Life Update

School has been pretty busy, so I've slacked on the updating business. ^_^;; However, I'm still trying to make the effort, so first I'll just try to cover the highlights of the past couple of weeks. Then, I'll do another post on my classes. XD

SPRING BREAK
Spring break was pretty laid-back for me -- just sat around and did nothing mostly. Besides the one unhappy event, I hung out with friends on one of the days and we just went around UCSD to do stuff. First, had fried ice cream, then went to blacks beach (nude beach next to UCSD) and climbed all the way down the steep hill to get to the beach. I was super tired 'cause I'm SO not athletic at all. XP

After climbing back up, went over to the Salk Institute and hung around the plaza area. XD For all people into architecture, I'm sure you've probably heard of the Salk Institute by Louis Kahn, but I don't see what the big deal is. The building itself doesn't seem TOO impressive to me, but I'm not a big fan of his. ^_^;; The only good part, IMO, is the plaza, which is amazingly cool. Go check it out if you're ever in San Diego. XD

Besides hanging out with friends, me and aznearthdragon watched LOTS of Taiwanese drama. XD


DEVIL BESIDE YOU
As stated in a previous post, me and aznearthdragon watched Devil Beside You, starring Rainie Yang, Mike He, and Kingone. Overall, I have to say that it wasn't really all that great -- I had a lot of issues with it, lol. But yeah.. It was okay, but I do think the end was kinda lame and stuff. I dunno what else to say without going too in-depth on stuff. XP


WHY WHY LOVE
After finishing Devil Beside You, we watched Why Why Love -- we are super lame, haha. I don't know how it was possible for us to start watching another drama starring the SAME MAJOR ACTORS. Yeah, Rainie Yang, Mike He, and Kingone AGAIN! =O And still a love triangle with the same end-couple outcome. XP But I actually liked this one better than Devil Beside You. XD Still super cheesy and cliche, but if had to recommend one of these two, I'd say watch Why Why Love -- yes, it's predictable and stuff, but still cute.


CSI FORUM
On Tuesday and Wednesday, we had our annual Construction Sciences Forum. It's put on by CSI, which I'm a part of. Anyway, there was a keynote speaker on Tuesday night, but it kinda sucked 'cause not many people showed up. =( Also, the lecturer read from his notes half the time, so it wasn't as interesting. =/ When he was just talking though, without the notes, it was way better. XP

On Wednesday, I had to get up super early (after sleeping super late from doing homework) to go help set-up and stuff. Helped product reps unload and drove the electric cart to shuttle them to the parking lot and back. XD Driving the cart = super fun. XD Also, first time driving in almost three years, haha. XP

Anywayz, there was a product show during the day, then dinner in the evening, followed by a roundtable discussion. Dinner was awesome -- but it probably tasted SUPER GOOD because I basically didn't eat all day, lol. The problems with waking up early and then working all day and stuff. x_x

The theme of the forum this year was Integrated Project Delivery, so the roundtable discussion was about that. There were more attendees during the discussion, but I wish more people showed up 'cause it was pretty interesting. I think one of the speakers, Barbara Jackson (Cal Poly professor and in DBIA), said a lot of interesting points about the future of the industry and how IDP fits into it.

After it was all over, had to clean up and stuff and yeah.. didn't finish and get home until 11:30. @_@


WINERY FIELD TRIP
On Wednesday, my studio also had a field trip scheduled. I had to talk to my Chinese professor to push back my test so I could go. Also missed out on most of the product show for forum. =/ But seeing the wineries was pretty cool. The reason we went to see wineries is 'cause our design project this quarter is to design a winery. I'm kinda excited about it. XD But yeah, we went up to Paso Robles and visited Robert Hall winery and Eberle winery. Both of them are cool and have caves. The Robert Hall winery was pretty big. The Eberle one had cool caves -- seemed very maze-like, lol.

Didn't do any wine-tasting though, haha. I don't drink, but I kinda want to go wine-tasting one day 'cause it seems like a cool thing to do. XD I dunno if I'd really appreciate the wine though, lol. But we'll see -- maybe someday I'll actually go and try it out. XP

After visiting those two wineries, we went to my professor's vineyard and got to look around. It was pretty cool -- kinda out in the middle of nowhere, but there was a really nice open space on his vineyard. His vineyard is pretty secluded, so it was nice and quiet out there -- and great view of the mountains and stuff. XD


ARCE
I'm taking three architectural engineering classes this quarter and they're totally kicking my butt. =( Major reason for not updating -- 'cause I have so much homework to do! x_x I don't know if ARCE is really for me, 'cause it's hard and I never really get it the first time around. =( Takes so much out of me just to grasp how to do things. Sucks. =/ But hopefully I can pass all my classes this quarter without going super crazy trying to survive in ARCE with architecture. @_@


Next up, a post about all my classes.

