Laundry Day
Jul. 17th, 2007 10:04 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
transomwhiplassSo, I'm sitting here in the "reject" clothes that apparently haven't been good enough for me to wear the whole time while I was the entirety of my wardrobe. I probably should have done it a week and a half ago. I'm kind of gross, but more cheap. Laundry essentially costs $3 just for the wash (not for the dryer). Not too big an expense, but irritating since I haven't paid to do laundry since the dorms (and Elizabeth could attest that I would do it about every two months--that was fine because I had enough clothes). Anyway. I'm actually impressed at my reject outfit, I feel kind of dressed up for laundry. Regardless, this isn't what I really wanted to write about.
So I'm really glad I left early. It was my idea in the beginning but what ended up happening was kind of a shit storm that I can only thank god for the divine inspiration to just leave. Apparently once the girls decided to leave Sorrento and were at the station there, Kelly realized she left her iPod at the hostel. She had to catch the bus back to San Agnello, walk back up the hill, negotiate with the guy, and then had to go through a hostel's worth of dirty sheets. She found it. Andrea and Carly, in the meantime, took the 2 hour metro from Sorrento into Naples and waited for Kelly there. They ended up getting back at like 11 PM. Well after I needed to get back. Kind of a saga and I could tell Carly was pretty stressed out about the whole situation.
Yesterday was crazy intense. The whole partnering thing has caused so much trouble. Kelly was in tears after she realized she was the only one without a partner. The only person left was this guy Chris, a grad student, who has been really struggling lately. At midterm review, they basically told him to scrap the studio portion and work on his remedial drawing skills. Rumor had it that he was leaving the program. He's not a bad guy, I don't think he lacks insight--he's just been having trouble and that could be for any number of reasons. I know I've been having some new challenges with this studio. Anyway, the thing to note is Kelly had a hissy fit and refused to work with him in the Naples hostel. Her reason being "she needed someone she could talk to!" and she "HAS to turn out good work this term because she only has TWO more studios before terminals" "she HAS to turn out good work." Basically she refused to see the chance in working with someone eager to learn, kind of struggling--yes, but thus MORE willing to give his partner some more autonomy in major design decisions. Not surprising with her attitude that she would also be so insecure about her design to believe that she "needs" someone else to make her project better.
Well, the shit kind of hit the fan. I basically got paired with this girl Brynn, an option two grad, outside of the building because it seemed like we were the last two left (this before we left for Naples). We both wanted to work with the same site, but that was it. Basically our ideas were completely different and it was hard to merge anything. We agreed that it was nothing against each other (though I definitely think she thought I was crazy for my idea) and she also really seemed to want to work alone. I wanted the partner experience, but I feel like my idea is something I needed to see through--even if I did it alone. We decided to talk to Ihab. Kelly was there talking to him, trying to figure out how she could get out of working with Chris. It turned into this really awkward conversation. Brynn, partially intentionally, questioned the merit of working in groups as she is about to enter her terminals, has worked for a firm before, and is entering her terminals. She used this as an argument against Ihab, it was bad news. Ihab takes things extra personally sometimes, but she was really playing with fire. He basically released some Egyptian wrath at her for challenging his 25 years of experience. Kelly then basically agreed with Brynn that she could "never build a bridge over Vittorio Emanuale" (my idea) and then proceeded to basically insult my design skills. Probably because she wanted one more potshot and wanted to discredit me (Ihab was leaning for us to work as a threesome, and she was not going to let that happen--nor was I for that matter). However, I let her proceed to stuff her foot in her mouth as she insulted my work then Ihab dug into her. I've been able to tell that he's really had some interest in what I've done. I can tell Ihab is one of the more edgy architects and I think the fact that I decided to do something bold, he was excited about that. He told her that my interpretation was completely valid, and pretty much told her to "step off, bitch." I just sat there trying not to smirk at the two girls who basically refused to open their minds enough to comprehend my project.
They wandered off to see if they could work together while I talked to Ihab about whether what I was doing was too crazy to work. We talked about my other schemes and he told me that he could see what my reviewers said about my other scheme, but he could see that I was really passionate about this one idea. He also said that he thought it was worth having at least "one project like this" developed in the class. I rexplained my intentions and he said he could tell that I'd really thought about everything and it wasn't just a haphazard design, it had intention behind it. He compared me to Zaha Hadid (never in my life did I think that would happen). Basically, I left the table on his good side and stayed cool. The other two girls overreacted and completely got archi-bitch-slapped. At that point, Chris came into talk to Ihab. I thought maybe he was going to pull out of the studio and just work on the other two classes, but when he came out, he came over to me.
Basically Ihab told him I had strong ideas, and that was his problem--he didn't really have enough strong convictions. He had ideas, they just weren't cohesive enough to produce the skeleton of a strong design. It's funny because when Kelly through her fit in Naples, I kind of knew that I was going to work with Chris. I knew it was an opportunity to push my project through to the end and have someone completely willing to help me shape that idea. He was pretty much the ideal partner. As we talked, I could tell he was intrigued by what I was doing, he had some good questions and concerns. We talked about them and resolved we would work together. That pretty much thrilled Ihab.
Last night we got a free dinner out of the landlord for the other kids' apartment (there is a cafe downstairs). After dinner, Chris, Carly & I wandered around. We saw some awesome things and Carly basically confirmed that Kelly is pretty batshit insane and what she did was so out of the blue and uncalled for, that Carly told her as much. Apparently Kelly just got defensive--not surprising. Carly has been feeling kind of trapped by the situation. I'm not optimistic about her leaving the happy threesome, she's too bound to it by Andrea but it was at least good to know I had a mental ally in the apartment. I can stand up for myself and I don't want to draw sides. It's just good to know I'm not crazy. Kelly has irrational issues.
Anyway, the drama continues, but for the better. I'm excited to make the best of the Chris situation--it's going to work out well. His media skills are pretty weak, but I don't mind doing grunt work if he gives me feedback. I want to find room to let him do things and grow from the experience(can't..escape..APO..morals). It might mean letting somethings go a little under my standards visually but I'm not going to say it absolutely will. I think we have a good honesty between us so far so as long as those lines are open, things will be good.
I'm actually really glad to be working with a guy. Fundamentally, I know I get along better with them in longer spurts of time. I have amazing relationships with girls, but for some reason, under pressure--I feel like they crack easier (ECS II comes to mind). I think that sometimes when you aren't really close, it's also a lot more difficult for girls to trust and compromise. Kelly case and point. She is like Mean Girls the movie wrapped in one. Anyway, I'm super optimistic. This post is ridiculously long. My laundry actually might be done now.
So I'm really glad I left early. It was my idea in the beginning but what ended up happening was kind of a shit storm that I can only thank god for the divine inspiration to just leave. Apparently once the girls decided to leave Sorrento and were at the station there, Kelly realized she left her iPod at the hostel. She had to catch the bus back to San Agnello, walk back up the hill, negotiate with the guy, and then had to go through a hostel's worth of dirty sheets. She found it. Andrea and Carly, in the meantime, took the 2 hour metro from Sorrento into Naples and waited for Kelly there. They ended up getting back at like 11 PM. Well after I needed to get back. Kind of a saga and I could tell Carly was pretty stressed out about the whole situation.
Yesterday was crazy intense. The whole partnering thing has caused so much trouble. Kelly was in tears after she realized she was the only one without a partner. The only person left was this guy Chris, a grad student, who has been really struggling lately. At midterm review, they basically told him to scrap the studio portion and work on his remedial drawing skills. Rumor had it that he was leaving the program. He's not a bad guy, I don't think he lacks insight--he's just been having trouble and that could be for any number of reasons. I know I've been having some new challenges with this studio. Anyway, the thing to note is Kelly had a hissy fit and refused to work with him in the Naples hostel. Her reason being "she needed someone she could talk to!" and she "HAS to turn out good work this term because she only has TWO more studios before terminals" "she HAS to turn out good work." Basically she refused to see the chance in working with someone eager to learn, kind of struggling--yes, but thus MORE willing to give his partner some more autonomy in major design decisions. Not surprising with her attitude that she would also be so insecure about her design to believe that she "needs" someone else to make her project better.
Well, the shit kind of hit the fan. I basically got paired with this girl Brynn, an option two grad, outside of the building because it seemed like we were the last two left (this before we left for Naples). We both wanted to work with the same site, but that was it. Basically our ideas were completely different and it was hard to merge anything. We agreed that it was nothing against each other (though I definitely think she thought I was crazy for my idea) and she also really seemed to want to work alone. I wanted the partner experience, but I feel like my idea is something I needed to see through--even if I did it alone. We decided to talk to Ihab. Kelly was there talking to him, trying to figure out how she could get out of working with Chris. It turned into this really awkward conversation. Brynn, partially intentionally, questioned the merit of working in groups as she is about to enter her terminals, has worked for a firm before, and is entering her terminals. She used this as an argument against Ihab, it was bad news. Ihab takes things extra personally sometimes, but she was really playing with fire. He basically released some Egyptian wrath at her for challenging his 25 years of experience. Kelly then basically agreed with Brynn that she could "never build a bridge over Vittorio Emanuale" (my idea) and then proceeded to basically insult my design skills. Probably because she wanted one more potshot and wanted to discredit me (Ihab was leaning for us to work as a threesome, and she was not going to let that happen--nor was I for that matter). However, I let her proceed to stuff her foot in her mouth as she insulted my work then Ihab dug into her. I've been able to tell that he's really had some interest in what I've done. I can tell Ihab is one of the more edgy architects and I think the fact that I decided to do something bold, he was excited about that. He told her that my interpretation was completely valid, and pretty much told her to "step off, bitch." I just sat there trying not to smirk at the two girls who basically refused to open their minds enough to comprehend my project.
They wandered off to see if they could work together while I talked to Ihab about whether what I was doing was too crazy to work. We talked about my other schemes and he told me that he could see what my reviewers said about my other scheme, but he could see that I was really passionate about this one idea. He also said that he thought it was worth having at least "one project like this" developed in the class. I rexplained my intentions and he said he could tell that I'd really thought about everything and it wasn't just a haphazard design, it had intention behind it. He compared me to Zaha Hadid (never in my life did I think that would happen). Basically, I left the table on his good side and stayed cool. The other two girls overreacted and completely got archi-bitch-slapped. At that point, Chris came into talk to Ihab. I thought maybe he was going to pull out of the studio and just work on the other two classes, but when he came out, he came over to me.
Basically Ihab told him I had strong ideas, and that was his problem--he didn't really have enough strong convictions. He had ideas, they just weren't cohesive enough to produce the skeleton of a strong design. It's funny because when Kelly through her fit in Naples, I kind of knew that I was going to work with Chris. I knew it was an opportunity to push my project through to the end and have someone completely willing to help me shape that idea. He was pretty much the ideal partner. As we talked, I could tell he was intrigued by what I was doing, he had some good questions and concerns. We talked about them and resolved we would work together. That pretty much thrilled Ihab.
Last night we got a free dinner out of the landlord for the other kids' apartment (there is a cafe downstairs). After dinner, Chris, Carly & I wandered around. We saw some awesome things and Carly basically confirmed that Kelly is pretty batshit insane and what she did was so out of the blue and uncalled for, that Carly told her as much. Apparently Kelly just got defensive--not surprising. Carly has been feeling kind of trapped by the situation. I'm not optimistic about her leaving the happy threesome, she's too bound to it by Andrea but it was at least good to know I had a mental ally in the apartment. I can stand up for myself and I don't want to draw sides. It's just good to know I'm not crazy. Kelly has irrational issues.
Anyway, the drama continues, but for the better. I'm excited to make the best of the Chris situation--it's going to work out well. His media skills are pretty weak, but I don't mind doing grunt work if he gives me feedback. I want to find room to let him do things and grow from the experience(can't..escape..APO..morals). It might mean letting somethings go a little under my standards visually but I'm not going to say it absolutely will. I think we have a good honesty between us so far so as long as those lines are open, things will be good.
I'm actually really glad to be working with a guy. Fundamentally, I know I get along better with them in longer spurts of time. I have amazing relationships with girls, but for some reason, under pressure--I feel like they crack easier (ECS II comes to mind). I think that sometimes when you aren't really close, it's also a lot more difficult for girls to trust and compromise. Kelly case and point. She is like Mean Girls the movie wrapped in one. Anyway, I'm super optimistic. This post is ridiculously long. My laundry actually might be done now.
