Jessica and I normally study at our local Xingbake, or Starbucks. They have comfortable chairs, plenty of outlets, and free wireless. You don't even have to buy something to work there (although usually I get a hot chocolate). However, they close up shop at 10pm, which is not so great when you want to work late. Jessica tends to fall asleep as soon as she gets into the room, since there isn't a lot of light and only one desk (which is piled high with various guidebooks, chargers, fruit cutting plates and the like).
Lately we have tried the UBC Coffee, which is just across the street from our hotel. They also have free wireless, but their menu is more expensive (yet expansive) than Starbucks, and they require you to make a purchase. During the day UBC Coffee is usually a fine option, but it gets busy in the evening with businessmen who like to smoke. Gross.
We heard about a great coffee place called The Bridge Coffee, which is in Wudaokou. This area is a big student area accessible via subway northeast of where we are staying. It is a big party zone in the evening, and has lots of clubs, bars, restaurants, etc. It's also where the vigorous massage place is. The major advantage to the Bridge is that it is open 24 hours! We decided to check it out tonight, since we have a finance midterm and strategy project due next week.
It turns out the place is great! For 30 yuan you get the mother of all delicious meals; a 3 egg omlette, salad, wheat toast, home fries and your choice of either coffee, tea, hot chocolate or orange juice. Yummy! They also have waffles, panini, pasta, and other snacks. Oddly the cost of a coffee is the same price as the meal--their pricing scheme is off for sure. The place feels like a real US style coffee shop, with funky decor, wooden tables, bookshelves, etc. And of course, because it's China, there are a million servers who provide good service and you don't have to tip them. This is China!
Jess and I got some good work done on the midterm, but then we discovered that we had slightly different versions. It looks like the professor uploaded a different version to the website without telling anyone. Most of the questions match up but not all of them. Yikes. I emailed him to clarify, but I'm worried I'll have to scrap some of my answers and then start over on them. Psychologically it's not so great.
We're going back to the Bridge tomorrow morning. I think I will get waffles. Mike and I had planned to go to Easter service but it's just too far away (in Wangfujing) and we have too much work to do. We may try to make the 4pm English service but we'll have to play it by ear.
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