An Afternoon in Oxford

Grace Rubacek - Fei Tian Academy student dancer, Shen Yun Performing Arts (UK Tour)

I had no idea the UK would be this cold. The icy wind bit my face as we hurried down the cobblestone streets of Oxford looking for The Grand, a café that serves afternoon tea. Despite the cold, I was buzzing with anticipation to try my first afternoon tea.

We got there in five minutes, but it felt much longer. After entering, we were embraced with warm air and the five of us were seated at a tiny round table right by the window. We scrutinized the menu and decided to get three servings of the classic afternoon tea option.

After we each told the waiter which tea we would like, she took our menus and left us wondering how five plates, five teacups, five teapots, and a three-tiered stand would fit on the tiny table. Well, it did just fit, with the exception of a plate of two extra sandwiches that had to go on the windowsill. It was an impressive sight, and I couldn’t wait to dig in.

The scones were still warm as we spread decadent clotted cream and strawberry jam on top. The sandwiches were fresh and tart, a perfect match with my Earl Grey tea. A few of us leisurely ate and sipped tea as the clock ticked by, and it was quite a nice experience.

I noticed the waiters looked somewhat wary, and I wondered if they were thinking about washing our teapots. If only they knew how much we had enjoyed this afternoon tea. From their perspective, it might seem like they do the same thing every day, but actually they give hundreds of customers such a delightful experience that might even become a meaningful memory.

This reminded me of our performances. We do the same exact thing every single day. The curtain opens, the audience claps, and the curtain comes down again.

However, what we don’t see is the joy they feel or the tears they shed. Each and every person who comes to the show has their own story to share, and they may all have their own unique experiences--whether they’re watching a performance or enjoying an afternoon tea.

Thinking about that made me smile. I realized how meaningful it can be when someone knows their effort was appreciated. And it also made me think about how nice it feels to try to give people a warm experience, even when it’s something you do every day.

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Grace Rubacek is a Fei Tian Academy student dancer touring the UK with Shen Yun Performing Arts on practicum. As she travels from city to city, she’s recording moments, questions, and reflections in a personal travel diary. This ongoing series shares those thoughts as they were written, and snapshots in real time, on the road.