Free Blog Topic

Since the spring season is right around the corner, something of interest to me is Spring Break travel destinations.  I love traveling... so going to any of these places would be ideal for me.  Here were some of the top locations that I found...

Bahamas Party Cruise

Cancun, Mexico

Panama City Beach, FL

South Padre Island, TX

Acapulco, Mexico

Mazatlan, Mexico

Nassau, Bahamas

Negril, Jamaica

Porta Vallarta, Mexico

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Miami & South Beach, FL

Amsterdam

London

Paris

Whistler Blackcomb, BC Canada - ski resort

Winter Park, Colorado

Aspen

The great thing that I recently found out, was that Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean can still be traveled to by land or sea without a passport (check with the company if taking a commercial cruise).  The exception is if you are returning to the US from all of them by air they require a passport.

In Ten Years...

I hope to be licensed as an architect...working with a firm that I feel passionate about, creating designs that are meaningful to the community that I am engaged with.  I do not wanna be working on some meaningless projects, yet I understand that architecture is not all glamorous every moment.  From what I understand the profession can be stressful at times, but I think it is what you make of it.  After graduation, I am planning to complete my Intern Development Program (usually a 3 year period), then at some point complete my Masters of Architecture.

As far as my personal life...I am sure that I will be married and have kids by that time. My family will definitely be my everything to me and probably consume me outside of my professional life.  I am looking forward to traveling a heck of a lot more after I graduate and get married.  I feel like I have already been to the most romantic spots in the world and hope to continue that lifestyle.  I intend to stay in the south, but I have no real commitments yet.  I would like to find a permanent spot in the south and travel on vacations as often as possible.  I do not see myself being the type of guy that has his heart set on greed or money... I'll be fine as long as I am having fun at my profession and enjoying time with my future family.  

I hope that my lifestyle will be reflective in being a good steward of things given to me, rather than being too caught up in American consumerism.  I also hope that the type of architecture that I practice can give back to the economy, be green, efficient, and be an investment.  God is the one that I will turn to during all these lifelong decisions.

Week 2: Web 2.0

In my opinion this video hit on some very key issues to my generation.  I think that the title of the video is very appropriate.  I agree with the ending remarks that we'll need to rethink a few things...copyright, authorship, identity, rethorics, governance, privacy, commercy, love, family, and ourselves.

Web 2.0 is probably going to affect people who are already in the work force by a great means.  I think it will call for employers to change their ways of getting things done.  I think some of the old school employers will have great reluctance to change and adapt, but with a convincing argument they can be won over.  It would be in their best interests to take advantage of what Web 2.0 has to offer with linking people together, making it easier to share, connect, collaborate, and exchange information.  As far as people who are currently entering the workforce such as ourselves, I would think we are expected to be the most technologically advanced generation and be very familiar with everything that the web has to offer.

I still think there is a great ways to go before everyone will rely on the web.  Some believe that there is too much reliance on the web and technology.  In my opinion there has to be a good medium between using the web and being old school.  There is a certain advantage in many cases of having a hands on edge rather than using the web.  Rethinking all of these ideas for me is going to be how to get things done more effectively and with a better return in your investment of such technologies.

Landon's Introduction

(me @ the riverfront in Charleston in front of art sculpture)

Hi Class,

My name is Landon Ray.  I am currently finishing my last semester as an architecture major.  I have mixed feelings about graduation.  I hope to work for an architecture firm after graduation and complete my internship.  Maybe in a couple of years I will go back to graduate school to obtain my Master's in Architecture.  I am from North Augusta, SC and have lived in Augusta, GA for the last few years.

I love to travel!  I studied abroad in Genoa, Italy for a semester and thoroughly enjoyed it.  I lived in Japan for 3 years as a child.  My interests range from attending theatrical/acoustical events, meeting new people, trying new foods/wines/beers, playing pool/ping pong, ice skating, hiking, snow skiing, doing photography, to trying to keep fit.  My favorite band is Coldplay!  My new year's resolution was to start back running and to be in the best shape of my life by graduation.