it smells like vanilla in my dorm. im pretty sure its because my roommate’s shower whatever has the fragrance. thats the only logical explination i can think of. alot of times, she’ll bake bread over night or first thing in the morning. it smells incredible and i always wake up hungry. somethings about roommates really arent so bad, after all

this week has been a smidgen more interesting… and by interesting i mean full of stuff to do and hectic. but again, the workload is managable. tedious, but managable. still drawing lots of lines in 2D design class for Foundation. its a popular topic for discussion amongst visual arts freshmen. we also tend to brag that our classes are longer and seemingly more boring than other majors. but honestly, i really think we all just like to hear ourselves talk. i do it, too. because we really have been drawing lines and simple shapes with pencil and black ink for a month now. its just training us. when we start to diversify our projects, we’ll have to diversify our conversations, too. im looking forward to both of those to occur.

but in the meantime, a new weekly task has been added to the list. every week i grocery shop to keep the milk and bread stocked, do homework, and now i can add my job to the list. for a decent wage, im working in the admissions office doing filing and other odd jobs as well as giving tours of the university on tuesday afternoons. i had my first tour three days ago. it was decent, not bad at all for a first experience. but it definatly was intimidating. consider the scenario- three people showed up: a transfer student, her sister who graduated from another college, and an older self taught man. all three of these people were older than me, all three have lived in large cities, all three basically know everything about life as a freshman in philly. the only thing fresh i could really get out to them was pure information about Uarts. exactly the stuff i barely knew! it was empowering to be in control of the tour when i was the youngest one there… but at the same time i really felt out of my league. im looking forward to being the almost hero-figure in some of the future tours— worried moms and dads asking questions, nervous kids looking for comfort. i can do that, because that was me. i liked knowing social things, city things. i didnt really care directly about the numbers and figures and supreme features of the school that i wouldnt be able to touch till senior year…. ill definatly have to learn up this school. i want to prove myself, and impress the people i tour. i hope it all works out.

but other than the job nervousness, the admissions office job is pretty sweet. everyone is very mellow and courteous. and then at the same time they all interact in silly ways with one another. its definatly a good place to work. so far, anyway

last thursday i went to jersey with my friend nick to see his band play. it was a terrible train ride there, only because my stomache got funny from the movement. but once we got to the show it was great. free billiards = happy joanna. also, it felt really good to be at a hardcore show. it had been a while. plus, coming from syracuse with its big h.c. scene, the jersey show felt kindof like home. im not even really into that kind of music. i like it on occasion, but i mainly go for the feeling and intensity. it was tame compared to syracuse, but fun none-the-less. waiting for the train to go back home so late at night was wonderful. the cool air felt so good. its hard to explain… lost in translation really.

walked through a new part of philly. well, new to me. trying to find the Mutter museum. walked right past it about four times before we found it. its a completely beautiful entrance and building and area. it was almost pleasant to get lost. however, it did make us kindof late for entry. there was only a half hour before the Mutter exhibits would close. the security guard shooed us in for free unfortunatly, they didnt allow pictures. i wanted to be sneaky, but i figured getting in free was already pushing it. any visitors to philadelphia should definatly check out the Mutter museum. its relatively small in size, but completely huge in content. aka- theres tons of things to look at. tons. kindof gross things, but i am rather into that… the strange and not completely beautiful. the things that arent meant to be really cool or attractive, but strangely are and they mesmerize your eyes. my eyes.

a couple days later i decided that i had been going without socks for long enough. it was laundry time. and it was really late at night. foolish me. its really made me appreciate quarters, treasure them. sounds crazy, but its incredibly true. what else is true- the fact that im really bad at laundry. nothing shrunk, but nothing was totally dry… my stuff got dingy too. its sortof sad, but itll get better with practice.

i miss free laundry. i miss the free dryer part more, though. i asked nick to keep me company while my laundry went through. i had to travel to other floors because the machines were either busted or occupied. we wound up on the seventh floor, and while my clothes were drying we snuck out onto this small balcony thing. im not really sure why theyre off limits… or if im even correctly remembering that they are at all. either way, it felt so good to have a clearer veiw that wasnt from a window. not even through a screen. just pure open air and lights and city in front of us.

