Out of the Blue

I was in Venice earlier today to go to do some field measurements. When I leave the job site, I drove around the neighborhood and saw a hand full of houses in construction. Out of the blue this feeling hit me hard. I recalled a lot happened during the past year while I was working on this project during construction. I got to know the client, I experience the meaning to of architecture, which isn't to change the world but to make a diffference, either to someone's life or in a larger aspect, to the community and society.

Despite the constant disappointment hit me lately, plus my confusion about architecture, career goal, life and work. I realize I still love architecture so much. It's in me and it'll always be a part of me.

Now I make this clear and I'm relief.

Keep my Head up

I hate the fact that I am not enjoying it as I was three years ago.

Something is wrong, very wrong. I thought I walked out of the struggle I'd, but no, the concern is still there. However, it's different than before. At first, I was struggling with the responsibilities and loads on my shoulder. I overcame and handled that. But now, the works I've right now isn't keeping me busy enough and satisify. (Schematic design is unbelieveablely borning). I feel like I'm being ignore sometimes. WIth my experience, I should have more responsibilities and do more than what I'm doing right now. Sometimes I feel like they didn't well use of my knowledge.

Anyhow, good to have lunch with Sara, one of my co-workers who sit on the opposite side in the office. I like her a lot, it's always so comfortable to talk to her and she's very understanding.

When I think about it deeply, I still enjoying working here, still love it as I was three years ago. Oh well, I should stop complaining. Just need to keep my head up. And smile.

SD vs. CA

I couldn't remember how long I haven't work on a new project. For new, I mean starting from schemtic design (SD).

The day has come.

But the problem is, I'm not enjoying it. Laying out boxes and figuring how it'll work, feels like back in school again. Spending a lot of time, however things always doesn't come out the way you expected. Of course I'm not complaining, I'll never do. It just reminded me to apreciate what I have. How many on earth can have their interest as a career? I'm proud to say, I do.

It's just how ironic architecture is driving me insane all the times, yet I can't escape. Even I can, I'll not.

Architecture for the Community

One more thing about the Seattle trip, I'm recharged and kind of got out of the struggle I'd in the past several months.

Life is beautiful, how did I forget that?

But seeing many cultural and public architecture and that conversation reminded me why I got into architecture and the real purpose of it. Why I'm spending my energy and efford to design mansions for the millionaries? Architecture isn't just for the rich. I want to do more for the community and society.

I'm looking into Habitat for Humanity and Architecture for Humanity in my area. I feel like I've the responsility to use my knowledge to do my part.

Now I think about it, I've a lot I want to do. I've a burden to do something about the gentrification problem in Hong Kong. Can I?

Pacific Northwest

Seattle was awesome, I love it a lot. It's such a pleasant city, very beautiful just like San Francisco, yet I like the fact that it's even more easy going, low profile and subtle. Also, it'd an encouraging art/ architecture scene.

Thank you Bertha for being my host. I enjoyed speding time with her, it reminded me the fun times we'd when we were little. It's nice that we'd the entire week to catch up. Even we've quite oppositing personalities.

I met Bertha's friend Kai Ki, who's a structural engineer. He drove me around the city, showed me his projects and told me a lot about the build environment in Seattle. He's very knowledgeable and I love the fact that he understood my indifferent "architect" way of thinking.

And last but not least, I'm so glad to meet up with my ex-co-worker Maaike. She's working at an awesome firm in Capital Hills. I'm so glad that we got the chance to go for a lecture and dinner afterward.

If the weather is like Los Angeles, I think I want to move to Seattle. Even it can't compare, I kind of want to move there too. May be after finishing graduate school. It's a liviable city, I don't need a car and I think I'll be able to buy a house or even build my own there. That sounds exciting enough! But too soon to tell.

I miss Seattle. But I'm glad to be back at work (and because I have a career that I love and I can look forward). I started to miss my project towards the end of my trip. Also, the weather in Southern California is hard to beat.

Rough Draft

Whenever I think about my those taskes on my hand, my brain gets clog down completely.

I've a lot need to do, yet I don't know where to start. No, I kind of started, but I'm stuck. May be I should write down my schedule until the end of the year, rather than just procastnating. I'm still deciding to apply for city/ urban planning degrees or not. I know it'll help my career a lot, in particular if I want to do something for the future of Hong Kong. But I think I want to teach rather than being a planner.

I need to figure out my direction first. Give me some time.

Ready! Go!

Just one more week until my trip to the Pacific Northwest.

I'm going to Seattle to visit my friend, Bertha (still, I prefer to call her Wai-yee). Her parents and my mom were high school or college friends, so I met her since she was born. I still remembered we used to go camping a lot when we were little. This time we’ll be driving down to Portland for a few days.

Beside that, I've a list of architecture I need to check out. I'm very excited about that! (I have to admit I am such a dork!) And also, I’ll see if I can meet up one of my ex-colleage, Maaike. She moved to Seattle last year.

It should be fun. Hope the weather won’t be that bad.

Crepe Fete

Identity Crisis

Where Am I Going?

My college friend Charlene is moving back to the Bay Area this month. So I met with her this afternoon to have a tea.

We spent couple hours in a bakery/ cafe, taking about the old days (well, should be "nights"). Of course, our conversation was mostly about architecture. It's so awesome that I could share my struggles and stress I am facing. I love my architecture friends because only they understand.

I should plan another trip to San Francisco. May be around September/ October. So I can also visit the Contemporary Jewish Museum by Daniel Libeskind and Renzo Piano's California Academy of Science, which will both be open by then.

Once again, I have one less friend in the Southland. It'll be my turn next year. But where am I going?