"Notes on the [university] of Virginia" pt.1

The last few weeks have been a complete blur. I have arrived at the University of Virginia.Quickly after I moved in my classes began. My new roommates seem very interesting two of which are accounting graduate students, while the third is an undecided undergrad.
While we are all extremely different I look forward to another year of 'making life work with complete random strangers---college. ...

I am(yet again) the only guy in my year in the program for Architectural History. There are less than ten in my class. So far we have been trying to get our schedules worked out and finding our way around Charlottesville. My class seems to be very friendly and unified, which is a good feeling. I passed all of my placement exams, which reflects well upon SCAD I believe. Speaking of- I got my diploma framed and hung in my new room. It looks very official and gives me that little extra push to do well as I feel like I am no longer reflecting myself alone, rather, the whole department of professors from Savannah and SCAD as well.

My second day we had an earth quake. It was a bit scary I must say...

I was in my massive apartment building, as I watched the lights that hang in a line down the hallway shake in waves. The feeling was something completely foreign to me, and It sounded like either a plane was crashing or I was standing right beside a train track. The vibrating was very similar to this feeling.. I snapped a picture of the damage my apartment suffered.Luckily not much although a few things were tipped over on my bathroom sink.

I also drove past the Rotunda right after the quake and snapped a photo-it had no damage.

Finally, my schedule is getting worked out. I had a few minor conflicts as well as dealing with a few changes from the school, but I think I am finally ready to dive into my work. I am enrolled in: The Architecture of Thomas Jefferson (Seminar)-[which is where I got the title for this post. I'm reading Notes on the State of Virginia by Thomas Jefferson right now], Modernism (Lecture), a class called East meets West(Lecture), which I have been extremely surprised with so far on how much I've enjoyed it. Finally I am required to take three introduction classes in the department dealing with Arch. Historical methods, library and research methods, and finally what is called the 'common course', which is required of all first year grad students in the architecture school.

We basically will address design problems as a grou

p and contribute according to our many divers backgrounds as well as consider the issue from the lens of other disciplines.This was our most recent issue..It's the design for Apple's new headquarters. If you think it looks like a spaceship has landed in California-you are correct. In fact as it lands it will wipe-out four city blocks of historic urban fabric which once housed the headquarters of Hewlett-Packard (You couldn't make this stuff up!)

My impressions of the school thus far can be summed up in this picture.. While the history and tradition of the school runs deep, most of the population here don't truly appreciate it. Maybe every undergrad population give schools a bad reputation. From the schools I've been to I've seen it at SCAD, WVU, Syracuse, and now even UVA.. Don't get me wrong when I say there are Great things about all of these schools, but maybe it's a problem in every school in the United States. Some kids are just bad for the population.

This next picture is completely random. I saw it and had to snap a pick. I think my sister used to have this barbie and I guess it's still around. This is compliments of C-ville CVS

I guess I should finish by saying. I am in LOVE with this school. I love this town and I already feel a sense of pride here that my undergrad. school never had. Everyone here is proud to be a part of this community, which is tied to a strong tradition and open to new ideas. I feel like I am in the right place and even though I have been faced with more WORK than I ever have in my life, as I work my rash off I feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in my education... WOW..