Original entry on March 20, 2014
I have spent all day in a coffee shop
working and catching up on many items that have needed my attention. The only
downside of this is it's the first day of spring, I'm in La Jolla of all
places, and I'm sitting behind a window. Surprisingly, I have only had one
large soy iced caramel latte. What can I say, I was feeling adventurous.
Back to my story. I'm sitting in my
usual spot at this coffee shop, Peet's Coffee and Tea, facing a window covered
wall. I love this spot because I can focus on my work for hours and look up to
see the outside world and people watch a little when in need of a break. I'm
working intensely when two older ladies take a seat next to me. They are
speaking in thick accents. I can't place their language, but it sounds
beautiful. They smile and chat to each other excitedly. Right about now, my
coffee has been finished for a while and I feel like getting something else
because I know I'll be here for definitely a few more hours. My head is also
unsurprisingly throbbing with the threat of a migraine looming into the night.
In between them sits a pink box. I
watch as they leave it there and come back each with a small pot of hot water,
two large mugs, and honey. They open a box to reveal a large piece of layered
chocolate and vanilla cake to share, I presume.
Suddenly, I really want some hot tea,
which surprises me. I always end my day with a hot dry mint tea and honey, but
I have never bought tea outside of the house. (Tea is not to be confused with
chai.) As I'm contemplating this move, my grandmother's voice jumps into my
internal conversation and I hear her making my argument to myself:
"Shai??! Meen bidfa3 la shai bara
il beit? Wallah basaweel7um a7la kassit shai fi dar! A7la kassit shai ma3
na3na3 wa 3assal kamaan. Balla 7al shai illi mafi ta3im. Isma3ee meeni, a7lalik
ishtirilik a7we ma biti3rifi itsawee7a fil beit. Bas kamaan fish a7la min il
a7we il 3arabiya. A7lalik itraw7ee wa tishrobilik ishi fi ta3im. Khudee7a
mini."
(Translation: Tea??! Who pays for tea
outside of the house? I swear, I'll make them the best cup of tea at home! The
best cup of tea with mint and honey, too. Forget this tea that has no taste.
Listen to me, it's better for you to buy coffee that you don't know how to make
at home. But also there's nothing better than Arabic/Turkish coffee. It's best
if you go home and have coffee that actually tastes good. Take it from me.)
I love my grandmother with my entire
heart and soul. Therefore, I'm taking the advice I think she'd give me if she
were here with me! Considering I make delicious coffee at home (just ask family
and friends), I prefer the coffee shop atmosphere because I get a lot of work
finished while outside of the house with no responsibilities or distractions.
You know what I can't make? Iced chai.
Hot chai in a pot I can do. Iced never comes out as good as I want it... Chai
it is!
Am I the only one who randomly hears
their grandmother or parents' commentary in their head when making decisions?
No? Just me? That explains a lot.
