Q: Using an internet cafe to transfer cd's to ipod- possible?

If you used automatic syncing (the Sync Music setting) in iTunes on your computer, NO.  Your iPod is associated with your iTunes library.  iTunes and iPod are set to keep your iPod "in sync" with your one iTunes library.  If you associate it with a different iTunes library, or try to load new songs manually from a different iTunes library, its current content is erased.  That's the design, not a "syncing issue."

If you used the Manually manage music and videos setting in iTunes to manually load what is currently on the iPod, you may be able to manually add new songs from a different iTunes library.  However, you'll need to import those CDs into the different iTunes library.  iTunes can't load songs directly (to iPod) from a music CD.  Not sure if an Internet cafe allows you to do that on their PC.

If it's already set to use the Manually manage music and videos setting, you won't have to change any setting.  You can try manually adding new songs to it.  If you are prevented from adding new songs, then you cannot (without specifically changing a setting that erases iPod).

In my experience, you would need to specifically change the iPod's sync setting. If you don't change how the iPod syncs, it does not get erased just because you connect it to a different iTunes library.