4 (or is it 5?) days away from deadline now. and 10 away from a flight back to Tennessee.

Continuing to have computer problems, but what's new. My laptop did decide to turn on today though, so I felt compelled to write something.

As I haven't updated in a while, I'll give the quick rundown of what I have been up to.

-Thermal Vals was AMAZING. I have always been impressed with Zumthor's chapel, but the baths felt like a whole new level. The human element and degree of engagement was something I don't think I have experienced before. Just really, really spectacular. (Plus, the breakfast buffet in the morning was really good too. Ha.)

-Winding down my studio project. Presenting next week on Wednesday. I am a bit ahead of schedule, though I won't count my chickens before they hatch. Something always goes wrong-- so I am just waiting for the inevitable bump in the road. Hoping to plot soon and spend the next few days in model mode. (Nice alliteration.) Supplies are so expensive here to build stuff though! Going to try to use the materials I have first, but won't set that as a rule just yet. I am more or less out of money though....

-Taking an exam in German next week? HA! So we will see how that goes. I can fill it out in English, but the text is supposed to be in German? The whole course has been in English, so I was a bit disappointed to find out that the exam was German. Oh well-- it is a German speaking school afterall.

-My projects/ affairs in Tennessee are starting to creep back into my consciensousness and inbox. This is welcomed, but also overwhelming at the same time. I don't know how I am going to go back to sleeping less than 10 hours a night. Wait, why have I been sleeping 10 hours a night? This seems like a waste of potential swiss experiences, but I can't say I didn't appreciate getting enough sleep for the first time in 5 years.

-As everyone already knows, the Swiss Mineret iniative passed. The percentages I saw were like 57 yes, 43 no--- which is not quite "overwhelmingly passed" as the coverage has been saying. (In my opinion at least.) While this is the law now, I would like to think that in the near future it won't be the case. History tends to [eventually] err on the side of inclusion and I would hope Switzerland is not the exception to this. That's all the big news here right now....oh, and Polanski is chillin at his chalet until further notice. That too.

-After studio project is over my time will be spent trying to spend my vast collection of coins (over 70chf now), wrapping up paperwork with the government, trying to make all my things fit back into the two bags I brought, trying to see a few more things in Zurich I have been putting off, and relishing the last week with friends over a cheap COOP beer (because I don't have any money left.)

-Another review this week. Not quite the disaster of 2 weeks ago, though it was certainly an improvement. Mateo said no less two times, it was the best images I had produced all semester. He never said it was good, or that the design itself was okay-- but certainly better than what I got two weeks... View full entry

As you may have deduced from my previous entry, my computer is more or less dead at this point (thus a lack of updates, photos, etc). I managed to turn it on again after a 2 full sweeps of the harddrive and giving it about a week to think about what it had done, but I am heistant to start... View full entry

updates! -Barcelona was great. Posted photos online. Sketches are better, but i haven't scanned them yet. Of course I didn't get to see everything I wanted, but that is just the way it works, right? -People everywhere in Barcelona wear white glasses. In my [not so important] opinion, white glasses... View full entry

Review #2 went well. A lot better than I was expecting actually. Main criticisms spawned from how the drawings were reading (compared to what I was saying), but that is just a consequence of rushing to complete before the pinup today. I am still really intrigued by the relationship we are afforded... View full entry

Bullet points today because I'm bussssy. -Design project coming along. Facade/section/structure falling in place. (Until I get told to change it all at the review on Tuesday.) -Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize? okay. -I'm going to Barcelona next week for 4 days. Rough list of things to see below... View full entry

Four years of architecture school in Imperial Units is not easily unlearned. The metric system is such a pain in my ass. I don't care if it is superior, base ten, whatever- I can't quickly reference it in my head. Rode my bike to Basel this weekend. 95km (In miles??? 60ish.) It was so great... View full entry

I have been watching the IOC selection process for the Olympics. I think it will go to Rio. (Has anyone been to Rio? I would like to go some day- not necessary for the Olympics, but I wouldn't mind that either.) Chicago was just eliminated in the first round of voting. I kind of saw that coming... View full entry

Just got out of our first formal review with Professor Mateo. Maybe it is just me, but spending literally the entire day (8 hours) to talk about schematic programming of every project in the class just doesn't seem like a good use of time. I see the point in participating in/ watching the review... View full entry

Not a lot of posts lately. "Things" have been getting increasingly busier. I hate it when people start out blogs like that, but hey-- it'll be okay. Studio started on Wednesday. Officially we are in class from something like 8am-6pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. This is obviously a bit different that... View full entry

Hoi. (look i speak swiss german) Two weeks of German class just about finished. It is hard to make an honest/ accurate assessment about where I stand now vs. where I stood before 60 hours of classroom time, but I feel at least a lot more comfortable speaking and not worrying so much about making... View full entry

-Preregistered for Josep Lluís Mateo's studio. [Real] classes start in two weeks. -Started my language course on Wednesday. It's going OKAY. I can't really understand what is going on most of the time (because the instruction is entirely in German) but I can do all the work. So I guess... View full entry

Another short update because school hasn^t really started yet and everything is kind of happening in bullets/ to do lists anyway. -I have a flat to live in! I can only stay for a month however. it is quite nice- will post a photo or two later. I have a place lined up for when i have to move out... View full entry

I will keep this short because I am paying for my internet in a hostel and it's easier/more fun. -Got here 1 week ago -Weather is hot, but the Swiss are very excited about it. This is just another hot, sweaty day in Tennessee. -I'm living in a hostel right now, which is expensive and difficult... View full entry