random things: we had a guest speaker who was hilarious and wore masks and had an accent. there were about five helicopters floating stationary in the air the other day when i was walking home. there was an opening night for a symphony at the kimmel center the other night. they broadcasted a live feed of the performance out to the street with big television screens and speakers. i could hear it from my room. ive been taking alot of pictures for nick’s myspace. i also played harmonica yesterday and was terrible at it. and i discovered that citrus oil eats styrofoam by spraying the orange oil air freshener from the bathroom on a coffee cup. and turned it in for a grade, because it looked pretty fantastic.

so i do believe its about time for me to stop typing. a busy weekend is ahead of me. this evening i got invited to go out to dinner, then afterwards i believe im gonna try to catch a movie with a group of people. and then saturday!!! saturday is the main event, a (rather extravagant) early birthday present to myself. ill be going to Baltimore, Maryland to see the Virgin Festival. its a big open day of music where bands play on three different stages at staggered times. totally pummpppedddd because i finally get to see one of my favorite bands ever play- the red hot chili peppers. also playing…….. the Who. totally nuts, right? there will hopefully be lots of pictures to post for that. if i dont lose my camera, that is. i plan on praying to the camera gods to keep mine safe and in my hands the whole time. ahh. okay. so, until next time.

its strangely gray outside again today. it was beautiful for the past couple days, though. o well. city weather i suppose, and its transitional summer to autumn weather. at least thats what i’ll chalk it up to for now. i bought a cheap red umbrella, so there really isnt all that much to complain about. life has been good, but busy. that seems to be the general concensus around here between visual arts majors. busy busy busy (says Bokonon). sorry, Kurt Vonnegut reference. since we have a television but it gets no channels because i have been too much of a wuss to call Comcast, i’ve been reading while i eat. its actually a much nicer alternative to tv. i dont think i want to get cable. im getting along fine without it so far. except not having any news gets weird. but thats the beauty of the internet i suppose.

thats a big thing i keep stumbling upon here at college… you really just learn to get by. no tv? oh well, i’ll read or listen to one of the *place large number here* cds i brought. no internet? go to the lab, or just wander around and mooch wireless from somewhere. no cheese? ok well i’ll have to make another kind of sandwhich. nothing to do? hmm well, walk around the halls of the dorm listening for good music. knock on the door its drifting from, and compliment it.viola, new friend.

haha, oh wait, about that last one. ive never had time with nothing to do. so thats really not valid

lots of homework has been happening, but even though its fun to complain about, its nothing ive pulled my hair out over. yes, there has been excessive amounts of simple straight edged lines going around in classes- tedious, yes… difficult? no.

so its really no big deal.

cool things:
ive gotten a job as a tour guide for the university its a little bit terrifying because ive never had a real job before (bows head in shame)… i get jabbed at alot for not being an experienced worker from my peers. but the way i see it is, ive appreciated my time not having a job and the people that support me. so now its time for me to learn how it feels to be a part of the real world. even if its small, even if im starting off later in the game. at least im starting, right? proactivity is proactivity no matter when it happens.

rittenhouse square. is a very. neat. place. although there are a fair number of pan-handlers, its greenery and cobble stone charm out weighs the awkward request for spare change. ive been going there around 7 pm every wednesday with a couple friends to catch the free concerts. yesterday was, sadly, the last one in the series. i wound up collectively seeing four different acts, all wonderful in their own rights. and all very full of soul. soulful is probably the better way to say it haha. there was a powerful songstress named Crystal who played accoustic guitar and sang from the bottom of her toes to the very top of her cap. after her (and after my batteries died in the camera :() was a very uptempo rock (slightly countryish) band called the Brakes. they rocked out. the lead guitarist jammed in nearly every song forever. it felt so good, that dreamy but driven feeling when you can feel the bass in your chest. every member of the band could play mulitple instruments. the lead singer, for example, played guitar, bass, trumpet, and a bit of the keys.
then at yesterday evening’s show i saw and heard and danced to the beats produced by dj junior, followed by the straight up jazz-sexiest (but in a fun, mellow way…?) three peice band called Tortured Soul. they got everyone to dance. those brooklyn based beat masters weaved their keyboard, bass, drum, and vocal rythms through the entire crowd until everybody was clapping and swaying. it was great. little kids were spinning around towards the front, and a couple breakdancer guys were dancing with them, showing them their moves. the little kids tried to mimic the older guy’s complicated steps. i couldnt help but smile ear to ear.

