i forgot to tell you!

last Sunday, an intern-friend from santa cruz, another intern in her office and I went to the zoo! it was so cold, but really fun nonetheless. The pandas were so cute, I loved seeing the elephants and especially this cute red panda, but it was also sad to know that once I'm done walking by, the animal still has to stay in captivity and wait for another ugly human to coo, wave, and point at it. I really enjoyed seeing a hippo, capybara, and zebra, and I would have never had the opportunity to see them in their own environment, but I don't like how they have to live there forever. The pandas looked very content munching on bamboo, but the capybaras and elephants gave you this longing look of "please, you know I'm not happy here... stop staring at me.." Perhaps the zoo could rotate the animals (I know.. the whole domesticated thing, they wouldn't last in the wild after captivity, it would be hard to catch new animals, cost more money, blah blah blah....) I guess that's not realistic, but I wish there would be a way for people to enjoy seeing these amazing and rare animals without one individual member of the species having to suffer.

Okay, so I sounded kind of depressed about the zoo - but it was really enjoyable. That whole sad-fest above was just me feeling guilty. But what was so amazing about that day was going to St. Matthew's Cathedral in DC. Wow- it was so gorgeous! Katerina, Andrew, and I stood in the second row and was able to admire the glittering gold and perfect mosaics. My eyes would follow the cathedral's walls covered in frescos, detailed flowers, and smooth marbles up to the very top.

What I also found interesting about the mass was the difference in traditions. Katerina, a girl I used to dance ballet with years ago who also has an internship on the hill in Mike Honda's office, also goes to church in the Santa Cruz area and also St. Joseph's once in a while. The two of us would raise to our waist to offer back peace to the priest when no one else would, and we also would hold our hands out during the Lord's prayer when no one else would either. It was kind of awkward being the anomaly, especially with the whole congregation behind us, but it was chill; prayer is prayer. I hardly think our creator really cares when we raise our hands. The other kid's name who came with us is Andrew, he works as an intern in Mike Honda's office too, but he's from Texas.

Got to go... talk to you laterrrrr
to my California people. see you in about 6 days!