In one word: it looked like GUNK. I had never sent tapioca pudding and
never really used tapioca before. So I winged it (foodie arrogance). 1.3
cups of tapioca, soaked in 2 cups of water. Which absorbed so quickly I
added lots of milk after about 30 minutes of soaking. Boiled it. Found
out I had to add much more milk. Added a little sugar. then even more
milk. I wound up with 6 bowls of gunk.

Still, it turned out way too solid for my taste. And I turn out not to
be a great fan of the labor of tapioca. At the same time, it does seem
to have all the makings to be a comfort food.

Nonetheless, I doubt I'll ever make it again. But it's good to get to
know what seems to be a tradition to people in North America (or am I
mistaken?)