So I decided that I would dedicate this post to coffee as it is something that is dear to my heart as well as something that I crave nearly every day of the week. It is also something that just allows you to ease into the morning and your lesson plans for the day. However, as it is a precious commodity here in China it must be used sparingly. Thus, my teammate Shannon and I have it about twice a week (Monday and Wednesday).If you look at the picture to the right you will see our French press and the little pastries we have found to accompany them when we go to work. I must admit that finding pastries to go with your coffee is not entirely something that is easily done in China. Thankfully, we have found two good little snacks to pair with our coffee: Muffins and Chocolate Egg Rolls. I would say that we tend to buy the muffins more often as they are a little healthier and filling, especially when drinking coffee on an empty stomach.
I actually sent my French press and 3 lbs of coffee from Starbucks before I left for training back in August so that it would be in Nanchang by the time I arrived mid-September. I had thought for sure that I a few individuals on my team would like to drink coffee for sure, but I was mistaken. Upon arriving at training I was quick to realize that only two people - including myself - liked coffee. Moreover, of the two people that liked coffee both of them had worked at Starbucks. At first I was kind of shocked, but then I was like well that just means more coffee for Shannon and I.
What you are looking at is actually the lower left-hand side of my desk. In it - as you can see - is a box of Nescafe (used only in emergencies), half a pound of Sumatra from Starbucks, a water boiler, a grinder, and the top to our French press. What you do not see that is usually in here is: the rest of our French press, cups, muffins, and whatever chocolate we have at the time. What does it bring: Joy to me every week!
To be sincere though, I would actually say one of the coolest things about having coffee at our office is our ability to share it with our fellow Japanese teachers from time to time as well as get to know them better. Besides having Shannon to drink coffee with, I would say that building relationships with our Japanese friends has been a really blessing.
Today, I told them that I would make them some coffee as Tecao (I am sure I spelling this absurdly wrong)is always hinting at Starbucks and having a real cup of coffee. However, I didn't get back as soon as I thought I would from lunch and only got back to catch them leaving for class. So I asked Temocha (this too...) and Tecao what rooms they were teaching in and begin making a French press as quickly as I could. I don't really think they thought I would make and bring them coffee, but in 10 minutes or so I had steaming hot coffee ready and I set about getting coffee to take it to everybody. I took coffee to Shannon first - she wasn't surprised - and then went and delievered coffee to Tecao and Temocha who were both surprised that I brought them coffee. Tecao was so happy he grabbed me and introduced me to his class, all the while wearing that great smile of his.
I have invited him up for coffee this weekend and I am looking forward to hearing more about Japan and anything else.
Well, to end this post I thought I would finish it with a picture of my friend Shannon telling me that I needed to be quiet and get back to work. Too much coffee aparently keeps me jabbering a little more than is pc appropriate - what can say? Shannon is trying to teach me time management, but it is a little slow catching. Then again, it was never really something that I could say that I specialized in, let alone had. In the end, I don't think that coffee and time management go together....or something like that....yeah.
