The Long-Awaited Update
I haven't been around a lot so far this semester. I have been pretty busy with 12 hours of classes (one of which is my Capstone Studio), my presidential duties for SURSI, and trying to spend time with Kelly. I have a lot to say so I am going to divide my entry into sections (damn I have been writing too many memos)
Classes:
Classes have been busy this semester, but I am getting closer to graduating in December. This semester I am taking 12 hours of classes.
-Heritage Preservation- I love this class, it is with one of my favorite professors. The last month was 'boot camp' where we learned the differences between the different styles of architecture. While I can't quite wax on the differences of a Queen Anne versus a Tudor, I can at least look at a building and venture a guess of what type of architecture it is.
-Urban Transportation- This class is okay. It is an interesting mix of policy and case studies. The grad students have a 15 to 20 page paper or field project to do. I am working with another classmate on studying Mankato's transit system and how to improve it. Last week was our midterm in there, 4 definitions and 2 essays, filled up half a blue book and took me 2 hours or so.
-Urban Studio- Not too bad of a class. The class is a lot of work. By the end of the semester each group has to have a completed project. My group's project is a Pedestrianization Plan for campus. It is a large undertaking for 5 students. We have to do literature reviews, conduct design surveys, review campus plans, interview students, etc. The final project will be close to 50 pages, which is due by the beginning of May. Even though it is a lot of work, I am enjoying it. I have a great and hard-working group and the project is pretty fun.
-Urban Analysis- I HATE this class. The class is very disorganized, we didn't even have a set room for 3 weeks into the class. It is also team taught by 3 professors in the department, so it seems very disjointed. The class is a lot of work, every week it is another project. We have learned how to do PowerPoint's, use Excel for some statistical work, how to conduct focus groups and surveys. So I guess some useful info, but a lot of things most of us already know how to do. Another annoying aspect with this class is the number of group projects, where the grad student is supposed to take the lead. I can understand the thinking of the grad student, being the group leader and typing up the report. But with my last project, it was taken by the undergrads in my group that the grad student will do all the work, while we sit back and get the grade. I hate most group work with the fire of a thousand suns.
Besides classes, school has been busy. Friday was my written comprehensive exams. It was quite hellish. The questions were emailed to us at 8am and had to be returned by 4pm. I took about 6 hours to answer my two questions. The first question was essentially me having to come up with an initial plan to revitalize Mankato's riverfront. The second one was similar, but dealing more with how to finance a $218 million dollar project and then how to sell the project to the public. This semester will end up being my toughest semester, if I pass my comps and pass studio, I will be almost done with the requirements of my program. Next semester I will need to take my theory class to finish my required core. I will also take Urban Design and either GIS or CAD to finish up my concentration in Urban Aesthetics.
My helm as head of SURSI is going quite well. We have brought back department t-shirts, which we are selling as a fundraiser. There is a group of students that are going to the National APA Conference in Philly in April. SURSI is also working to have an end of the year picnic at the end of April. So I would have to say from a group that was 4 members last year and doing nothing... to now, our effort to rebuild SURSI has been going well.
Personal Life
My personal life is going quite well. Kelly and I are still going strong. I am in total love with her. She is coming back to SC with me in May. I am quite excited about that. Sadly with the cold, snow and ice there hasn't been much opportunity to be outside, so we spend a lot of our time watching movies, hanging out together, and playing with her dogs and cats. We don't always have to go out on 'dates', we are both content with just cooking dinner, watching a movie and talking. Its quite enjoyable, we have a lot in common and I def. see a long-term relationship with her. :-)
I am still looking for an internship for this summer, right now I have an application in for a planning and zoning intern in Faribault. The city is about 35 miles east of Mankato. It is a much larger community when compared to Glencoe. Glencoe had just over 5,500 people, while Faribault has over 22,000. The pay is a bit better too, $10.00/hr compared to $9.50/hr. We will see how that goes. I am also going to a career fair at the University of MN on Thursday, so we shall see if anything comes from that.
I am so very ready for spring. Last week was the first time it got above freezing in over a month. A lot of the snow melted, just in time for a big snowstorm this weekend. They were calling for sleet, freezing rain and over a foot of snow. They are also calling for another storm on Wed. and Thursday. March is our snowiest time of the year so I guess it is expected. We need the snow badly for the farmers and the spring run off, but that 45 last week felt very very nice.
