Week Eight

© James Kenvin

James Kenvin checks in weekly from his study abroad semester in London; catch up with him every Wednesday on Trazee Travel.

I have been frantically searching for a decent cup of coffee since I ‘ve arrived. I have attempted and failed and even gave in to trying the monstrosity that is instant coffee. Because of my severe addiction to caffeine (which I blame entirely on college), I have been forced to give into drinking tea.

Tea culture in the U.K. is what coffee culture is in the United States — they can’t get enough of the stuff. Because of this, my one professor thought it would be enlightening to take us to afternoon tea one day. We went to a beautiful and elegant little restaurant in the middle of Kensington Gardens called The Orangery. Our class was seated in our own dining room, decorated all in white with not a thing out of place. The servers came immediately to offer us tea, which we all obviously accepted. The entire experience was such a posh British affair. We got small teacakes and biscuits to accompany our seemingly bottomless teacups. It was here I realized tea might not be such a bad substitute for coffee…  as long as it comes with attentive service, picturesque atmosphere, and, of course, delicious pastries.