Humidity = :(

So here's a quick update on things that I've learned in the past few:

1. I am good at line weights
2. I am bad at diagramming
3. I don't update this blog

So apologizes to my two readers on not writing in a while. I've been busy. Ok?? Because of the amount to write about, and the lack of time to do so, I'm going to skip the last project we did and go straight to the explosive stuff. And by that I mean the Fourth of July.

I have been in a debate as to whether Boston is actually American's birthplace or not. The short list of the argument came down to:

1. Shot Heard Around the World (Boston Area) vs. Signing of the Declaration (Philly)
2. Freedom Trail (Boston) vs. Valley Forge (PA)
3. Plymouth Rock (Massachusetts) vs. Jamestown (Virginia)
and 4. Philly Cheesesteak vs. Boston Creme Pie

It appears that Boston has maintained a slight edge in this debate, and with that, we conclude that is the best place for a Fourth of July celebration.

I've been busy with architecture and all that and we had a lot to construct this week.

Hey look! Kenmore Square!

So after a review all morning, with the afternoon off, a few studio-mates and I naturally decided to be classy and drink some reveled American beer in honor of the holiday.

Bud Light: American Brewing at it's finest. 

After some socializing and a shower, we headed to the famous Esplanade where the Boston Pops play alongside famous artists. Last night the lineup included the cast of Mama Mia!, Dropkick Murphy's, and Jennifer Hudson. It was hot, humid, and ridiculously crowded. But the view was definitely spectacular. 

I can never get sick of this view

Long story short, I ended up at an apartment at MIT with some other architects at the church I've been going to here. Therefore, we avoided the crowds, a lightning delay, and a rainstorm, all in the comfort of an unstable wall a/c unit, oh-so-delicious cake pops, and a great river view. All while enjoying home-brew IPAs, talking about our bikes, and sharing good underground bands like good hipsters should. After the build up, we watched the fireworks. Let me say this as a disclaimer: these photos do not do it justice. 

 

But following the show, the whole city had to brave the public transportation system in the late hours of the evening. Let's just say 90-degrees, 90% humidity, and 900,000 people (ok, maybe not that many, but damn close) do not go well together in an underground T stop. 

My skin starts getting sticky just remembering this

So I just walked the 3 miles back to my room. Which, of course, does not have air conditioning and there is no distinction between the in and outdoors. 

We have one week left and a crap load of work to do, but until then... happy sweating!

Bring on Week 3!

I'm ready

The Podcast

As I find myself spending more hours working in the studio, I found my typical Avicii, Black Keys, Fleet Foxes, or Britney Spears Pandora stations to be a bit monotonous. After a certain amount of time I think I have exhausted Pandora's algorithms and found myself listening to the same songs over... and over... and over... and over....

...and over

...and over.

After a recommendation from some studio-mates, I delved into the world of podcasts. I never got to into these because of my work at school mostly required readings, papers, and problem sets. We've all done it, but reading while watching TV gets you nowhere. However, now, as I am making projects, I find talk radio to be not only interesting, but stimulating as well. I am currently expanding my podcast arsenal to include an array of topics to expand my knowledge while maintaining productivity.

Podcasts on Podcasts

Side note: NPR's famous "Car Talk" is broadcasted just down the street at Harvard Square!

Adjusting to this work of projects, rather than papers has been fun, and while it is more time consuming, that time quickly goes by as I am sucked in (in a good way) to a design. So why not listen to Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers while doing so?!

I was wrong

This isn't an architecture program. This is architecture boot camp.

It is hard to write about what I did for the past 5 days, because, frankly, it's too much. I'll give a quick, broad overview because I don't feel like writing about what I just finished.

Monday:


Relatively simple day. We signed in to the program and were assigned to a specific "tray" (architecture jargon for 'desk', I'm picking up on these really quickly because I have no choice not to!). We are in smaller 'studios' led by a graduate student. There are 11 of us in this, and our assignments are individual to us Given parameters, we cut and built foam core models of a 'thing', and had to meet certain requirements (within dimensions and had to include 2 enclosed spaces by at least 3 different planes. Group BBQ after. This is going to be chill, ya?

