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Cherry Blossom paradise!
By Shawn | March 31, 2009
As spring is upon us in the northeast, my girlfriend and I find ourselves allured by the wonder that is Washington, D.C. in early spring as the frost melts and flowers bloom. From the Cherry Blossom Festival to feeding fish at the National Arboretum, one finds spring in D.C. beautiful and marvelously charming. As we arrived, we departed Ronald Reagan National Airport and jumped the Metro destined for Dupont Circle to engage in a nice lenten meal and to catch up with our friends, one of whom is a fellow Canisius and DiGamma alum.
Our next day opened with cheer and excitement as we not only could see the Capitol through our window, but were awakened to the beautiful sounds of children playing. After breakfast we took a nice drive through the heart of D.C., taking-in the wonder and beauty of the cherry blossoms lining the Tidal Basin, watching families fly kites near the Washington Monument, and imagining the fierce and interesting decisions being made in the White House. Our next stop was the National Arboretum on the outskirts of the city. While there, we took pictures with more cherry blossoms and even some magnolias, two of my favorite flowering trees! But, the best was yet to come. As we circled around back to the entrance and the visitor’s center, we amazed at the seemingly endless school of koi fish in the moat. Feeding the fish was a wonder in itself. Fierce and competitive, those fish acted like they hadn’t eaten in days!! They were swimming on top of one another, even fighting ducks, for the bits of fish food we had to offer.
My first trip to D.C. was during my freshman year when I, along with about 12 other students, ventured on Canisius Campus Ministry’s Alternative Spring Break. While there, we fed the homeless, stocked shelves at a food pantry, and learned about poverty. The point of the story is to explore the many and diverse options available to one at Canisius. Whether those opportunities be open through Campus Ministry, ResLife, or intramurals, take advantage and make the absolute most of them. For me, that first trip to D.C. forged a lifelong interest and admiration for the District.
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