Freeeee from studio

Final architecture review was this morning and it went infinitely smoother than last time. The teachers really didn't have much to say, but it was overall positive. The dean didn't give me a hard time like last time, thankfully. Still, it's a huge shame that we spend so long preparing materials and are given a total of 15 minutes to present and then discuss our ideas... another reason why grad school in China feels like undergrad in the States. Sigh I kinda feel like I am sleep-deprived, malnourished, and stressed for no reason.









Review may be over, but new wave of stress from papers...on a more positive note, I have an internship. I'll be working as the assistant editor to the Shanghai architecture/interior design magazine 《设计家》or Designer and Designing. According to Jianlaoshi, it's supposed to well-established, covers new design projects, and interviews famous architects. Not sure which famous architects he's talking about... On one hand, it sounds great--at least on paper. However, I won't be developing any architecture-related skills which is kinda why I signed up for this program...I strongly suspect I will be translating articles for the next 5 months for little pay. I guess it's a good chance to learn other workplace skills, and I am really interested in graphic design and print media.

Just made a batch of tea leaf eggs. I'm trying hard to finish food in my fridge, but the condiments may be a problem.

Seriously gotta get at least one good night's sleep.

Studio stuff

We have to make an exhibition space, composed of a single, self-supporting unit that can also be dynamic. Our group decided (or more like I did) to go with origami-inspired folded plate structure.

Experimenting with removing material but maintaining structural stability.

My two partners on my left and right. The girl behind me is in my class but I still don't know her name...or 95% of the other students'.

Feels more like an origami arts and crafts class than studio...

Making friends?

Finally starting to warm up to all my studio classmates... or more like they are starting to warm up to me. We've had classes together for four months, but no one really talks to the student who speaks broken Chinese--oh wait she's American. But now people will come up and chat and joke around, which makes me really happy! That makes sounds a little pathetic... but it's very difficult breaking into Chinese social circles.

Students have all the same classes with each other and all live together for all years of school. After spending so much time with their class, they even see students from other classes but of another teacher as outsiders. This exclusivity and tightknit bonds are why my dad still keeps in touch with his college and even high school classmates. Some other flagship students were in classes with second and third year grad students, which was probably more difficult than my situation. My class is first year graduate students, but they still had locked down their clique pretty quickly in the beginning of the year... Even though I knew and anticipated this difficulty, it was still discouraging to be that outsider, despite my best efforts to talk to people during studio.

I guess starting relationships takes some time, but Chinese people are actually very 热情, or warm and friendly when that relationship does start.

Anyway, I knew I was accepted when I was invited to go shopping with some of the girls. Was busy that day, but it was a nice gesture.