Thank you to everyone who read this far. I hope it wont be 3 months before my next update. I miss all of my friends in SC and Maryland. Drop me a comment or an e-mail and let me know how you have been! :-)
Classes:
Classes have been busy this semester, but I am getting closer to graduating in December. This semester I am taking 12 hours of classes.
-Heritage Preservation- I love this class, it is with one of my favorite professors. The last month was 'boot camp' where we learned the differences between the different styles of architecture. While I can't quite wax on the differences of a Queen Anne versus a Tudor, I can at least look at a building and venture a guess of what type of architecture it is.
-Urban Transportation- This class is okay. It is an interesting mix of policy and case studies. The grad students have a 15 to 20 page paper or field project to do. I am working with another classmate on studying Mankato's transit system and how to improve it. Last week was our midterm in there, 4 definitions and 2 essays, filled up half a blue book and took me 2 hours or so.
-Urban Studio- Not too bad of a class. The class is a lot of work. By the end of the semester each group has to have a completed project. My group's project is a Pedestrianization Plan for campus. It is a large undertaking for 5 students. We have to do literature reviews, conduct design surveys, review campus plans, interview students, etc. The final project will be close to 50 pages, which is due by the beginning of May. Even though it is a lot of work, I am enjoying it. I have a great and hard-working group and the project is pretty fun.
-Urban Analysis- I HATE this class. The class is very disorganized, we didn't even have a set room for 3 weeks into the class. It is also team taught by 3 professors in the department, so it seems very disjointed. The class is a lot of work, every week it is another project. We have learned how to do PowerPoint's, use Excel for some statistical work, how to conduct focus groups and surveys. So I guess some useful info, but a lot of things most of us already know how to do. Another annoying aspect with this class is the number of group projects, where the grad student is supposed to take the lead. I can understand the thinking of the grad student, being the group leader and typing up the report. But with my last project, it was taken by the undergrads in my group that the grad student will do all the work, while we sit back and get the grade. I hate most group work with the fire of a thousand suns.
Besides classes, school has been busy. Friday was my written comprehensive exams. It was quite hellish. The questions were emailed to us at 8am and had to be returned by 4pm. I took about 6 hours to answer my two questions. The first question was essentially me having to come up with an initial plan to revitalize Mankato's riverfront. The second one was similar, but dealing more with how to finance a $218 million dollar project and then how to sell the project to the public. This semester will end up being my toughest semester, if I pass my comps and pass studio, I will be almost done with the requirements of my program. Next semester I will need to take my theory class to finish my required core. I will also take Urban Design and either GIS or CAD to finish up my concentration in Urban Aesthetics.
My helm as head of SURSI is going quite well. We have brought back department t-shirts, which we are selling as a fundraiser. There is a group of students that are going to the National APA Conference in Philly in April. SURSI is also working to have an end of the year picnic at the end of April. So I would have to say from a group that was 4 members last year and doing nothing... to now, our effort to rebuild SURSI has been going well.
Personal Life
My personal life is going quite well. Kelly and I are still going strong. I am in total love with her. She is coming back to SC with me in May. I am quite excited about that. Sadly with the cold, snow and ice there hasn't been much opportunity to be outside, so we spend a lot of our time watching movies, hanging out together, and playing with her dogs and cats. We don't always have to go out on 'dates', we are both content with just cooking dinner, watching a movie and talking. Its quite enjoyable, we have a lot in common and I def. see a long-term relationship with her. :-)
I am still looking for an internship for this summer, right now I have an application in for a planning and zoning intern in Faribault. The city is about 35 miles east of Mankato. It is a much larger community when compared to Glencoe. Glencoe had just over 5,500 people, while Faribault has over 22,000. The pay is a bit better too, $10.00/hr compared to $9.50/hr. We will see how that goes. I am also going to a career fair at the University of MN on Thursday, so we shall see if anything comes from that.
I am so very ready for spring. Last week was the first time it got above freezing in over a month. A lot of the snow melted, just in time for a big snowstorm this weekend. They were calling for sleet, freezing rain and over a foot of snow. They are also calling for another storm on Wed. and Thursday. March is our snowiest time of the year so I guess it is expected. We need the snow badly for the farmers and the spring run off, but that 45 last week felt very very nice.
Thank you to everyone who read this far. I hope it wont be 3 months before my next update. I miss all of my friends in SC and Maryland. Drop me a comment or an e-mail and let me know how you have been! :-)