ARCH 453: Day One

This quarter seems promising, but today was a bit draining.  As our professor, Don, went around talking to everyone we were required to research the Japan tsunami disaster.  I watched video after video of the destruction and its unreal.  My heart goes out to the victims and their families and I wish that I could do more to help.     

Our project this quarter will be a mixed use project in a highly urban setting (Tokyo) but other than that we get to write our own program as a preparation for thesis next year.  He does want us to incorporate some sort of memorial or response to the current crisis.  As I have an interest in residential architecture and my research area last quarter was traditional Japanese architecture, Don suggested that I do some sort of transient housing for the refugees, stranded students, and/or aid workers.   I had just thought of that idea when he suggested it.  It's odd how I often have similar ideas about something, but don't mention them to people because I think they're not good enough or appropriate enough.  Anyway, transient housing as a memorial.  That's what I'm going with.  We'll see what I come up with!

Adjustments

Well....I'm not in Japan.  I'm crushed that I'm not.  Sometimes I worry that I don't feel enough, but I sure feel this one.  Immediately after the earthquake and tsunami (3/11) it looked like it might still happen, but as time went on the news just got worse and worse.  When the CSU chancellor finally squashed any possibility I was clearly in the anger stage of grief.  And it seems so ridiculous to think of my disappointment when there are so many people over there who are suffering, grieving, and using all the energy they have to maintain hope.  I continue to pray for them and hope that I can be of more help than a monetary donation.

I really just wanted to get away from SLO for a few days so I booked a train to go visit a friend in Berkeley.  SLO is a nice little town but there's not a lot going on, especially when your friends (the students) are gone and your boyfriend is a workaholic.  After a rainy weekend, Amtrak called the day before I was to leave to tell me the train wasn't running due to a mudslide further down the line.  

I guess mother nature was intent on me staying in SLO.  

So here I am.  The rain is pooring.  Farmer's is canceled.  What a great week to be stuck in "paradise."

Enough of my self pity.  

The end of last quarter was just as hectic as I predicted it would be.  Two group projects, studio, and three finals to study for.  My studio project came along nicely, however I didn't quite make my deadline.  I wish I had another hour to color over my presentation.  Ah well.  Discussing it afterward with professor was quite helpful and now I know what I need to do to prep it for my portfolio.  If I ever force myself to do it.  I need to.  I will.  Tomorrow.  Maybe.

I'll post some before and afters when they're done. 

I've transitioned from remembering everything for my travel preparations to remembering to cancel everything.  Getting my money back from the airline is proving to be a bit of a hassle.  And my Dad is bugging me to write my congressman about it.  Just what I needed: pressure from another angle.

I really wish break was another week longer.  Two weeks would be perfect.  I'd probably waist that time too, but I don't care.  I just don't want to go back to school so soon.  At least I should have plenty of free time next quarter.  I'm only registered for 15 units first of all.  Second of all, 6 of those units are for a field trip class.  I have no idea what we're going to do for that but there is no scheduled class time.  Thirdly, I quit my job at Einstein's when I thought I would be leaving for the quarter (and because it was really stressing me out) and my job at the library can't give me all the hours I'd like, so I'll only be working 8 hours a week. 

This either means lots more time to devote to studio or actually more free time.  o.O

I just hope I use that extra studio time wisely.

I'm sorry there's not visuals for this post.  More pictures soon.