~Remula

Spring Quarter 2009

The courses I'm taking this quarter, in case you wanted more information on why my life is so hectic all the time. XP

Time Schedule
ARCE 223 // MWF // 1210-1300
ARCH 353 // MWF // 1310-1800
ARCE 351 // T // 0810-1100
ARCE 223 // R // 0810-1100
ARCH 342 // TR // 1310-1400
ARCE 227 // TR // 1410-1500
ARCH 342 // TR // 1610-1800
MLL 103 // Credit By Eamination


ARCH 353 // Architectural Design 3.3
Catalog Description: Development and exploration of architectural theories, building systems, and design processes involved in creating appropriate architecture with an emphasis on socio-cultural and space planning/life safety concerns.
My Take: This is the class I usually refer to as "studio". As an architecture student, I have a studio every quarter, fifteen hours a week. We also get a key to our studios, so I can be in studio at any time, depending on what I have to due and stuff like that. This quarter, my design project for the quarter is to design a winery on a site located in Paso Robles (Central Coast, California).

ARCH 342 // Architectural Practice 3.2
Catalog Description: Concepts, methods and processes pertaining to the preparation of outline specifications, production of design development drawings, life safety, systems integration and cost estimating.
My Take: Another core architecture course. It's broken up into a lecture component and an activity component. I usually refer to the lecture component of this class as either "lecture" or "practice". The lecture portion is just that -- a one-hour lecture two days a week. The activity portion this quarter is with the same professor I have for studio. Usually when this happens, practice activity turns into just a continuation of studio, and that's not any different this quarter.

ARCE 223 // Mechanics of Structural Members
Catalog Description: Advanced topics of stresses in beams. Plastic bending, unsymmetrical bending. Combined stresses. Stress transformation. Buckling. Deflection of beams. Material test laboratory.
My Take: Taking this class for my ARCE minor -- I'm not so hot at ARCE and I haven't taken a real ARCE class for a year, so lots of troubles. There's a lecture and a lab component to this class. The lecture has homework due every Friday with about eight problems per week. For me, eight problems DEFINITELY take more than eight hours. =( 'Cause I suck at ARCE hardcore. =/ Also, another issue I have is that this an ARCE core major class, so all those ARCE students will definitely bring up the curve. =(

ARCE 351 // Structural Computing Analysis
Catalog Description: Computer calculations, programming basics and technical reporting. Emphasis on use of spreadsheets as a tool to analyze structural elements.
My Take: Lab class that is attached to ARCE 223. We're mostly working on Excel in the class, but the labs seem to be super long. =( Also, we have homework excel projects to do every week, so I'm kinda worried it'll take a lot of time. =/

ARCE 227// Structures III
Catalog Description: Advanced topics in two-dimensional and three-dimensional equilibrium of structural building systems.
My Take: Another ARCE major class. The thing is, I'm retaking this class 'cause I failed it last year. x_x I pretty much know most of the information for the class (since I learned it last year, but messed up on the two tests in the class), so I'm hoping that I can do really well this time. The bad news is that the homework is still long, so lots of time will be devoted to this class as well. =/

MLL 103 // Foreign Language III -- Chinese
Catalog Description: Organized group instruction arranged for students who wish to acquire basic skills in a foreign language indicated by subtitle. Laboratory drill required. Language taught in its cultural context.
My Take: The third quarter of Chinese class. I'm taking this credit by examination 'cause the times interfere with my studio. x_x Kinda bad taking it by exam 'cause you don't learn as much as you would in class -- especially since this is a language class. But the thing is, I've gotten through the other two quarters of Chinese, so it would be a waste if I can't even say I completed a year of Chinese. Last quarter, I also took Chinese by examination, but this quarter is super busy with architecture and ARCE, but hopefully I can still do well self-studying Chinese on top of that.


So yeah, there is is. The only major problem I have with my schedule is that I'm taking ARCH major core classes and ARCE major core classes at the SAME TIME. There is obviously problems with the workload because of that, since people from either of those majors would just have the core classes (read: intense workload since it's your major) plus one/two GEs or side classes. I, on the other hand, have double the hardcore workload. x_x Let's just hope I survive with adequate grades.


~Remula

Super Junior

One last thing before I head off to bed!

Yesterday, I discovered Super Junior, a Korean boy-band. The thing about this boy-band is that there are THIRTEEN members in it! According to Wiki, they are the largest boy-band in the world, lol. XP But yes, I discovered them and they are totally my new favorite boy-band because they are just AWESOME like that. XD

Anywayz, here's their music video for their newest single (and the one that introduced me to their amazing awesomeness), Sorry Sorry. Very catchy and makes me want to DANCE! Also, EYE CANDY!~ XP

~Remula