Resolute Reflection

Throughout law school, my list of New Year's Resolutions has been short and sweet:

• Keep in touch with friends
• Get to know D.C. like a local
• Read for pleasure
• Use my time wisely
• Pray without ceasing
• Make healthy choices

Overall, I have done pretty well with the list this year.  2011 has been a year of reconnecting with old friends, especially since moving back to California.  And, I am very pleased to be staying in touch with my D.C. friends, all of whom I miss so much.  Indeed, writing Christmas cards each year is always an exercise in counting my blessings.

I definitely got to know D.C. like a local these past three years, and this year wrapped up my D.C. to-do list.  Much was accomplished during Chris' visit on Presidents' Day Weekend.  We went to the top of the Old Post Office Tower, saw the Ghost Clock at the Renwick Gallery, watched money being made at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and went to the National Building Museum.  I also checked off some big to-do's during my family's visit for my graduation: a tour of the White House, and a visit to the Franciscan Monastery.  And, that's to say nothing of the recurring D.C. adventures I went on, including Mount Vernon, walking the monuments at night with Jess, many trips to the various Smithsonians, and quiet afternoons at the Basilica of the National Shrine.  I miss D.C., and hope that I'll have the opportunity to visit this spring.

I am happy to report that reading for pleasure has picked up this year.  Still Thinking, the virtual book club, has been a great source of accountability for reading.  This year, we read Machine of Death, Shakespeare's Kitchen, A Time to Kill, Across the Universe, Devil in the White City, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, The Hunger Games trilogy, and are currently reading The House of God.  I think my favorite was Machine of Death, which is an anthology of short stories inspired by this comic.  It was at once macabre, hilarious, and thought-provoking.  Plus, you can read the book online for free!  My reading also experienced a sharp uptick after I received a Kindle as a graduation present from my parents.  I was a bit hesitant about using an e-reader at first, but now I love it.  In addition to my book club books, I also read Bossypants by Tina Fey, Packing for Mars, The Pun also Rises, and am in the middle of the second book of A Song of Ice and Fire (the Game of Thrones series).  Still not nearly as many books as I used to read pre-law school, but a step in the right direction.

Using my time wisely is always a difficult resolution.  There are so many distractions in this world, and the Internet is the biggest temptation for me.  I can easily whittle away hours reading online.  However, especially in light of my upcoming bar exam at the end of February, maintaining this resolution will be of the utmost importance.

I would not go so far as to characterize my prayer life as "praying without ceasing," but there has been progress in this area of my life, most significantly this autumn as I began to meet up regularly with Monica, Ariana, and Shauna for conversations about The Holy Longing, by Ronald Rolheiser.  I am so blessed to have people in my life who challenge me to grow, and support me when I am struggling.

Making healthy choices waxes and wanes.  To be honest, it's been more difficult since I've moved home, because there is less walking in the suburbs, I don't have access to a gym, and I don't have as much control over food selection (and, keeping temptations out of reach).  However, I have been doing more cooking using healthy recipes, and my bicycle has gotten a lot of use.  Still, some room for improvement.

Accordingly, these are my resolutions for 2012:

• Keep in touch with friends
• Read for pleasure
• Use my time wisely
• Pray without ceasing
• Make healthy choices
• Try new recipes
• Do more photography
• Study Spanish

2011 was a momentous year for me in so many ways (a retrospective is forthcoming), and I cannot wait to see what 2012 will bring.  In the meantime, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

The D.C. To-Do List: An Archive

This is an archival posting of my successfully completed D.C. To-Do List, which has served its purpose, and therefore will no longer grace the sidebar of this blog.  Follow the hyperlinked dates to the relevant blog posts.  What a delightful list of three years of D.C. memories.

To-Do List:

• Go on a tour of the White House. (DONE: 5/21/11)
• Tour the beautiful grounds of the Franciscan Monastery. (DONE: 5/20/11)
• Finally go inside the National Building Museum. (DONE: 2/22/11)
• Watch dollars being printed at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. (DONE: 2/22/11)
• Marvel at the trompe l'oeil of the Ghost Clock at the Renwick Gallery. (DONE: 2/19/11)
• View the Capital from the observation deck of the Old Post Office Tower. (DONE: 2/19/11)
• Attend a Supreme Court oral argument. (DONE: 11/9/10)
• See a play by the Shakespeare Theatre Company. (DONE: 10/23/10)
• Spend some time at the Holocaust Memorial Museum. (DONE: 9/25/10)
• Eat French fries at The Tombs in Georgetown. (DONE: 9/18/10)
• See the bonsai trees at the National Arboretum. (DONE: 9/18/10)
• Eat lunch at the Mitsitam Café at the National Museum of the American Indian. (DONE: 9/9/10)
• See Jefferson's home at Monticello. (DONE: 5/20/10)
• Visit the Newseum. (DONE: 5/16/10)
• Go inside the Smithsonian Castle. (DONE: 5/11/10)
• Visit the National Museum of Natural History. (DONE: 5/11/10)
• Watch the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery. (DONE: 4/2/10)
• Eat a half-smoke and cheese fries at Ben's Chili Bowl. (DONE: 1/20/10)
• Take the Chinatown bus to New York City. (DONE: 10/16/09)
• Check out the parents of the leopard cubs at the National Zoo. (DONE: 9/21/09)
• Figure out if there is anything beside stamps at the National Postal Museum. (DONE: 9/18/09)
• Go to Mt. Vernon. (DONE: 8/29/09)
• Visit the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. (DONE: 5/11/09)
• Attend the Cherry Blossom Festival. (DONE: 3/28/09)
• Get a Library of Congress Reader Identification Card. (DONE: 2/28/09)
• Go to the top of the Washington Monument. (DONE: 1/23/09)
• Attend the 2009 Presidential Inauguration. (DONE: 1/20/09)
• See the U.S. Constitution at the National Archives. (DONE: 1/19/09)
• Attend Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. (DONE: 1/8/09)
• See snow fall in D.C. (DONE: 11/18/08)
• Attend the Red Mass at St. Matthew's Cathedral. (DONE: 10/5/08)

