This month has just flown by and that means yet a month closer to block 2...i cannot wait to see my class mates again and get some stories on their work experience. My mom is also coming to visit me next month so that is something to look forward to.
This week i'm ''first lady'' again,our receptionist went out of town, now I must fill in and make sure the office is running smoothly and at the same time do my portion of the office work, talk about busy!
I have been busy on door schedules for the past few weeks and reading a drawing can sometimes be so draining and confusing. I already want to get done with it already.
Till next time
//Yoli//
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
day by day
As the saying goes, so little time...so much to do. I'm losing track right now because I do one thing and leave it half way and touch on another. I was handling things quite well, but I have realised I can only handle so much..hence why I have set up a challenge for myself to try and concentrate on a few things at a time, get them done and move on to the next. Even when I am stuck with some project at the office...I have got to the conclusion that I should atleast finish all that I am able to deal with instead of stopping each time I hit a train smash.
Asking questions... I have learned too, to realise that it goes a long way. This course forces you to be the most inquisitive you that you could ever be. There is also no place for indecisiveness...you have got to know what you want and not be on shaky ground.
''Day by day''...thats my new mottto..each day has got its own stresses enough for that one day...so live, breathe and take each challenge by the horns and see if whether you wont feel human again.
till next time
//Yoli//
Asking questions... I have learned too, to realise that it goes a long way. This course forces you to be the most inquisitive you that you could ever be. There is also no place for indecisiveness...you have got to know what you want and not be on shaky ground.
''Day by day''...thats my new mottto..each day has got its own stresses enough for that one day...so live, breathe and take each challenge by the horns and see if whether you wont feel human again.
till next time
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
busy busy busy...SURPRISE MEETING..busy busy..MOVING TO A NEW PLACE...busy busy..//IN THAT ORDER//
THATS THE STORY OF MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.
I am currently dealing witg three clients who have really high expectations. I am really so busy and strangely enough...it feels good..//wierd i know//..Anyways..lastweek thursday was a normal morning until something to 8 when my boss mentioned that I am accompanying him to a meeting to see Chief Mandla Mandela, Nelson Mandela's grandson, at the pasr president's birthplace. Mvezo. Evrything about me was screaming unprepared...I was dressed in my faded blue jeans with my sneakers and coat...which added abit of class..boss didnt care anyway..and so with the conceptual model we were busy with the previous day, off we went..Almost three hours on the road...we finally reach the muddy village and everything that could go wrong goes wrong...from all the potholes on the mud road, the Jeep was heavily covered in mud as if we were on a safari...I got out of the Jeep and my faded blue jeans got some mud on them...immediatelty I searched high and low for a toilet..we were already running late but to me and the boss's amazement...there were members of parliament arriving in their suits and smart clothes..either way..I searched for my toilet because the Chief hadnt arrived. I finally get someone to open up one of the rondavel designed rooms for me and am told that their is no water....ladies who work there tell me to let the mud dry and then chip it off...so I go back to the Jeep where my boss is waiting and we pass time by having a much appreciated and mind opening conversation on architecture...More people arrive...and after two full hours...the chief appears out of his 4x4 to greet his guests..boss goes to him too. It starts to rain and i quickly chip the mud off and try and hide the stain with my only prize and smart cloth, my coat. We enter the place and the chief looks at me...I am only filled with gratitude rather than embarrasement. He too, was looking casual with his black jean, coat and sneakers..much like an ordinary person.
We sit close to two hours listening to the various speakers, included are some civil engineers who are proposing a road and bridge...and then the forum is opened to 30 something or so village members who are present..the chief then makes a peach and one director general too and then a concluding speech is then made by the wise chief.
Me and the boss are quite chuffed and surprised but then we are told that our meeting is to include just the chief at Nelson Mandela's home in Qunu... and so we set off as a convoy...the chief leading the way , us behind him and police behind us...after a rainy 45 minutes we arrive at a heavily secured home and are greeted by a policeman who opens up for us. After hours of chilling..we presented and I felt privileged to be in the home of the nobel peace prize winner without any journalist or crowd but up close and personal ...just me and my boss..needless to say..the chief loved our proposal and everything went more than well...and now its back to the drawing board as we are going to expand on the concept and meet up with the chief again.
This is probably the fourth project I am also part of as I will now be busy looking to find ideas to assist in the making of this prestigious project.
