Every day at Oideas Gael, students have two tea breaks–ceann ar maidin agus ceann sa tráthnóna. This may seem excessive given that we are only in class for 5 hours a day, ach it is both a cultural custom and very much needed. In Ireland, everyone drinks tea no matter what time of day or what the weather. Deirdre, one of the women who works at Oideas Gael and serves us tea during breaks, was kind enough to sit down with me and answer some questions about tae (with a cup of tea in hand, of course). The first thing she told me was that tea is seen as a way of being friendly. When someone comes to your house, the first thing you offer them is tea (and then reluctantly offer coffee). Yea is a comfort and appeals to all ages, from the young to the old.
There are always debates about what constitutes “good” tea preparation. Deirdre things the best way to make it is in a pot on the stove, but others prefer a single tea bag in a cucuop. Then there is the problem of milk–how much, if any? These are the problems that tea drinkers debate, and while they may not seem to really matter, it is a way that Irish people connect. When Deirdre serves us tea every day, it is a time to not only drink the tea, but speak about our lives and things that happening in the world. Though this is one of the on!t times in the day that all levels come together, we usually try to have conversations in Irish, even if people are at varying levels. Tea brings everyone together, no matter proficiency or background or age.
Having all these tea breaks has been a huge change for me. I love tea, but when I’m at school, I don’t drink it too often. I was very worried that after two tea breaks and at least four more cups throughout the day, for five weeks, I would become dependent on caffeine or not be able to sleep. I have been pleasantly surprised and realized that, just as Deirdre said, tea is not consumed for the caffeine or even necessarily the taste. These breaks have become essential in my understanding of the language and culture here. It is a time to mingle with those not in my class and learn from them, and give myself a mental break. Tea also introduced me to Deirdre, and I’m thankful for the way our friendship has grown.