From DC to CA

Since my last post, I have...

Gone on a tour of the White House,

Visited the Franciscan Monastery and gardens,

Graduated from law school,

Begun to study for the California Bar Exam,

Purchased some new shoes, and

Adopted a kitten named Alibi!

Presidents' Day Caper

With my long weekend for Presidents' Day, and Chris in town, the past few days have felt like a vacation.  Chris has been to DC before, so we were able to do a lot of cool things slightly off the beaten path of tourists, including four things that were on my DC To Do list (at right).

We began our Saturday at the National Archives, and then walked a few blocks to the Old Post Office Tower.  The observation deck afforded us an excellent view of the Capitol from 270 feet:

However, it was extremely windy, with gusts of 50 mph, which was pretty intense:

After lunch, we walked past the White House to the Renwick Gallery.  On our way, we saw part of Saturday's Libyan protest.  At the Renwick Gallery, we perused an eclectic collection of paintings, and saw the Ghost Clock, which is truly incredible:

It looks like a grandfather clock with a sheet draped over it, right?  And yet, it's so much more.  Wendell Castle sculpted this entirely out of wood!  It was so difficult to tell that it wasn't cloth, even when examined closely in person.  Very cool.

We rounded out our Saturday evening at Co Co Sala, a "chocolate lounge and boutique," for a DC Cal Alumni event.  We chatted with older Cal alumni and sampled chocolate cocktails and desserts.  I had an "MMM Melted Milk Martini," which consisted of Svedka Vanilla vodka, Bailey's, and malted chocolate, while Chris tried the "Co Cojito," with chocolate infused vodka, fresh mint and limes, and dark chocolate flakes.  We also had three-course "dessert experiences," which were intense and delicious.  My favorite thing was the "Chocolate Onyx," which was a decadent brownie-like dessert with dark chocolate mousse, vanilla crème brulee, salted caramel, and crispy chocolate pearls.

On Sunday, we attended Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and walked through the dozens of beautiful side chapels.  We then had an amazing brunch at the historic Old Ebbitt Grill, which is across the street from the White House and has been frequented by a number of presidents and other important DC figures since 1856.  I was blown away by the Grand Marnier French Toast, which was absolutely perfect and delighted me with its hazelnut butter.  Although the wait was half an hour to get in, we were able to sit at the oyster bar and order from the full menu with no wait.

We spent Sunday afternoon at the National Museum of American History, and then attended a free concert at the National Gallery by the Vivaldi Project.  The line to get in was incredible, and I think we were some of the last people allowed in to the limited seating area before they cut off the line.  The theme of the performance was "Venice: Vivaldi and His Rivals."  I have to admit, the Baroque period is not my favorite era of classical music, but I nonetheless enjoyed the opportunity to compare so many composers in one sitting.  My favorite piece was definitely Handel's Trio Sonata no. 7 in F Major.

Monday was Presidents' Day, so we went to Mount Vernon to celebrate George Washington's birthday! I have been to Mount Vernon at least half a dozen times, but every visit brings me additional joy--I am even a card-carrying Friend of Mount Vernon!  For Presidents' Day, Mount Vernon was free to the public, which made for a very crowded plantation.  The opening festivities included Miss America singing the National Anthem, and awesome presentations by the Old Guard Fife & Drum, including military demonstrations:

After we toured the house and the grounds, we returned to the Bowling Green for a "surprise" birthday party for George Washington, organized by Martha Washington and Dr. James Craik (Washington's good friend and personal physician, as well as the Surgeon General of the Army):

The birthday party involved more from the Old Guard Fife & Drum, as well as the presentation of several birthday gifts, such as coral, new spurs, and a cane (which Washington tried, and failed, to insist was merely a walking stick).  Washington and Dr. Craik also taught us the correct lyrics to Yankee Doodle, explaining that the lyrics that we all know are very insulting.