View of the studio, aka "The Pit", from my "tray"

Tuesday:


Had a lecture from some weird artist on how he goes into the catacombs of Rome to paint and feeds and pets squirrels every morning as they climb up under his shirt. Studio was low-key, and was assigned a project that night to make models that described specific adjectives using the same material for all three. I used Starbucks cups (cause they were free), and did it quickly and managed to leave by 10 to watch the Celtics close out the Heat in game 5.

"Busy", "Sharp", and "Fast" 

Wednesday: We are given our assignment.

We need to make a 'circulation', meaning an upwards or downwards pathway in a room, connecting a specific room to the outside. This pathway needs to characterize the room it is leading to/from, and attempt incorporated architectural aspects to accentuate this. It is individualized. For me, I had to create a 'busy' circulation leading to/from a library. You need to complete a 1:4 scale model, 1:4 scale section and plan, and conceptual artifacts. Be ready to present it to a "jury" on Friday at noon.

omg.

Thursday: Worked all day/night.

Friday:
Here was my result:

finished morning of, but still had time to take a shower!

The presentation went well, and while I'm not going to delve into the architectural plans, it is, what I think, successful for a first architectural attempt. And a lot of chipboard. 

So all the students celebrated with drinks afterward because we survived the first week. I have two assignments over the weekend but I will try to be touristy as well. Now that I know what this is like, I can plan and prepare accordingly. But what I've learned this week is that they threw us in to test us. You can't starting thinking about everything, you just got to glue two pieces together and go from there. That's all for now. I'm dead tired. 

Day 1

With an emergency exit row to myself, I ordered beer and lay across all the seats... because I could. 

nuthin' like a brew in a mug

After a red eye flight (which I got upgraded to 'Select' seating.. for free!), and an attempt to approach a REM cycle, I landed in Boston with time to spare. Upon arriving at Harvard Square on the T, I sat and enjoyed a cup of coffee for several hours while fighting a bout of jet lag. There is a storm coming through, so the next few days are actually going to be chilly and cloudy with patchy rain as well. I moved into my room, which is decent sized for one person. After some unpacking, a couple floor mates and myself went to Target where we bought certain things we needed (such as the ever-essential $10 coffee maker). Afterwards I gave myself a walking tour on my way to Trader Joe's (gotta get some quinoa!).

[The moment after this, I passed out for 4 hours, missed the floor meeting, but then got beer with some people after. So, it's all good?]

I think I was tired...

My room. It's like freshman year all over again!

Just some geese on the Charles

So essentially after an unplanned, extended nap, and finally making my bed with sheets that are the wrong size, I am going to call it a night. It is fun meeting new people from different backgrounds and ages from all over the country (and Canada... so... the world?), and I am looking forward to this a lot! Tomorrow is registration, but this week consists of lectures in the morning, and studio in the afternoon. So relatively something easy (??) to adjust to and get settled more. 

What is this thing?

So time is flying, and now that I have actually realized I'm leaving this Saturday, I'm not prepared at all! I started this blog, not only as a way to procrastinate on packing right now, but to keep friends and family (and by that I mostly mean my mother) updated on this little adventure. I'm leaving Berkeley behind on Saturday to study architecture at Harvard for six weeks. This is because my undergrad education, while interesting, challenging, and very, for the lack of better words, 'educational', is minimally relevant. Political Economy/economic development/public policy is something that I explored, and worked hard in, but and the end of the road, I don't feel that it is what I am called to do. This program that I somehow miraculously got in to will give me the tools and knowledge to pursue a Master's degree in a field that I want to do, whether that be architecture or urban design. I haven't decided yet. But, first things first. I'm moving out... to nowhere. That means that all my personal valuables I am sending via my mom to the house in Long Beach, the clothes I'm not lugging with me I will keep in Berkeley, somewhere, and everything else is getting the ax. I'm looking forward to living out of one suitcase for the rest of summer (as Virgin America charges for checked bags, I'm not about to check two. Damn you OPEC!), and shedding baggage from Berkeley for the summer, literally. But that means I have to actually go through and pack all my stuff. It'll come together in the 11th hour, I hope. Hopefully this can be updated regularly on what I'm learning, and will be able to share some adventures as well.