ive got some work to do… okay more than some. but its thursday and its gray outside so its not a bad thing to have to stay inside for a while. going out to new jersey tonight to catch a friend of mine’s hardcore show. he’s a jazz bassist. he sticks out like a sore thumb. and its fun as hell

ps- i got my hair cut for ten bucks down south street hooray!

homework stuff

pre-haircut on the steps of hamilton hall with Ricki and Kori

the magic garden on South

fun in 3D design class today, like the cup-o-lantern. hehe.

oh! and i forgot to mention that i went out dancing last…saturday night. after going out to a diner and giving my leftovers to these kids about our age who were traveling around the country on whatever means they had. they guy was playing a sweet song on guitar, so i offered up my leftover alfredo. it wouldve sucked to carry it around, anyway. so anyway, i got all dolled up so to speak. check it out.

so now this is me with newww haaaaiirrrr, or rather old hair just newww styylle! haha.

So, its Friday now and I feel sort of guilty because it truely has been a while since my last post. I apologize now if grammar goes out the window. Capitalization gets lost with the gain of excessive punctuation. its more “train of thought”esque. i like it. see, there it is. anyway. alot has really been going on that i feel the need to express, or maybe just release somewhere. mind you, everything has been great. this is not going to be a ranting raveing entry. yes, things are stressful, but only because time is packed full of things to do. its a busy stress, but a good stress. keeps me on my toes. i think that without challenge we get lazy and laziness is boring. and certainly boring times would translate through these entries and i pretty much want to entertain whoever is reading this. or maybe just entertain myself in the future. hello future self. i hope this is good.

really oughta begin at the beginning. orientation felt long and drawn out, but it was great for socializing. i met a few people through shared boredom or tiredness or lack of interest. it sounds like a display of poor enthusiasm, but at 8:30 in the morning, with an orientation leader trying to get you to play hug tag with perfect strangers to break the ice, much sarcasm and pessimism ensues… which is, strangely enough, a great way to bring people together. its something in common, i suppose. so i met some really great people and we’re sortof developing a core friend…posse we’ll call it. everyones’ very funny and kind to one another. i feel that when i start to feel lonely, its best to regain the perspective of student-ship (new word!) by just realizing that youre a freshman, everyone around you is a freshman or once was somewhere. every one feels awkward just like you. so relax and be yourself. i get to be whoever i want to be, however and whenever. its very refreshing to meet new people and show them the best of yourself instead of whatever muck you left behind at highschool. no preconceived notions, no rumors to have to conquor. just freedom, your friends, and you. straight up you.

so orientation was kindof cute. the university’s efforts to make it interesting for us is nice to recognize, but not always on point. the sex and excess meeting (which im sure is mentioned in a few of the other journals in more detail) was pretty fun, versus say, the library meeting. dont get me wrong though, the library is pretty rad, as are the librarians. nice ladies. the nurse is fantastic, too. very easy going staff here.

honestly though, the best part about orientation was meeting the select people that i see every single day. the people that i feel okay just being true around, curious and bold. i live in the spruce dorms and my floor isnt incredibly social, so its nice to have met people at orientation that are comfortable and brave enough to just randomly knock on my door for no good reason other than to say hey and hang out or really do nothing at all.