On Tuesday, Chris and I began the day with tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.  It was worthwhile, and we got a preview of the new $100 bill being printed.  Here's Chris with a million dollars in $10 bills:

After the Bureau, we checked out the U.S. Botanic Garden, and had some buffalo for lunch at the Mitsitam Cafe at the National Museum of the American Indian.  We rounded out our exploration with a visit to the National Building Museum, which has a lot of cool exhibits.  Alas, we didn't have much time to see everything, but we did see an exhibit on the design of the World Fairs, and a great little exhibit on LEGO architecture!  There were some great buildings on display, including San Francisco's Transamerica Pyramid:

We also had an opportunity to play with LEGOs at the end of the exhibit.  Chris made an abstract structure, and I was inspired by the Campanile:

All told, I am confident that Chris and I saw more in a weekend than many of my classmates have seen in three years  (see more photos here).  It was a welcome change of pace to take a few days off from work.  There's a lot of work to be done between now and Spring Break in a week and a half, but I'm feeling recharged!

SCOTUS

Today, I saw an oral argument at the Supreme Court!  My Public Interest Advocacy professor, Deepak Gupta, was arguing for the respondents in AT&T Mobility v. Conception.  The case raises the question of the enforceability of class action bans in employment and consumer contracts.  SCOTUSblog gives a plain English summary of the issue:

Parties may sometimes settle disputes through arbitration, rather than litigation. When the dispute involves numerous similarly situated individuals, a few individuals may conduct the arbitration on behalf of the larger groups (similar to a class action lawsuit). Does the Federal Arbitration Act prohibit states from mandating that class arbitration be available as a part of every arbitration agreement?

It was very exciting to actually see a full oral argument.  I attempted to attend an oral argument during my 1L year, but I did not arrive early enough to be seated for the full argument.  They only let in the first 50 or so people, whilst the rest are relegated to a line that cycles through the back-most seats in three-minute intervals.  Thus, for this oral argument, I was determined to get in line early enough to get a seat!  My classmate and fellow journal member Amy and I met at the Supreme Court shortly before 6:00 am, and were the first two people in line.  (Full disclosure: I was actually the fifth person, but persons two through four let me cut in line to be with Amy, who was legitimately first in line.)  We got there waaaaay earlier than was necessary, but made some friends in line while waiting for the sun to rise and warm us up.  Amy went on a coffee run at one point, thank goodness.  Around 7:20 am, they handed out little cards with numbers on them so that we wouldn't have to stay in line:

Sadly, they didn't let us keep the cards, but at least I got a photo.  At 7:30 am, the Supreme Court cafeteria opened, and most people in line (around 65 people at that point) went inside because it was so chilly.  (Marble is cold to stand upon--go figure!)  Around 8:15 am, we went back outside, because the security guards warned us that the line sometimes moves as early as 8:30 am.  However, the line didn't move until 9:00 am, at which point we went through security, put all of our belongings in lockers, and then went through some more security.  Finally, at 9:25 am, we entered the courtroom!  I have been in the courtroom several times before, but I always appreciate the grandeur of the room.  The sense of justice is nearly palpable!

The justices entered the courtroom promptly at 10:00 am.  It was very exciting to see the newest additions to the court, Justices Sotomayor and Kagan.  Before the proceedings began, they swore in a bunch of lawyers to the Supreme Court bar--so jealous!  Members of the bar don't have to wait in line, and get to sit closer.  I truly enjoyed watching my professor argue before the Supreme Court; I think he did a great job, and handled tough questions from Chief Justice Roberts exceedingly well, especially given that it was his first time arguing before the Supreme Court.  I would have been so nervous!  Later this afternoon, I attended a panel discussion with my professor and a couple of authors of amicus briefs, which was very interesting.  I have no idea which way the court will come out on the issue.  It seems that Justices Breyer, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan were on the respondents' side, but it's difficult to tell whether they can get a fifth vote--perhaps the mysterious Justice Thomas?

Anyhow, Amy and I had a wonderful time, and I highly recommend the experience to anyone in D.C. who doesn't mind getting up early.  Now, if I could only find a way to get a White House tour (I've been on a waiting list with Eshoo's office for two years), my government branches experience would be complete!

October

I completely neglected to post last month, which is a testament to the busyness of this semester.  Here are some highlights.

I saw the National Symphony Orchestra perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, which was incredible.

I went to Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton, VA, with Brad and Marie, and enjoyed a gorgeous, lazy afternoon in which we were only slightly harassed by bees.

I was an usher at the Red Mass.  I escorted important people (e.g., diplomats from other countries) to their seats, and even got to shake hands with Justice Scalia!

I met some awesome Dominican brothers at an event the CSA held for the Feast of the Holy Rosary.

For Columbus Day weekend, I went to Boston for the first time, and saw Matthew and Tiffany!  Highlights included Harvard Square, the JFK Presidential Library, the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Boston Public Library, the Boston Symphony Orchestra (performing Mahler's Symphony No. 2, Resurrection), MIT, the Freedom Trail, Old Ironsides (a.k.a., the U.S.S. Constitution), the Museum of Science, and apple picking with Theresa. See all of my photos, with lovely captions, here.

I went for a hike with Jess and Gabe at Great Falls Park.  Photos here.

I had a job interview through DOJ Honors to be a judicial law clerk with the San Francisco Immigration Court.  Keep your fingers crossed!

