100 Happy Days Challenge: First Quarter

Hey Everyone,

My friend introduced me to the "100 Happy Days" challenge.

Our lives have revolved around schedules, the next deadline and often we forget to take a moment and breathe. There seems to be less and less time to enjoy life and appreciate the moments that help get us through the day. According to 100happydays.com 71% of the people who attempt this challenge are not able to complete it, failing because of the lack of time. Well, I'm an architecture student. I'm here to say that despite the fact that I lack sleep, and sometimes resemble a walking zombie without my caffeine, that it is still possible to find the little things that make us smile.

Enjoy the first quarter of my 100 happy days :)

Day 01

Bought cherries from the grocery store today.
They were very sweet.

Day 02

Went for dinner and dessert with friends.
French toast/Bread Pudding topped with Vanilla Ice cream

Day 03

Remembered when and where I got this key chain:
from Dawn at Cancercare Manitoba in 2006

"You have power over your mind - not outside events.
Realize this, and you will find strength"
~Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

Day 04

A fresh lemon for my hot cup of lemon honey
to start off the day.

Day 05

It was cold enough to wear a scarf.
(Can't help it, I'm a scarf fanatic)

Day 06

Early Birthday Present from Bowie
Nepalese handmade notebook

Day 07

Found place that satisfies my burger craving.

Day 08

Received a quick good morning skype chat with CZ.

Day 09

Climbed onto a roof of an industrial building with my studio

Day 10

Received an early birthday present from CZ

Day 11

The sun finally came out after 8 dreary days

Day 12

Celebrated my birthday with friends

Day 13

Celebrated my birthday with family
with Aunt P, Cousin NC and AK

Day 14

A friend sent me a picture of my return to Wpg in Jan 2014

Day 15

Treated to a midnight snack

Day 16

30 minutes of sunshine and a coffee
 a much needed break to save my sanity

Day 17

Snapshot taken by a friend when I said I missed snow.

Day 18

 A day spent with my cousin A and her family at Disneyland Hotel
 and Disneyland Inspiration Lake

Day 19

Saw Carravaggio's Supper at Emmaus

 Day 20

Lemonade Green Tea, Shades, and Sunlight
The only way to read.

Day 21

The Album that has been getting me through a Working day.

Image from:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/groundctrl/clients/barenaked
_ladies/media/11/09/ckeditor/pictures/data/content.mbeqepvo
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Day 22

Snack time!

Day 23

Fruit Street Vendor threw in a few kumquats
because he remembered me
(probably to get me to come back more often
 but they were super sweet)

Day 24

Nothing like Congee and a Chinese doughnut on a rainy day 

Day 25

Studio is coming along and I finally get to go home
after the Black Rain warning came down!

Reading Week- Kwun Tong and Belcher Bay

Hey Everyone,

This week was Hong Kong University's Reading Week. Roughly translated from anyone taking architecture, this is the week we hope to catch up, and get some sleep. At least, that's what I thought reading week was. In HKU reading week for architecture students is the equivalent to field trips, workshops, working, and another week of sleepless nights.

Over the last couple of days, my studio, which was Hong Kong based, had the pleasure of sitting through multiple workshops, films, and walking A LOT. The past Tuesday consisted of arriving at school for a 10:00 am presentation and being dismissed at 11:45pm in Kwun Tong. It was a good thing that I had completed my analysis of selected readings the night prior, but either way, everyone at one point in time had only a few hours of sleep. The workshops were interesting and with the intensive two day workshop, I think as a studio group we got to know each other a little better.

Image taken by Joey

There were a lot of new experiences and places that I hadn't been, so the following is a snap shot of a couple of the places we went to:

Kwun Tong is located in the eastern area of the Kowloon Peninsula. As one of the first "New Towns" in Hong Kong, it was and still is an industrial town. Kwun Tong aka. Koon Tong was suspected to be named after the Koon Fu salt yards and established to prevent unauthorised trading by the government. Koon roughly translated, means official or government, but in the 1950's local residents petitioned the government to change the name to Kwun Tong which now translates to "viewing the pond".

The roof of one of the industrial buildings

Light well

Belcher Bay is the bay outside Kennedy Town on the northwest shore of Hong Kong. Belcher Bay was named after Admiral Sir Edward Belcher (1799-1877), a Nova Scotian Bristish naval officiee, who surveyed the area in the 1840's. Currently, it is a docking area for ships to load and unload their goods. The space is also where construction materials are kept before being carted off to the site.

A Landscape of Bamboo

Bamboo Supports

Until next time, take care!