"Tea-shops were to become my favourite haunts in England"

When Zola Budd reflects on her time in England, mentioning that tea-shops became her favourite haunts, she offers a window into both her personal adaptation and the cultural fabric of her adopted country. The simple mention of tea-shops invokes more than just a fondness for a particular drink or place; it reveals an emotional process of belonging and comfort. For an athlete whose journey was marked by displacement and public scrutiny, the ritual and haven found in a tea-shop provided a sense of stability and serenity. In a foreign land, far from her South African roots, Budd discovered an anchor in the ritualistic pause that tea-shops provided, spaces for rest, reflection, and simple pleasures.

The idea of a "haunt" suggests repeated, almost ritualistic, visits, a pattern of seeking solace. Tea-shops, quintessentially British institutions, represent warmth, hospitality, and a gentle rhythm set apart from the fast pace of the outside world. By gravitating towards these spaces, Budd was not only finding relief from the pressures of her athletic career but also integrating herself into English daily life, learning the nuances of her new environment through its overlooked yet cherished traditions. The ambiguous comfort found in the hum of conversation, the delicate clink of cups, and the aroma of steeped leaves turned these tea-shops into sanctuaries where she could temporarily forget the pressures of competition and public scrutiny.

On a deeper level, this preference underscores the universal need for places of respite, especially for those who are strangers in a new land. For Budd, who faced both admiration and criticism under the global eye, quiet moments in a tea-shop offered not just familiar comfort, but also an unobtrusive way of feeling part of something larger. By embracing this very British custom, she drew closer to a sense of home and belonging, reminding us how small pleasures can alleviate solitude and help us navigate new identities.