My own private tea ceremony at work
I have to see her every day at China Daily. Her smile ignites my optimism and banishes the gathering storm clouds of the, here I resort to Rumsfeld-esque prose, expected unexpected events that will soon preoccupy the newsroom. I try to talk in Chinese but stumble awkwardly over my words, my tones, no doubt, setting the wrong tone.
She is unerringly polite but pays little or no attention to me. She does not know that without her my day would not be complete. She must have this effect on so many people.
She is incredibly popular. There are times when others are talking to her that I get impatient, I want her attention to myself before the pressures of the day tear me apart from her. I don’t think she even knows my name.
To her, I am just another face in the crowd. I walk to work every day, it takes about 40 minutes. I see the traffic jams, hear the honking symphony of horns and thank all the Greek gods that I am not in a car.
I pass others on their way to work, nodding, greeting them, wondering what type of lives they lead, what part of China are they from? Do they also have someone special waiting for them when they arrive at work?
The girl I have to see is from Heilongjiang province. Cold place, warm people. And as I walk past Ito Yokado and turn up Huixin Dongjie, my thoughts about her become more focused. Will she be there? Will she be talking to others? Will I have her full attention?
Before I go any further I should come clean. The woman to whom I am devoted at the start of the working day makes the perfect cup of tea. I did not come to China for the tea, others in history did, but not I.
However, I do enjoy, no, too mild a word, I relish the tea this lady makes. I sip it with the respect it deserves after my walk. The water temperature is just right, the cup is the correct size, and she always serves it with a smile. It is the perfect start to the day.
The ladies who work at the tea counter in the lobby are the unsung heroes of China Daily. It is a tough role to fulfill. But they do it with grace and aplomb that deserves credit from anyone who has ever got a refreshing beverage from them. It is like having my own private tea ceremony every morning.
Smile as I approach. A much brighter smile returned. She turns her back, gets the cup, puts the tea bag into it, opens the flask, pours. Then she picks up the cup and gives it to me with another smile that would not be out of place in an advertisement for dental care. Tea in China from a Chinese lady. The Greek gods are smiling on me.