While Americans to me are stereotypical Starbucks coffee drinkers, I will admit that, YES, I am the stereotypical tea drinking British person you see on films and television. (Tea being black English breakfast tea with a bit of sugar and milk in the cup.)

Now since beginning university last September caffeine filled, sweet coffee and I have become great friends, me depending on it for comfort, energy and revival. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m. classes roll around so quickly. The Otter Bean has become a normal stop to collect breakfast.

Not tea. Coffee. I seem to have joined the coffee fad that Americans have so lovingly seemed to embrace. The lady at The Bean knows my face and my order— a regular mocha and a regular hot chocolate— that has made a substantial dent in my dining dollars.

Caffeine generally dehydrates you, but how can one tear themselves away from this two way relationship? I drink the coffee and the coffee gets drank. The sweet, brown, creamy liquid gets me through the morning. It fuels my walk down to the communication building, keeps my eyes open through the class, awakens my senses and warms me up.

Yet look at every English soap opera: tea is the answer to everything. You just want a drink? Have some tea. You need something to do? Have some tea. Finally, if you have a problem to solve and talk out, tea is something to mull over. Does the problem get solved? Who knows? It doesn’t matter, the tea was good.

I may have been drinking a lot more coffee since coming to America but I will always be loyal to tea. In England it is not just a drink to British people; it’s a tradition and an engrained part of life. I don’t think it will ever get old.