a short post during lunch break

It's unacceptable that I've not blogged about work since I started.. It's my first internship yo! But anyway, here I am.. taking a teeny weeny break fr work to type a few lines. Technically I get one hour lunch break, but because Ars are workoholics, thus I rarely take full advantage of that. Except when we walk further than 2 blocks for lunch and take our sweet time w it.

Before I forget.. My first impression of the Ar office is that it's extremely cramped and stuffed full of papers (drawings). In my section of the office, there's about 20 workstations arranged back-to-back in an open planned space. There're stacks of drawings on every table top and a phone that rarely stops ringing.

5+ weeks down the line, this impression has not changed much, except that my own workstation now has drawings spread all over it too. And I didn't mind the crampiness. It adds to the charm and all that yadaa I guess.


In addition to my not-very-recent-but-relatively-so blog post in wordpress, titled 101 things I learnt in Ar office, I've also learnt that:
Architects are very visual people. They hardly ever write anything down, instead they prefer to communicate w many many drawings, which they print like no tomorrow. Unfortunately for me, I've picked up the habit (of printing), which will bring me to ruin when I return to school.

Communication is everything for an Ar. If any small thing goes awry in communications between the contractor, client, QS, Ir, Ar, authorities and whoever else involved, something could seriously go wrong and boss would really blow.

It's good to be original and creative, but trust this Ar intern, it's not everything in this line. At the end of the day, if you're good at all other areas and less so in the design department, chances are you can still survive. A relief for Ar.s sarah

Work stays at work. After 5 weeks, this is really drilled into me. Stay late and put in OT if you have to, but don't ever bring work home. It concerns your general well-being as well as your families' sanity.

Ars might not have a colourful social life, but for their own good, it's best to keep up some activities, eg gym, drinking w buddies, lectures.



Gonna start writing my self assessment soon, haven't got any fixed ideas bout what to write about. There's so much that I've learnt here, esp concerning the working world and what Ars actually do most of their time (pls don't be surprised that they do not spend majority of their time designing, instead they spend 5% of time designing and 95% making sure the design works out), but I'm not sure how much of it concerns my work specifically. Seems like all I'm doing is coincidently what I do best, which is to help others (meaning the colleagues) get their work done on time by any small way I can.

Sounds crazy, but I actually like "working". And I'd be returning to office after the CNY break to continue another 6 weeks of internship. Awesome huh?


That's it for now, TTFN, Ciao~