its been a while since we have all posted. a lot has changed, occurred, and stayed the same here in bcn. we are all desperately working towards some sort of presentable final studio project. the other classes are weighting our efforts down as usual, but this is nothing new to the student of architecture. all of the spring breaks were a success as far as i can tell. i could spend days talking about my experience in london, edinburgh, and dublin, but i believe i'll speak about my hands.

my hands are too clean. they have seen no work for some time and its beginning to bother me. my hands are missing the woods. my hands are missing the joy of physical labor and the satisfaction gained from it. my hands have not felt dirt for too long. they are longing for a few cuts, a few bruises, and a few more scars. they miss being alone without seeing a single person. they miss home is what they miss.

i have been in barcelona for three months. at first, it was a great experience and all of the sites filled my soul. the people did not. it has been a rather pleasant stay in the big city, but a man begins to learn what it is he wants in life and where he belongs. as much as i like barcelona, i could not reside in such a busy place. i mean, damn, i cannot do anything without seeing a person. i cannot walk in the woods (untouched forest, not parc guell). i cannot have my woodshop here. i cannot sit outdoors without the site of a woman urinating or a million pigeons pooping everywhere.

i have been listening to some eddie vedder (thanks clay) and his lyrics are pretty close to how i feel. in his soundtrack to the movie "into the wild", there are many powerful songs. i knew the rules but the rules did not know me. society, you're a crazy breed. i hope you're not lonely without me. you think you have to want more than you need, until you have it all you won't be free. when you think more than you need, your thoughts begin to bleed. i think i need a bigger place.

don't get me wrong, i respect the city for all it encompasses. it is a phenomena of collaborative efforts between huge amounts of people, planners, landscape architects, engineers, and architects. it works without too many flaws, it gives the people what they need, it brings life to a place. however, it is not home to the simple man who needs the natural world to survive.

a man goes through life searching for the right answers. he wonders many place, meets many people, and risks it all for just one piece of the puzzle. one day, he will stumble upon the key to the door. the door of pure nirvana and happiness. the door will lead him to a place of complete harmony between man and surroundings. this place is his refuge, his birthplace, his home, his life.

my hands are too clean. i don't want to live where i don't belong.