My Fact-Finding Mission officially decided that we'll be going to Jamaica in January to do research related to the repatriation of persons with mental disabilities.

Jess and I saw All's Well that Ends Well at the Shakespeare Theatre Company (and thus, I get to check that off of my D.C. to-do list, yay).

I began to study for the MPRE, the lawyer's ethics exam, which I will be taking on Saturday.

I rallied to restore Sanity!

I went as Brian Wilson for Halloween, and the Giants WON THE WORLD SERIES! Coincidence? I think not.

That's all for now, folks.  November shows no signs of slowing down.  Four weeks until finals?  Madness!

Thinking About What I Saw

Today, I decided to spend some time at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM). The permanent exhibition is divided up into three floors: the Holocaust (1933-1939),  the "Final Solution" (1940-1945) and the Last Chapter. The Nazi propaganda about the so-called "science" of race was disturbing, as was the scale model of the gas chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The exhibition allows you to walk through a musty rail car, inviting you to imagine what it would be like to be crammed in and shipped off to a ghetto, concentration camp, or killing center. The USHMM has a much different feel from other museums in DC; while crowded, it was very quiet, and there were very few children. There seemed to be a collective understanding amongst the museum-goers that we had come to be ongoing witnesses to the atrocities that had occurred, and I was impressed by the respect and introspection that ensued.

Beyond educating the public about the horrific events of the Holocaust, what impresses me the most about the museum is how it connects those events to the contemporary considerations of international human rights, including genocide, crimes against humanity, and protection for refugees. In particular, I think it is important to explore the Holocaust in terms of the world's failure to provide asylum to the Jewish refugees attempting to escape from Germany. The United States' immigration policy, for example, was exceedingly slow to change to accommodate the significant number of refugees, leading to tragedy, as with the voyage of the St. Louis. As the USHMM Holocaust Encyclopedia explains:

In a highly publicized event in May-June 1939, the United States refused to admit over 900 Jewish refugees who had sailed from Hamburg, Germany, on the St. Louis. The St. Louis appeared off the coast of Florida shortly after Cuban authorities cancelled the refugees' transit visas and denied entry to most of the passengers, who were still waiting to receive visas to enter the United States. Denied permission to land in the United States, the ship was forced to return to Europe. The governments of Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium each agreed to accept some of the passengers as refugees. Of the 908 St. Louis passengers who returned to Europe, 254 (nearly 28 percent) are known to have died in the Holocaust. 288 passengers found refuge in Britain. Of the 620 who returned to the continent, 366 (just over 59 percent) are known to have survived the war.

I cannot imagine a world without the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, which prohibits the refoulement (return) of refugees to places where their life or freedom would be threatened on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Visiting the USHMM today was an affirmation for me of the importance of refugee law issues to which I hope to devote my legal career.

When I stepped out of the USHMM, I was momentarily stunned by the relative brightness of the sunny day. I went for a walk to mull over what I had seen, and took some photographs along the Mall.  I'll conclude this post with a couple of classic shots.

Koi Oh Koi

In the right-hand column of my blog, as you can see, I have added many new items to my DC to-do list.  Having covered most of the more obvious DC adventures to be had, my list grows ever more obscure.  Actually, I've already checked off a few of the new items on my list!

For instance, Jess and I had lunch at the Mitsitam Café of the National Museum of the American Indian a couple of weeks ago.  The Native American food is organized by region, and is so delicious!  I opted for the Indian Taco, a dish from the Great Plains region that consisted of buffalo chili on fry bread with pickled chiles and pinto beans, lettuce, tomato and shredded cheese.  Wow, just wow.  First off, fry bread is incredible; it's kind of like naan, but much thicker and softer.  Also, I very much enjoyed the buffalo meat.  It seemed leaner than beef, and the flavor was great in the chili.  After lunch, I explored the museum itself.  I loved the art, and was particularly amazed by the bead work on display.  I bought myself a little owl made from a gourd in the gift shop, which has made a happy little home out of my school locker.

Jess and I had a great time at the National Arboretum yesterday.  Though there were trees aplenty, I was blown away by the koi pond and the bonsai trees.  Here are a few of my favorite photos:

The Arboretum sells koi food from a gum-ball machine dispenser.  For only 25 cents, you can entice dozens of koi to swim right up to you!

Their colors were gorgeous, and some of the koi were huge!

These bonsai trees are incredible.  Some of them are over 350 years old!

My favorites were the bonsai trees that looked like small forests.  This one has its own little path!  As Jess aptly put it, they look like dioramas.

After the Arboretum, we checked off another item on my to-do list by eating French fries with ranch dressing at The Tombs, a popular haunt for Georgetown undergrads.  The fries were just as delicious as they rumors had made them out to be.  The atmosphere of the place is... well, an undergrad bar/restaurant with sticky floors and no windows (because it's in a basement).  Some people tout the place as a great study spot, but I could not see myself getting work done there, even with free wifi.

