More of the Same

So I've had my first (And second) meetings for Riva 09- and I really haven't learned that much.
Although there are a couple cool new things- dates, etc. that I know now.

I have to officially be in Riva by the 19th of August- which means I will definitely be able to be at Carrie and Jay's wedding!! (this is exciting, and great- because I really thought I might miss it for a little bit- all my professor would say was "the middle of august")
We are still figuring out all of the crazy trips we are taking during our stay- and all of the places we are visiting. The best part is we (the students) are putting this together! Of course we're going to hit all of the normal hot spots- but all of the architects and cities that we were looking up are being compiled into a Google map, and we're organizing them into trips etc. So basically- every other weekend I'll be out traveling Europe. (That's a lot of blog posts!)

Another thing we're trying to set up: Exchanges with other architecture programs. We are looking to set up either one or two exchanges with schools studying in Europe for the semester- they would come to the CESA casa, and we would go to wherever their home base is- we'd have a week or so with their professors and a different perspective. It's pretty exciting if it works out. So we've all been given a list of Schools to call- to do some digging, and figure out who's going where and if it's possible to switch. It's kind of weird though because we might not even meet these students- I'm assuming they'd just be in our space, while we would be in theirs. Maybe we can all meet up in a bar somewhere...

That's basically all of the news that I have up to now (not a lot), and the extent of my updates. I'll know more money matters on February 2nd when we have (presumably) our next meeting, which is with a financial aid advisor aka. loan advisor. (My parents are happy- my future bank accounts are not). I probably won't bore you with those updates- so until I find out more about the trip: Arrivederci!

The Real Meeting

So the last post was posted waaay late- as a direct result of me letting it sit as a draft for nearly a month (whoops).

Update time! We just got an email from the professor doing the trip- and it's pretty long winded. Apparently I'm going to be doing some research!
We've each been assigned a series of cities, firms, and 'publications' to research before we go- we're going to google map the locations and buildings that are in and around Italy and Switzerland, and try to go to as many as we can while we're there. When we're actually in Switzerland- before we go on these trips- we'll do an informal presentation to the group- I guess as a sort of precursor to the place. Wow- we're designing our own trip!!

The real meeting is next week- during the first week of classes- eek! So we'll see if I can juggle my whole entire life delicately enough that I can make all of my various meetings, classes, and work schedule. (if anybody out there prays-- give the big guy a little elbow nudge + eyebrow wiggle for me... it's going to be a long semester.)

If you were wondering, curious, or just want to check out some great architecture, these are the cities, firms and buildings that I'm supposed to check out:

1. Chinquiterra (that's the city I'm researching, and is apparently spelled Chinquatera- but hey, I didn't write the list :-D)
2. Alvaro Siza (Architect)
3. Valerio Olgiati (Swiss Architect)
4. Michael Maltzan (Architect)
5. Paladio (Is he kidding?! Paladio IS early Italian architecture... this is going to be a loooong presentation!)
6. Peter Gluck (Architect)
7. Smith-Miller + Hawkinson (Firm)
8. Pete Bossley (Architect)
9. Randy Brown Architects (Firm)

I'll leave you all with a picture I googled of Chinquatera (also known as the Italian Riviera- Definitely going there!!):