Of course, the pace is slowly picking up. Last week wasn't as hectic as it could have been, but that was only because we were being introduced to the project. Now, we're getting right into things. We're being told to do more and more and more...but since we expected it, having followed the same sort of format for the last three projects, I don't think it's as bad. We're learning what we're capable of, and more importantly, how fast we can finish. Time management is so very important on this course.
As for the work itself...well. It's a love-hate relationship. There are days when I seriously question the reasons I picked architecture as a career-choice, and then there are the days when I think, Yeah, it's okay. I love this.
One of the really good things, I think, is that we get to work pretty closely with our tutor. We have reviews on Tuesdays and Fridays, where we meet with our respective design tutors and tutor groups (there's roughly 12 of us to a group, I'd say) to go over the work we've done. Now that we've moved into designing our own houses, we're getting critique from each other as well, as opposed to just our design tutor giving us advice. I'm in Cameron's group (he's the Head of Year 1 Architecture), which I'm really happy about. Although I suppose everyone must be happy with their own design tutors - one of the reasons I like Cameron is because I work more with him, and the same must hold true for the others.
Another plus is the studio space. We work in close proximity to the other students, so there are always people around to give you advice (and chat, which is, of course, equally important). I like almost everyone that I've met so far - people here are really nice.
It's Halloween tomorrow. A friend of mine dragged me out to go costume shopping with him today, and it was exhausting. We were wandering around for over 3 hours trying to find him a costume he was happy with. I found one pretty quick (a bumblebee!), and bought a couple of other things as well, including a lovely, soft paw-print-patterned blanket for Bruno. It's sad how I buy more things for my dog than for the people in my family. When we got home, I discovered that the costume was too big for me... so I'll either have to sew it up myself, or return it and ask for a smaller size. It depends on which I can be bothered doing, because I'm so worn out.
At one point, I accidentally walked out of a store without paying for something. A few floors up the shopping mall, I realized what I had in my hand, and completely panicked. Gavin (the friend looking for a costume) said he remembered me paying, but I didn't. I went back and paid for it (I don't think they would have noticed if I didn't go back, but I couldn't do that). I don't mind having paid for it twice, if that's the case (it was only a pound). I'd rather pay twice than not at all, in all honesty (not if it's over ten pounds, though).
One of the really sad things about the course, though, is how we change our ways of thinking. Instead of saying, Oh, I have free time tomorrow, I can sleep in!, we say, and I quote, Oh, we have free time tomorrow, I can work!
Architects have no free time.
Well, okay, I am obviously exaggerating. But still, we do work a lot.
And love it.
Ja ne.