We rounded out our Saturday afternoon with a spontaneous trip to the National Cathedral.  I had last visited in the spring of my 1L year, so it was nice to visit again.  The stained glass is so beautiful.  The Bishop's Garden seemed a bit small after the Arboretum--right down to its tiny koi pond--but it smelled wonderful, and we loved the little boy who shrieked with unadulterated delight when he got to pet two lovely chocolate brown labrador retrievers.  All in all, Jess and I had a fantastic, relaxing Saturday that renewed our spirits for the inevitable busyness of the week to come.

Monticello

A view of Monticello from the flower walk along the west lawn.

This morning, Jess and I hopped in her car and took a 111-mile drive to Charlottesville, VA, to visit Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's plantation. The weather was perfect for us, in the high seventies with a light breeze and wispy little clouds in the blue sky, and the plantation gardens were in full bloom. Even the drive was a delight; the single-lane highways through Civil War battlefields and farmland were tranquil and pastoral.

Monticello is absolutely beautiful. I can understand why Jefferson chose to build his home there, and why it is a World Heritage Site. What impressed me the most during our tour was the ingenuity with which Jefferson designed the house.  From the dumbwaiters connecting the dining room to the wine cellar, to the pond stocked with fresh fish, Jefferson thought things through to optimize convenience and efficiency.

It was interesting to learn more about Jefferson. He was our third President, and the drafter of the Declaration of Independence, of course, but he was also the founder of the University of Virginia, a doting grandfather, a gardener, a diplomat, a violinist, and a bibliophile. He was also a slave owner, and most likely the father of one, if not all, of Sally Hemings' children. He commissioned the Lewis and Clark expedition, and made the Louisiana Purchase. He was inspired by his "trinity of the three greatest men the world has ever produced," Francis Bacon, Isaac Newton, and John Locke.

After our tours of the house and the grounds (more photos here), Jess and I drove into downtown Charlottesville to see the University of Virginia, including the Rotunda. We were amazed by how nice the campus looked--even the frat houses were in the style of American Neo-Classicism! After cruising through Charlottesville, we began our long drive home, with brief stops along the way at some considerably less noteworthy locales, including Chick-fil-A and IKEA.

Yesterday was also lovely, by the way! I visited the National Zoo with Brad and Jess--see Brad's blog for the details of our encounter with some amorous turtles. My favorite moment was in the outdoor flight cage, where one can walk along a path to view birds flying freely. As it so happened, one of the peacocks had fanned out his tail feathers rather aggressively, blocking the path near the entrance. Jess decided to walk past the peacock when his feathers were down, but then he displayed them again, forcing Jess to sneak behind him to escape. After the zoo, we headed back to Brad's apartment, watched Iron Man (the first one), and had an amazing steak and Guinness pie prepared by Brad's girlfriend, Marie. Apparently, the pie is a Jamie Oliver recipe, which I will have to try out myself, because it was so delicious!

What's News?

So done. So very done. Just turned in my last paper of 2L year. Huzzah! Now, I get to spend a few days hanging out in D.C., and then I fly home to CA on Saturday! Beautiful.

My last final exam was on Saturday, for Refugee Law and Policy. It was a very fair exam, the sort where the professor presents opportunities for you to demonstrate your knowledge, without any tricks. That's how all exams should be.

After my exam, I went to the Newseum, which is a very modern and interactive museum devoted to the history of news. The exhibits appealed to me both as the former editor-in-chief of my high school's newspaper, and as a hardcore news junkie.

You start on the 6th floor (after taking a ride on one of the world's largest glass hydraulic elevators), where you can walk along the outdoor terrace for an excellent view of Pennsylvania Avenue and the Capitol.  I went to the Newseum on a whim (and left my cellphone in my checked backpack), so I apologize for the lack of photographs. Inside, there is a long hallway with the day's front pages from around the country and the world. It reminded me of the newspapers on display in front of the Free Speech Cafe at Berkeley.

The 5th floor was devoted to the history of news. I spent a lot of time reading about the various phases of news, including the origin of eyewitness reports, the beginnings of female and minority reporters, and even satirical news sources like The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and The Onion! There was also a timeline featuring actual newspapers, so that you could get a feel for the major events of each year. They even had a copy of the San Francisco Chronicle from 1989 about the Loma Prieta earthquake.

The museum emphasizes the freedoms of the First Amendment throughout the exhibits, but the 4th floor had a gallery specifically devoted to each of the five freedoms (religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition). There are computers all over the place with games for children, and, I don't mind telling you, I rocked the First Amendment game. I knew two semesters of Constitutional Law would be good for something. The 4th floor also had a gallery devoted to 9/11, which included front pages from around the world about the event, and a large, mangled piece of the broadcasting antenna that had been at the top of the North Tower.

As I walked through and looked at those photos from the attacks, I couldn't help but to think back to 2001. I was a freshman sophomore in high school, getting ready for the day. We didn't really know what was going on when the first plane crashed--I thought it must have been a terrible accident--but, when I watched the second plane hit on TV, it was clear that this was deliberate. My first class of the day was Journalism, and we rigged up a television in our computer lab so that we could watch the news coverage. We spent English class journaling about how we felt about the attack. It was amazing how, instantaneously, things had changed.

