I love coffee shops. I just love them. Whenever I travel, I always make sure to visit as many coffee shops as possible. It’s just my thing. So you can imagine my joy when I discovered that there was a coffee shop on the campus we are staying at.

Walan Coffee Shop has Western food and music and some amazing coffee. I came for many meals, coffee breaks, late night chats, and just to hang out and find peace in the midst of a busy trip.

Although it was fairly dirty and the service was terrible, we all loved Walan. We ignored the small things that were unlike our American shops because of the warmness throughout the place.  It was our Rivertown of China, even though Rivertown is never filled with the smell of smoke. We would go to get good Wifi and our waffle fry fix for the day. I enjoyed that it was different from America so I could get another glance at Chinese culture.

I’m so glad I had a place to gather my thoughts and spend time with friends. I even met my new Chinese friends for lunch at Walan during one of my last days on campus. Walan Coffee Shop is another coffee shop to add to the list of shops that have warmed my heart and made me smile.

Kaitlin Chappell

Ni hao! My name is Kaitlin Chappell. I am a junior (soon to be senior) at the University of North Alabama. I am majoring in broadcast journalism and minoring in marketing. My dream is to be a news reporter and eventually an anchor on Good Morning America. I love to talk and I love to meet new people and hear their stories. I love love and laughing. Coffee shops are one of my obsessions. Traveling is another. I will be studying abroad in China for three weeks at Tian Jian University. I will be exploring several different areas of China, learning the language and customs, and meeting the people. I will blog and post pictures and videos to capture my trip. Join me on my adventures in the great land of China.

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