You possibly know that it is very difficult to visit the Potala Palace in Tibet. However, my professor, a tea master succeeded going inside it easily, only because she brought tea with her. Indeed, I hear of such similar stories often, which remind me of that tea a special language, the world language.
您可能知道，就算到了拉萨，您也很难能有机会拜访布达拉宫。然而我的一位导师，茶叶大师，很轻松地进入殿堂，只因为她随身都带着茶。其实，我常常听说类似的故事，这让我想起了茶叶是一种特殊的语言，世界的语言！
Tea was initially discovered for its medicine functions 5000 years ago, and then was used for food in minority areas, until in Tang dynasty, became prevail for drinks. At the same era, And Tea seeds were firstly brought abroad by Japanese Buddhist monks in 9th century, since then tea became the unique bond between China and Japan.
大约5000多年前，茶最初因为其药用功能而被人类所用，后来在少数地区作为食物，直到唐代，茶饮盛行。在同一时期，茶籽被日本僧侣带回日本，从此茶在日本得以生根发芽，茶也成为了中国和日本之间非常独特的纽带。
In general, tea was transported world-widely by OBOR, one belt and one road, the Silk Road Economic Road and the Maritime Silk Road. It can be dated back to 10th century, tea was taken to Mid Asian and Mid East gradually by merchants. In 1618, the Chinese presented a gift of tea to Tsar Alexis of Russia，tea quickly gained popularity just like a magic language. After that, tea was exported to Russia and its neighbor countries through camel caravan road.
总的来说，茶是通过“一带一路”被传播至海外全球的。早在10世纪，茶就被一些商人带到中亚，然后再逐渐传播至中东。1618年，当沙皇 亚历克西斯收到这份特殊的中国茶礼时，顿时被它征服，茶叶也顺势得到了迅速的普及。从那之后，茶叶则通过大篷车源源不断地出口到俄国及其邻国。
As soon as the Portuguese and Dutch firstly imported tea into Europe commercially around 1610, tea conquered local people quickly, and even now it’s very common for each family to have a tea room in their house in Holland. But tea developed in Britain slowl， was brought only by some sailors or missionaries, until in 1662, the marriage of King Charles II to the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza, brought tea drinking to court widely in England. Without knowing anyone or spoke little English, tea once again become a magic language, helped Catherine win lots of reputation, because of that, she was also called the tea queen.
约1610年，当葡萄牙人和荷兰人首次将茶叶输入欧洲时，获得当地民众的追捧。至今，在荷兰大部分家庭中，茶室仍很常见。起初茶在英国发展则很缓慢，仅仅是作为礼品，被一些船员，或者传教士带回国内。到了1662年，查理二世与葡萄牙公主凯瑟琳的联姻，使得茶饮在英国宫廷及上流社会迅速普及。凯瑟琳在英国几乎不识一人，也不懂英语，让人欣慰的是，作为一种魔法语言，茶又一次帮助了凯瑟琳，赢得了整个王国。因为她，英式下午茶得以在英国风靡，凯瑟琳因此也被称为茶皇后。
You all know that English is the world language, but there are American English, Britain English, Chinglish, even Kunglish, just like the diversity of tea after it was customized in different countries. Compare to here in China, we drink pure tea, while in western, they like to mix with lots of additives, like sugar, milk, and other spicy. Till today, the whole world are enjoying tea even they do not understand it, that’s the charm of tea. So it does not matter is it pure, scented or flavored tea? The most importance is that tea has taken the role of being the world language, connecting all of us, and pull us closer.
你们都知道，英语是全球通过的语言。但是我们常听说美式英语，英式英语，澳大利亚英语，甚至中式英语，它们是有区别的，正如茶被当地同化后的多样性一样。竟然如此，全世界都在享用这一种特殊饮品，懂与不懂又有何关系呢？在中国，我们饮清茶，在国外，他们则习惯加入牛奶，糖等其他调料。但这又有什么关系呢？ 茶已经作为一种世界语言，得到了全世界的认可，它为每一个人搭建起沟通的桥梁，也使我们更加亲近。
Being the typical cultural symbol of China, tea is often being the best diplomatic gifts for many foreign leaders. There was a very interesting story between Chairman Mao Zhe Dong and US president Richard Nixon when he did the ice visiting China in 1972. Nixon felted disappointed when he got only 200 grams of Da Hong Pao, primer minister Zhou En Lai found out what’s happening, said to Nixon: You know what? China Mao had shared half China with you, because there were only 400 grams precious DaHongPao from the mother tree. Nixon laughed then. You all know it at that time, China and US had a good relationship.
作为中国的一个文化符号，茶也常作为外交礼品送给很多国外的元首。1972年当尼克松总统第一次访华时，毛主席送了200克（四两）大红袍给了他。尼克松是否觉得中国太小气，对此颇有微词。周恩来总理发现了其中的缘由，开玩笑对尼克松说：毛主席可是把半个中国都送给你了啊，从大红袍母树上摘下来的茶叶非常宝贵，仅仅只有八两（400克）。尼克松随之也笑了。你们都知道，当后来的中美关系是比较不错。
Last summer, we also brought tea to France, and it was very easy to start talking with people by inviting them for tea even I could speak little French. So in future, if you do not know what gifts for your friends, or how to start a communication with them, tea, or invite them for cups of tea is always the best way!
去年我拜访法国时，作为伴手礼，茶肯定少不了。虽然我不怎么会说法语，但以茶会友确实让我很容易地认识了更多的朋友。所以我的朋友，如果你不知道送什么礼物，或者如何开始与人沟通，茶都会是不错的选择哦！
注：以上为 头马CC2（Toastermasters--Competent Communication 2）演讲稿.