ME to WE’s Youth Delegation to Nanjing, China: A Place for Tradition
Written by Caleb Dawson
As an American, I’ve grown up in a society that values anything quick and ‘useful’ over all else. Whether at a drive-through or a 5-Star restaurant, we insist that we receive a return on our wants relatively immediately (quality may vary). My experience at a tea garden in China a few days ago offered myself, and the other participants on this trip, a very different view of the world.
First we were invited to witness the transformation of the commodity from a green leaf to a dehydrated herb. It was awesome to witness and be reminded that not only are many products still handcrafted, but that their creation demand a great deal of physical toil behind the scenes.
Once the tea herbs were ready, our hosts demonstrated how tea is traditionally prepared. As a former barista, this once meant using tongs to supplant a tea bag from a box to a cup and pouring sizzling water to a line marked on the cup. Our hosts’ tea preparation, on the other hand, was actually a multi-faceted tea ceremony, complete with cup cleaning, tea smelling, and presenting the finished beverage in a number of steps. It felt particularly welcoming for them to include us in this ceremony.
Once the demonstration was over our host gave us permission to try the tea for ourselves. Immediately many of us defaulted to what we know as the normal tea process: add herbs to a cup and pour hot water. One of the hosts sternly reminded us how to prepare the tea. He thought we forgot how to ceremonially prepare tea; many of us thought the ceremony was “over” and it was our turn to enjoy the tea.
I think our inclination to overlook and essentially forego the ceremony represents the tendency in Western, especially American, culture to overlook process and ultimately tradition. Perhaps, we are so concerned with immediacy that we don’t recognize the values of tradition. Values like community and cleanliness are embedded in this traditional tea ceremony. This was one of my “ah hah” moments. By honoring traditions, I do not waste time but rather invest time in the values and experiences that matter to me. And this investment can prove to be incredibly valuable.
The tea ceremony exposed me to a new appreciation for tradition. It also made me wonder what other ways tradition adds value to our communities. I didn’t have to look far for more examples! The setting of our ceremony featured a woman dressed in traditional clothing, playing a classical Chinese instrument, and behind her hung an old fashion painting. The setting spurred a second “ah hah” moment. I finally realized that integrating these long-standing traditions in modernity is a means of carrying history into the present. Traditions allow us to be progressive while also maintaining a sense of belonging to the bigger-than-self world we are all born into. It honors the contribution and existence of those giants on whose shoulders we are privileged to stand upon.
The occasion for tea was so much more than a taste of watered herbs, because it was shared in a context of tradition. Attention paid to the process of the tea ceremony uncovered a rich value-embedded experience. Recognition of the exhaustive history that informs tradition exposed me to a profound, bigger-than-self identity. I received more than my cup of tea, because I was receptive and inclusive. I finally allowed a place for tradition!
Find out more about ME to WE’s youth delegation on the ground at the the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympics here. And check out our blog regularly at www.metowe.com/blog to read updates and follow @MetoWe and @CraigKielburger on Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and photos as they happen in Nanjing.
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