( We are to design a museum at Mvezo about Madiba's life and family- one of the company's milestone projects)
till next time
//Yoli//
busy on the model...
huts on the way to Mvezo...
I am currently dealing witg three clients who have really high expectations. I am really so busy and strangely enough...it feels good..//wierd i know//..Anyways..lastweek thursday was a normal morning until something to 8 when my boss mentioned that I am accompanying him to a meeting to see Chief Mandla Mandela, Nelson Mandela's grandson, at the pasr president's birthplace. Mvezo. Evrything about me was screaming unprepared...I was dressed in my faded blue jeans with my sneakers and coat...which added abit of class..boss didnt care anyway..and so with the conceptual model we were busy with the previous day, off we went..Almost three hours on the road...we finally reach the muddy village and everything that could go wrong goes wrong...from all the potholes on the mud road, the Jeep was heavily covered in mud as if we were on a safari...I got out of the Jeep and my faded blue jeans got some mud on them...immediatelty I searched high and low for a toilet..we were already running late but to me and the boss's amazement...there were members of parliament arriving in their suits and smart clothes..either way..I searched for my toilet because the Chief hadnt arrived. I finally get someone to open up one of the rondavel designed rooms for me and am told that their is no water....ladies who work there tell me to let the mud dry and then chip it off...so I go back to the Jeep where my boss is waiting and we pass time by having a much appreciated and mind opening conversation on architecture...More people arrive...and after two full hours...the chief appears out of his 4x4 to greet his guests..boss goes to him too. It starts to rain and i quickly chip the mud off and try and hide the stain with my only prize and smart cloth, my coat. We enter the place and the chief looks at me...I am only filled with gratitude rather than embarrasement. He too, was looking casual with his black jean, coat and sneakers..much like an ordinary person.
We sit close to two hours listening to the various speakers, included are some civil engineers who are proposing a road and bridge...and then the forum is opened to 30 something or so village members who are present..the chief then makes a peach and one director general too and then a concluding speech is then made by the wise chief.
Me and the boss are quite chuffed and surprised but then we are told that our meeting is to include just the chief at Nelson Mandela's home in Qunu... and so we set off as a convoy...the chief leading the way , us behind him and police behind us...after a rainy 45 minutes we arrive at a heavily secured home and are greeted by a policeman who opens up for us. After hours of chilling..we presented and I felt privileged to be in the home of the nobel peace prize winner without any journalist or crowd but up close and personal ...just me and my boss..needless to say..the chief loved our proposal and everything went more than well...and now its back to the drawing board as we are going to expand on the concept and meet up with the chief again.
This is probably the fourth project I am also part of as I will now be busy looking to find ideas to assist in the making of this prestigious project.
( We are to design a museum at Mvezo about Madiba's life and family- one of the company's milestone projects)
till next time
//Yoli//
Thursday, May 12, 2011
12 may
I feel so old today! hitting yet another decade makes me feel like i should really progress and get somewhere in life, knowing that Im studying and actually making some sense of this life doing something I'm passionate about, architecture, feels me with warmth and assurance. Apart from wanting, i need to be progressive in order to gain ground on such a short journey we call life. Responsibilities are to be handled in a more sophisticated and mature way as I'm older.
I am being reminded every 5minutes in the office that yes today is the day I was born and singing seems to be a hobby as the birthday anthem is sung repeatedly but in different tones andn tunes. I honestly feel old.
Today I am also to go to a new site and actually meet up with the client of the house that I am currently adding to. Yesterday I worked abit on another house which is put on a realy confusing landscape. When my boss asked for me to add something as simple as a boundary wall, I felt intimidated by the level of drawing and i forgot for a second on what I should do. lol. But alas, I made sense of it all. Every good drawing starts with a basic simple point somewhere, which is dragged to form a line, leading to the next, then the next and so on until the end result which is to be acieved is reached. Persistence and hardwork through delivering quality always starts somewhere. So I ultimately got down to doing my bit. anyways, I should get back to work...
Till next time
//Yoli//
I am being reminded every 5minutes in the office that yes today is the day I was born and singing seems to be a hobby as the birthday anthem is sung repeatedly but in different tones andn tunes. I honestly feel old.
