It is the little things....

It has been a week of some exciting adventures. I suppose you could argue what defines exciting, and after reading this post you may find yourself wondering about the life I am now leading, but, all the same, I have found joy, and that is all that really matters. I discovered the International Business School students have opened a coffee bar on my campus. Now I realize that sounds pretty mundane, considering nearly all college campuses in the U.S. have a place for students to stay continually caffeinated, but in China, it is certainly an exceptional circumstance. Most Chinese don’t really drink coffee, preferring to drink tea throughout the day. This is what makes a coffee bar a rare situation.

I should mention that I am one of the lucky volunteers to be in a city that actually has several Starbucks I could go to, but it would involve a 30 – 45 minute bus ride in the chaos known as Chongqing traffic, not to mention a latte costs around 30 RMB, which is essentially my living allowance per day.

Coffee within walking distance is much more appealing, and the students decided part of their business plan would be to offer their drinks at ½ price for the first couple months. So I paid 9 RMB for a mocha! That is quite a deal! The café has a great atmosphere too. I actually felt really focused and made some progress studying Chinese. I will definitely be going back soon! Although getting there does involve a bit of hike as my school is literally built into the side of mountain, it is worth it.

I love coffee. Wo ai kafei. 我爱咖啡