i wandered around with my new friend Nick so much the first few days. we covered almost every corner of the city. it was amazing to have met someone i felt like ive known for years and years. we walked to china town, market street, south street, tried to find rittenhouse, actually did find rittenhouse, found what seemed like eighty wawa’s, got incredibly lost… all in the evening. im happy we met because otherwise i would have to be alone walking, and i pretty much NEVER want to walk alone at night. it really is bad news to be alone at night in the city. dont do it. its not even to say that the city is always dangerous, because it isnt. its just good to have security- you feel better walking around, more confident, and you have a better time if you have somebody with you. so … as a new comer here, my advice along with im sure every single parent and guardian in america, is to never walk alone if you can help it. its just more fun with a companion.

so the lecture is over. haha. back to the events- we walked around to a different place every night. one day we discovered a fancy food court right off broad street (which, i might add, is alot of fun just to stroll with no particular intention). in this fancy food court is a grand piano. nick and i decided to play it. nobody was around, and we sounded pretty decent so it didnt seem to harm anything. before we knew it a security guy was yelling to us, but the echo of the empty floor and the hard walls made it a challenge to understand what he was saying. so i stood up to go talk to the man in uniform, expecting to be scolded. i got that feeling in my stomach, you know- when your brain is preparing to apologize or defend or make up some sort of excuse to fix things… so im feeling kindof tense but ready to explain to the guy about to tell us off. however- he didnt ! he actually told us that there was an even nicer piano on the 12th floor, in the, ready? in the ballroom! so instead of getting scolded we got upgraded. it was reason to smile ear to ear. so up we went to the 12th floor. it was absolutly beautiful with clouds painted on the cieling and a fountain surrounded by dimmed lights, not to mention completely devoid of people. other than us nick played lovely music while i wandered around and fiddled with light switches.

i like to explore.

its been raining since we arrived here, but a couple days ago the sun finally came through and its been warm ever since. this is a very long entry, but its because im trying to get everything thats been happening these past two weeks out to you. there are alot of pictures to see…. i hope they all upload properly. there will be a bunch of Nick and I’s nighttime wandering pictures, some neat semi-artsy pictures, some rainy day pictures (like an obliterated umbrella *one of many* - REALLY windy days), and alot of blue sky pictures from historic philly. GO TO HISTORIC PHILLY. if youre like me, from a tiny town moving to a big city, go to historic philly. there is grass there. and shorter buildings and squirrels. its beautiful and warms your heart. sounds silly, but its true. i hope the pictures are okay. i think thats all for now… enjoi

Isnt this thrilling? Okay so not entirely, but it does feel pretty great to get a strong enough wireless signal to be doing this via laptop (kids- get a Mac and represent!). So anyway, I really dont know where to begin. An introduction may be in order, because I am not only writing these for myself, but for anybody who happens to find the itty bitty link from the main UArts page. I am Joanna, Im a visual arts kid taking foundation. I have no idea what my major is going to be yet, and Im totally okay with that. Thats actually a really big reason I decided to come here because Uarts let me be undecided until sophmore year, and then I do believe theyre going to help me out when decision time comes. But thats all technical stuff. Fun stuff is mmm…. I love photography and photomanipulation with Adobe Photoshop, so hopefully youll be seeing some cool images posted up here. I’ll try to impress you all I also love painting. My schedual has been rather crazy lately, what with the first week of classes in session… so I havnt had much time to do any leisurely (spelling?) painting or photo walks through the city. I have gotten convieniently lost a couple times though. It was on purpose with a friend of mine. Quite enjoyable and a great way to pass the after-dinner hours.

I’d have to say my favorite part about this first week (almost…its only Thursday) has been the true dose of freedom. Food when you want, what you want… No curfew, shower whenever, do laundry whenever, and all the teachers have been stressing how “we’re all adults now”… i beg to differ on some occasions haha, but it is nice to be responsible to do things on our own. i feel more proud to cook things for myself if i bought the groceries on my own

so ladies and gents its time for me to go because i dont want to be late for art history… first impressions are CRUCIAL in my book i’ll write more later. peace out girl scout.

~jo