My British Bent

I (Kendra) was born in Indiana and raised in Austin, TX (from 15 months old), but for some reason British literature (Dickens, Tolkien, Sayers, Austen), British films, and British culture fascinate me. I was once told I sounded like I was from London! Of the books that Mark and I have read aloud, about 75% have been British. When we watch a movie, the most interesting ones, those that we give four to five stars on Netflix are British, especially the BBC miniseries. I would love to visit Britain and if I could speak like a Brit, I would, it is one of my favorite accents to affect!

Now, here is where I diverge, I do not like hot teas very much. Even here in Pennsylvannia it is not uncommon to find families that take "tea time" and regular connoisseurs of tea. This reminds me that this state has been in existence at least one hundred years longer than Texas, and did indeed get settled originally by many Europeans. My husband, raised in Ohio, enjoys teas, especially in the fall and winter and when he has a cold. But today, at my MOPS group, no less, I learned that the very best tea is not purchased already processed and put into a tea bag. Oh no, the richest teas are loose, timed and tempered to perfection. I have my good friend and MOP mentor, Connie Strappello to thank for her delightful and informative presentation! I tasted white, organic green, black, acai berry black, and creme de raspberry. I think the teas got better as we went along. But I learned that all tea comes from the same plant and is named differently based on how long the leaf oxidizes. Fascinating stuff! To bring this full circle, Connie has learned much of her tea knowledge from her daughter who works at the Tea Embassy in the capital of TX--Austin, my hometown!

So, perhaps I do not have a British bent after all, I am merely a product of my environment in good all Austin, TX. I will say my Junior English teacher at James Bowie High School had a great impact on my love for British literature there, but as for all the rest, I am...odd. :)