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!!):

Sign Your Life Away

Today was our first meeting for Riva- and it's looking like a great bunch of people. We talked more about what our expectations for the program were, rather than talking about logistics.

I'm still absolutely excited!

Riva is an extremely small town (think Blacksburg, condensed into a couple blocks) and apparently we're right in the middle of it! We'll be meeting the mayor, and I'm sure everyone else as we explore the town.

We talked a little bit about the courses too- we'll be living, breathing, and sleeping architecture. Everyday we'll have one hour of sketching- façades in Riva-churches etc. and at the end of the trip we'll be binding our sketches and giving them to the residents of the town!
There's going to be an architectural acoustics class, and we'll see symphonies and operas in significant theaters and opera houses around Switzerland and Italy.

And So It Begins...

ciao, γειά σου, bonjour, こんにちは, hallo, здравствуйте!, hola!

Helloooooo everyone!

If you didn't know: I will be living in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland for a semester next fall.
This is pretty huge for me, and extremely exciting. I've just found out that I got into the program and so begins my journey. It may seem a little early to be updating you before I even leave, but I figured having you all here with me from the very beginning makes the most sense. Preparation for something like this takes time, and I'd like to believe that it's all a part of the journey as well.
More on the program and the casa later.

The idea is this: Now you can keep track of me whenever you want- I'll keep you in my little loop via anecdotes, pictures, sketches, etc.
Anything is fair game.

Now, to explain the program; Virginia Tech has a satellite school in Riva San Vitale, SwitzerlandIt's a little tiny village/town outside of Lugano in the South of Switzerland. They speak mostly Italian with a smattering of Swiss-German and a pinch of English. Breathtakingly nestled up against the swiss alps.

It's run by VT's Center for European Studies and Architecture (CESA).
Every Fall and spring an architecture studio does a residency there- the fall specifically for a fourth year studio, and the spring for both grads, and undergrads. Traditionally, the fall residency is a somewhat competitive program. There are only 15 spots available, and the professor organizing the trip selects the students. It's a full credit program, and is basically like attending Virginia Tech... the only difference? Well, this ain't Blacksburg.

This year, the professor doing the Fall 09 segment is Michael Ermann, our Environmental Building Systems professor. There will be an architectural accoustics class as well as a studio and various other activities. You live and work in the same little sphere, and get to know the town on an intimate level.
Sounds fabulous, right? absolutely! That's why 50+ students signed up this year! As stated previously, only 15 actually go. The proccess of getting in consists of interviews with previous studio professors, and a short question/answer sheet. Talk about killer- I stressed so much I thought I would burst!
But to cut out the agony of waiting nervously, I got in!! (kind of obvious considering the nature of the blog though, huh?)

Tomorrow is when everything kicks off. The fifteen of us are meeting Mike Ermann at the Indian restaurant in town for a lunchtime meeting. It's a get-to-know-you and get-to-know-the-program kind of a thing. I'm insanely excited to start the process. Ready, set... Allez Viens!

...I'm thinking I need to learn some Italian.