Today I am also to go to a new site and actually meet up with the client of the house that I am currently adding to. Yesterday I worked abit on another house which is put on a realy confusing landscape. When my boss asked for me to add something as simple as a boundary wall, I felt intimidated by the level of drawing and i forgot for a second on what I should do. lol. But alas, I made sense of it all. Every good drawing starts with a basic simple point somewhere, which is dragged to form a line, leading to the next, then the next and so on until the end result which is to be acieved is reached. Persistence and hardwork through delivering quality always starts somewhere. So I ultimately got down to doing my bit. anyways, I should get back to work...
Till next time
//Yoli//
Friday, April 29, 2011
load off...
I am in Cape town and am sooo happy that I got to see my family, some of my archi-mates and most importantly get a really great and mind opening consultation with one of my lectureres. Working away from home makes me feel a sense of strength, which I completely have no knowledge of where it came from because now that I am back in my hometown for a while, that need to be strong is at bay...I think it is knowing that I have those who care close, should something happen to me or maybe a slight sense of home sickness, but honestly, it's a process of growing up. Never being away from home, adaptation was key and now that I have come back, I feel that I should go back to East london as I have grown to being that independant me...one thing is for sure though, I will return yet a stronger person, its good to connect with family once in a while.
I cannot wait to get back to work and at the same time I wish time went slower because no time is enough when spent with family. What I am certain of is that I feel at ease each time i think about the cause of me having to go...and that is to build and add to my road of experience in architecture and at the same time...adding to my personal mental and spiritual growth as a person.
I am off now,and next time I will be blogging is from my work desk back in East london....
cheerio
//YOLI//
I cannot wait to get back to work and at the same time I wish time went slower because no time is enough when spent with family. What I am certain of is that I feel at ease each time i think about the cause of me having to go...and that is to build and add to my road of experience in architecture and at the same time...adding to my personal mental and spiritual growth as a person.
I am off now,and next time I will be blogging is from my work desk back in East london....
cheerio
//YOLI//
Thursday, April 21, 2011
going home...
This week I didn't have much to do in the office...basically folded drawings and did some filing including filling in as the ''1st lady''(as boss calls it) as the receptionist was ill....
I am going home for easters and I am so excited...3 months since I have last seen my family and it feels unreal and soooooooo good. My aunt graduated and we are going to have a family re-union type of dinner party as we will meet to rejoice in her victory...inspiration for me to work hard too.
I have recieved muffins which are to die for from the office to keep me occupied in my trip to Cape town and that has made my day. I have too been constantly reminded to bring back ''snoek from Cape town'' as we have the best fish. lol! being in this town has made me realise how fortunate people Cape tonians are...We have so much more nicer water, sceneries and buildings. buildings here are duplicative..same model types are seen almost everywhere...something we here at the office are working against...change is inevitable!
till next time you guys//Yoli//
OBLIVIOUS MIND THINKS...
I am going home for easters and I am so excited...3 months since I have last seen my family and it feels unreal and soooooooo good. My aunt graduated and we are going to have a family re-union type of dinner party as we will meet to rejoice in her victory...inspiration for me to work hard too.
I have recieved muffins which are to die for from the office to keep me occupied in my trip to Cape town and that has made my day. I have too been constantly reminded to bring back ''snoek from Cape town'' as we have the best fish. lol! being in this town has made me realise how fortunate people Cape tonians are...We have so much more nicer water, sceneries and buildings. buildings here are duplicative..same model types are seen almost everywhere...something we here at the office are working against...change is inevitable!
till next time you guys//Yoli//
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
CLIENT MEETING
OMG lastweek i met up with the owner of one of the projects I have been busy with. Everything was ready luckily, I was done with her drawings and next thing you know on friday 8 March exactly at 12.05pm a client walks in the office, seconds later it is brought to my attention that she came to see Ms Mfikili(me). My heart was too caught off guard it didnt even pound at the exact time, the visit was so unexpected. To cut a long story short, a drawing which was council-submission ready is now back to being in design-mode. The client wants more fancy things which would need lots of money, but trouble is the budget. Now I had to be level headed and not say yes to everything, I had to bring the client back to earth because the demands were kind of sky high. Luckily it was an understanding one and I managed to get her into a mutual agreement with me. Now I have to do little adjustments and call for yet another meeting. Hopefully then it will be more submissive for things to progress. Anyways, it is such a busy time right now, but as usual I am striving to be ontop of things. No stress.
Till next time,
//Yoli//
Till next time,
//Yoli//
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