The 3rd floor had some great information about the freedom of the press internationally, and a memorial for journalists who died on the job, in the pursuit of truth. There was a wonderful exhibit devoted to radio, television, and the Internet. I was very impressed by how up-to-date the exhibit was, with information about Twitter and even the iPad. I was amused by an old editorial cartoon they had displayed, in which a bunch of people are standing on a subway, reading the newspaper, except for the guy at the end of the car, who is carrying a massive personal computer in order to read the newspaper online. I wonder what marvelous things the future will bring.

The 2nd floor had a ton of computers with games for children to grapple with journalistic ethics. I played a couple of the games out of curiosity, and thought they did a good job of covering a wide array of issues--manipulation of photographs for dramatic effect, taking a photo of a person who needs help, going undercover at an insane asylum to get the inside scoop, and others. There was also a bank of video cameras and green screens where you could try your hand at reporting. I kind of wanted to do it, but not alone. Oh, well, next time.

The 1st floor was basically just the lobby, though they did have a little gallery with Pulitzer Prize photographs, which were all incredible. I especially loved the photographs of Barack Obama's presidential campaign by Damon Winter. There was also an absurd "4-D" theatre with 3-D glasses and moving seats, which showed a 20-minute film about important reporters in history, including Edward R. Murrow and Nellie Bly. Don't get me wrong--the film was great, but I just don't think that a film about the history of news needs to be in 3-D with moving chairs. Then again, perhaps I overestimate the attention span of middle schoolers.

Finally, on the Concourse level, there were eight sections of the Berlin Wall and one of the East German guard towers on display. It was strange to see in a museum. Part of me was grappling with the historical significance, but another part of me was appreciating the graffiti as art. There were also a couple of temporary exhibits, one on sports photography, and one on "g-men" (the FBI). And, for what it's worth, they have a very nice food court, if a bit pricey. (Then again, I have yet to find a museum in D.C. that serves reasonably priced food.)

The building design is very aesthetically pleasing, both inside and out. I have always loved the text of the First Amendment on the outside of the building. All told, I spent over three hours at the Newseum. I highly recommend it, even though it's one of the few museums in D.C. where you have to pay to get in ($20, ouch).

Personal Day Off

I had my International Law II final exam on Monday, the third exam in the course of a grueling six days. As my next exam, Refugee Law and Policy, does not take place until Saturday, I decided that I would take yesterday as a "personal day." After having a lovely lunch at Five Guys (D.C.'s attempt at In-N-Out, minus milkshakes, plus peanuts) with my friend Brad, I decided to check off a couple of locations from my D.C. to-do list: the National Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Castle.

The Natural History Museum is pretty cool. I really enjoyed walking through the Mammal Hall, which had a great number of wonderful specimens. I found the minimalism of the displays to be particularly striking; rather than surrounding the animals with recreated approximations of their natural environments, the animals are displayed in plain settings with only a branch or flower or prey, so you can focus on the specimen itself.

I also enjoyed the Insect Zoo, which had some living insects, including some awesome camouflaged stick bugs. Stick bugs hold a special place in my heart, as my mother has been raising them for ages for her classroom. Alas, there was a very long line to get into the butterfly pavilion (darn middle school tour groups), so I'll have to go back another time.

The Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals was, well, sparkly. Everyone was crowded around the Hope Diamond, but I found the other displays to be far more interesting. I amassed a fairly decent rock collection when I was younger, so seeing the various rocks and gems and minerals was delightfully reminiscent. I was surprised by the incredible collection of meteorites.

All of the children in the museum were obsessed with the dinosaurs exhibit, but I found it to be a bit overwhelming, and quickly escaped into the adjacent fossil plants exhibit. I cannot believe that we can dig up the preserved remains of plants from tens of thousands of years ago... Science is so cool.

After the Natural History Museum, I walked across the National Mall to the Smithsonian Castle. I have been intrigued by the building for a while, as its turrets are such a compelling addition to the skyline of the Mall. Unfortunately, there isn't really anything of interest inside the castle, other than information about the Smithsonian museums, a theatre that shows a video about the museums, and a cafe. I was not terribly impressed, and only spent about ten minutes wandering around. I imagine the castle is a wonderful resource for tourists, but it does not do much for an experienced local such as myself. Oh, well, at least it's pretty.

Today, I am back to my studies. In addition to Saturday's exam, I also have a paper due next Tuesday for my Negotiations seminar. I am hoping to finish it sooner than that, though, so I can spend my time having fun next week! If I get very ambitious, I believe I may have to add some more locations to my to-do list.

Spring Has Sprung

As a certain friend somewhere west of the 405 has mentioned (or at least alluded to) repeatedly, I've been rather absent from the blogosphere since late February. What can I say? Life, especially post-Spring Break, has been hurtling along at breakneck speed.

Academic rigors aside, a ton of fun and interesting things have happened in the past few weeks. However, you don't want to read an absurdly long post, and, to be frank, I don't have time to write it! So, here's my compromise: for each of the major fun things that have happened, I'll write a tweet-length commentary. An experiment in brevity could do me some good.

