coffee. Of course, you would have a plate of scorn with jam or butter that were nice traditional desert for tea. Also you could try lots of nice and different favor of cheese cookies here.

This really made me wonder how nice it was to have a cup of tea during the break time. In fact, when you got used to it, it was hard to quit it because it was highly addictive. You would definitely need it during your study and your travel. Since it got so many benefits, why not just ask for a cup of tea and sit down for a while. That would give you a break and reorganize the thought and what you had just done and what you would do next.

It was really a nice opportunity though. Try to enjoy your life and learn more about English culture. Be yourself freely and you would learn more about the life here for sure.

Still there were different kinds of tea for the time of morning, afternoon and evening. For instant, in the morning we would have a cup of "morning" tea and so on. The most famous brand name here was "Twilling". Tea break would not cost you much but instead would benefit you a lot. Indeed, you see there were so many cafe or teashop all over on the street. Why not just stop for a couple of minutes and gave it a shot when you were here!