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From today’s class hand-out:

You will be split randomly into groups and given a noun. Your group must choose a sentence concerning your noun. Later, your group will communicate this sentence nonverbally to the class. Each group will have 5 minutes to agree on this idea, write it down, and bring it to Rodrigo (the Super-UTF). He will approve or reject your sentence. Sentences may be rejected if deemed inappropriate or too simple.

Once your idea is submitted and approved, you will receive a cache of supplies with which to convey this idea. Be creative and focused to communicate your thought. In addition to your materials and fellow group members, each group may use the UTF assigned to them, as well as using the floating Super-UTF as a live sculptural or animal element. Feel free (but not constrained) in your presentation, which could take the form of a sculpture, diorama, interactive display, or pantomime/dance. There are a few guidelines, as each presentation:

* Must have some dynamic element (e.g. a moving part or moving people)

* Cannot include spoken or written words (though sounds/noises are strongly encouraged)

* Must utilize most of the materials (this is more than simply a mime act)

After 20 minutes of planning and building, we will reconvene and explore what the other groups have come up with, with the onlookers trying to guess the sentence being communicated. We will then discuss how each group was most effective in helping the audience understand their idea.

The word for my group was “vertigo.” None of us knew what it meant as first, until Rodrigo explained that it was a kind of disease that causes acrophobia. After much discussion with not that many ideas, we agreed on “I have vertigo when riding on a Ferris Wheel.” After getting the sentence approved, we then allowed to lift the cover and take a look at our tools.

This is what we finally came up with. The Ferris Wheel is rotatable. It’s not a functioning or sustainable or engineeringly-correct model, it’s just designed to convey ideas. 

Other groups’ words are piracy, crescendo, and spy.

I really had a lot of fun doing this, and like the Ferris Wheel a lot (most of my friends guessed that it was a windmill or a turbine, though). I’m just so convinced that I’ll be really happy in course 2 (Mechanical Engineering), but at the same time my love for course 1 (Civil and Environmental Engineering) still remains. Major dilemma (pun pun).