I went chocolate tasting with the DC Cal Alumni Association at the U.S. Botanic Gardens, and discovered that I like quality dark chocolate.

I did Phase II of the Prayer in Daily Life Retreat, focused on major life events. I learned that 2004 - 2005 were especially formative.

Spring Break to California was a relaxing visit with my family, and I helped Robert pick out a ukulele. Wish I had visited Berkeley, though.

I attended a daylong Refugee Act Conference at school, which greatly complemented the Refugee Law and Policy class I'm taking this semester.

I had the second (and final) full weekend of my negotiations seminar. Possibly the best class I've taken at Georgetown Law.

Fr. Orsy gave an interesting lecture on the historical origins of international human rights, examining the works of Francisco de Vitoria.

I saw the Hoya Lawyas (Georgetown law professors) beat the Hills Angels (U.S. Representatives) at the Home Court charity basketball game.

David spontaneously visited me in DC! We saw, well, everything. We also attended a great play at the Kennedy Center called Master Class.

Amanda J. was in town to visit grad schools! I finally saw Arlington Cemetery, which is gorgeous this time of year with the cherry blossoms.

I went with some friends to Bach's Mass in B Minor at the Kennedy Center. It was incredible, especially the credo. The tenors were spirited.

I attended Easter Vigil on main campus, and was deeply moved by the baptisms. Incredibly, the two-and-a-half hours flew by. So joyous!

I organized the CSA's second-annual Easter Brunch, which was delicious and well-attended. We surprised the security guards with leftovers.

Ben's Chili Bowl

I completely forgot to mention that I checked off Ben's Chili Bowl from my To-Do List! My internship is literally across the street from Ben's, so it wasn't exactly out of the way. I opted for their "famous" chili dog with french fries. (So, technically, I still need to try a half-smoke and cheese fries.) It was delicious, of course. I love chili that errs on the side of sweet as opposed to spicy.

Adding to the experience was the fact that I ate lunch at the counter. I went by myself since I was just stopping by before my internship. It was my first time ever eating alone at a lunch counter. Honestly, it was a little awkward to stare at all of the cooks running around behind the counter as they prepared orders. What do people do when they're eating alone at a counter? Should I have struck up a conversation with the cooks? Well, it was only my first time there... I guess I was just getting a feel for the place. Next time, I'll try to handle my visit like this guy:

NYC, Part I

I took a bus to New York City Friday morning to visit David at Columbia. I was very excited about the trip, not only because I hadn't seen David in over a year, but also because I'd only been to NYC once before. That trip was centered around visiting law schools, and allowed for only a whirlwind look at the city.

I've been meaning to take advantage of my proximity to other East Coast cities. Indeed, taking a Chinatown bus to NYC has been on my DC to-do list since last year! The bus ride was pleasant, speedy, and uneventful. For those of you who watch Conan O'Brien: We passed through Newark, and I think that Conan's critiques are well-founded.

My bus let me off near Madison Square Gardens. David met me there, and we went for a walk, checking out Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. At St. Patrick's, we accidentally attended Mass... It was just starting as we arrived! We later realized that it seems that they do Mass continually, because another Mass started up right after ours ended. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the church, because there were a lot of people there to visit, which made the place feel like a community in a way that I haven't seen other cathedrals accomplish. Then again, a guard searched my bag at the entrance, which was a bit of a detraction from that feeling.

It was great to walk through the city. David has a very good grasp of the important buildings throughout the city, and gave me an informal tour as we explored. The tone is very different from DC because the buildings are so much taller; in DC, nothing is allowed to be taller than the Capitol (roughly 12 stories). The pedestrian traffic is more... Intense? Bustling? I can't quite put my finger on it, but there seems to be a sense that everyone has somewhere important to be, and they're nearly late. Basically, it is a city full of rabbits from Alice in Wonderland.

David and I took the subway to get to Columbia. It's not as nice as the Metro, because it is dingy, and seems to have quite a learning curve. I just blindly followed David as to where to go. I'm glad that my daily Metro commute isn't like the subway here.

Columbia has a nice campus. They have a statue of Alma Mater, and she has a little owl hiding in the folds of her robes! I am perpetually surprised by how small some university campuses can be, but I suppose that Berkeley's gigantic campus is the exception, not the rule. The law school building is very nice. They have a lot more random study spots with cushy chairs scattered throughout the building than we do at Georgetown. Their lecture halls are prettier, too. We have a better cafeteria, though, and a nicer campus overall, as our three buildings have grassy quads between them. My California sensibilities still prefer plant life to a formally urban landscape.

David and his brother Daniel have a pretty cool apartment in the grad student housing. They painted some of the walls burgundy and taupe, and have lovely furnishings to complement the color scheme. They're on the first floor, though, which I wouldn't like, because of street noise and such. The apartment layout is a bit odd... Very closed. We were discussing it, and determined that a modern apartment would never be designed like this, as people have such a preference for open spaces.

