TurkishesDelight

Our last day in Vienna, so we made sure we got up early and attempted to still see and do everything wanted. First stop of the day was one of the coolest things ever because I was able to see/walk under/beside/though…experience a real Zaha designed building. All of the crazy angles and impractical designs that I read and study in books came alive before my eyes and it was amazing to walk through this space and see live architecture. The walls and floors seemed to cut straight into the sky and pierce its blueness with confidence and strength. I can see why the building intended as a residence failed, but the idea that I was simply in the presence of a living and well known architecture was all that mattered. Next we went to a very ... read more

The next few days in Munich were filled with much fun and excitement. Every morning began with a traditional Bavarian breakfast. This consisted of fresh breads, jams and jellies, cheese, tomatoes, and many pork products including ham and white sausage. We also saw many new and exciting tools in use that epitomized German efficiency. They had a soda water maker where you simply screw in a bottle of water and can inject bubbles into it. They also used a hard boiling egg machine that only required a teaspoon of water and five minutes to boil three eggs! Each morning was such an experience and provided me with energy to explore the city. The first day we went into the city center with some of our roommate’s friends from home. They were really nice and showed us ... read more

It seemed very surreal to be rushing to school Thursday morning to make a presentation in one class in the morning and to attend a critique for my studio project in the afternoon. It was mostly unbelievable because I was doing all of this with a suitcase by my side due to the fact that the moment the school day was complete I was catching a plane to leave Turkey. My friend Nadine and I decided to take some time off of school and hectic Istanbul life to visit a roommate who was temporally back at her home in Munich, Germany. I did not know what I had packed into my small carry-on bag but it did not matter as I had all of the sense of adventure I needed to ensure that I would have ... read more

Easter weekend; for a holiday that is not celebrated in Turkey very much we made the best of the occasion, the weather and the lack of chocolate. Dealing with the final symptoms of my cold it was nice for the sun to be partly shining on Saturday. The few rays that did break through the clouds were motivating enough to get us out of bed early and out to catch a ferry boat to go to Princes’ Islands. The nice part was what lay on the other side of the two hour boat ride, not the ride itself as I found myself feeling very sea sick and having to stand out on the cold deck for most of the trip. Luckily it is a seagull’s favourite game to catch and eat the “simit” bread that the ... read more

This week I felt like I finally didn’t have a life again, and when I say this I mean it in the best way possible. There were long nights, little sleep, late night snacks and a life outside the walls of my house that I was not a part of. It was like home sweet home in Ottawa had come to Istanbul for a week, and although the hours were dreaded and it was killing me to not go outside to finally enjoy some sunshine I realized I kind of missed this type of life and in a very big way still enjoyed its stress and sleepiness it brought onto me. The reason behind this week’s alternate lifestyle was that I was a participant in a workshop that included visiting Sheffield University real estate students from ... read more

This week began with a rough start of arriving back in Istanbul in the early am hours after my weekend Cappadocia trip. Despite the time I had no choice but to stay awake and attempt to start, develop and complete my studio concepts and designs that I was to present at class later that day. Despite limited time, and rushed drawings and decisions I was able to complete enough to show at my jury that was held in front of my teacher, another professor of the university and the dean of architecture. It was intimidating to sit before this group but in reality the critique was nothing in comparison to what we endure at home, and in the end I had churned out more work than most of my classmates. I guess school is another thing ... read more