Friday afternoon, we visited the Studio Museum in Harlem. It is located across the street from the iconic Apollo Theater. The Studio Museum features a contemporary collection of works by black artists. I really liked their Hurvin Anderson installation, which examined the varied use of the space of a barbershop. This was the first museum that we visited, and it taught me a couple of things. First, museums in NYC, unlike museums in DC, are not free. And, second, museums like to give you little buttons or tags to wear, as though you are an animal that they are studying and then releasing into the wild to continue to track. Very strange.

We attempted to visit Grant's Tomb, but it was closed. I was bummed--now I'll never know who is buried there! Instead, we strolled about the city for a little while, then reconvened at the apartment before attending vespers at the Church of Notre Dame. The church had a beautiful grotto (check out this virtual tour). We finished our evening with dinner at a diner, and then watched A Beautiful Mind back at the apartment.

September Digest

I didn't post last month because I was out and about doing stuff! So sue me. (Though, I wouldn't recommend it, seeing as I'm studying law and whatnot.)

I had a nice birthday, even if it was the second day of school. (Tax Law lecture = best birthday present ever! Or, not.) Jess and I went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner, which was delicious. Especially memorable was the Chocolate Oreo Mudslide cheesecake (chocolate Oreos baked in creamy chocolate cheesecake with a chocolate-almond brownie crust), complete with a candle and singing waiters.

I am really enjoying being on the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy. My grammatical nerdiness is finally paying off--I love being a staff editor! I also like that we do community service together as a journal, living out our mission. We did some cleaning at Central Union Mission last month, and I'll be doing some work with S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat) later this week. Also, I'm on the Article Selection Committee, which is exciting, because I have some input on which articles we choose for publication!

Things are going well for the Catholic Student Association. (We renamed the Catholic Forum, to clarify our purpose.) I'm a co-chair, and am very excited about the enthusiasm I've seen from students about this year. Attendance at our weekly Bible study has been more consistent than last year. We're going through the Gospel of Mark, which has been very interesting. To supplement my understanding, I am reading Mary Healy's fantastic book on Mark, written for the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture.

A few of us attended a lecture by Fr. James Martin last week on "Laughing with the Saints: Joy, Humor and Laughter in the Spiritual Life." It was great--he told jokes the entire time, but with a good message: that laughter is good for your spirituality. You may recognize Fr. Martin as the author of several excellent books, including My Life with the Saints, and as a guest on the Colbert Report. In fact, you can watch his lecture on YouTube. I especially appreciated the discussion in the context of my confirmation name, Sarah, because she gives birth to Isaac at a very old age, causing her to remark, "God has given me cause to laugh, and all who hear of it will laugh with me." (Genesis 21:6) Indeed, Isaac means "he will laugh."

I checked out the National Postal Museum on a whim a few weeks ago. I've been meaning to do so for ages, because it is only a couple of blocks from campus, and now I can finally check it off of my D.C. to-do list. I must say, it was a lot more exciting that I had anticipated. Honestly, I was expecting a museum with postage stamps framed on walls. Rather, it was very interactive, and a good place to take kids, although it felt like the museum hadn't really been updated since the mid-1990s. I especially liked the exhibit of F.D.R.'s stamp collection.

Another item completed on my to-do list: the National Zoo. My Corporations class was canceled last week, so I went to the zoo instead! My favorite part, of course, was seeing the owls. They had adorable little burrowing owls (pictured at right)! The owl on the left kept flying around, perching on a tall cactus to survey the area, while the owl on the right was sleepy. The zoo also had two barred owls, who were serene and dignified.

My dear roommate and I have had our share of fun this month, too: watching Cal football with the Cal D.C. Alumni Club, meeting up for lunch and shopping at our local mall, giving some Iraq Air Force vets (one of whom was a friend of Jess from home) a tour of D.C., a spontaneous late-night trip to 7-11 for Slurpees, attending an Oktoberfest in Maryland via water taxi, cooking together in our beautiful kitchen, and watching House, M.D., in spite of the fact that we don't own a television. Good times.

The ultimate testament of how much better 2L year is to 1L year: I actually am finding time for a bit of light reading. Fr. Alexei (one of the Catholic chaplains for Georgetown Law) recommended The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, so I'm reading it right now. In a nutshell--Jesuits in space! I think the Amazon review sums it up well:

In 2019, humanity finally finds proof of extraterrestrial life when a listening post in Puerto Rico picks up exquisite singing from a planet which will come to be known as Rakhat. While United Nations diplomats endlessly debate a possible first contact mission, the Society of Jesus quietly organizes an eight-person scientific expedition of its own. What the Jesuits find is a world so beyond comprehension that it will lead them to question the meaning of being "human." When the lone survivor of the expedition, Emilio Sandoz, returns to Earth in 2059, he will try to explain what went wrong... Words like "provocative" and "compelling" will come to mind as you read this shocking novel about first contact with a race that creates music akin to both poetry and prayer.

Well, that is my September digest. I attended some other museums and events, and caught up with a lot of people whom I hadn't seen all summer, but I think you get the gist of how September was for me--busy, but in a good way. Tune in next time to read about going to Red Mass with the Supreme Court (and possibly the President), celebrating Jess's birthday, and even attending a congressional hearing for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee!