The Journey Begins: Meeting Monica

Before I met the lovely Monica, I had not thought positively of rats.  The rats that came to mind were the ones that carry diseases and live in sewers, or rats that are fed to large reptiles.  Since I signed up for the class, I have been excited about getting to name and train a rat.  I guess views began to change then.  The day before our first lab, I babysat children who had two pet rats.  The boy was surprised that I didn't scream when he brought in the pair clinging onto his shirt.  They looked similar to the rats we have except one was light brown where ours are black.  Playing with their rats made me really excited to meet my own.  By the end of lab, my initial thoughts of rats being gross creatures that world could do without were gone, and replaced with how cute my new pet is!  My impression changed because I saw the clean conditions that the rats lived in, and how they were not going to transfer diseases by biting me.  I was able to hold my rat for a few minutes.  She didn't squiggle too much.  Her name is Monica.  Yes, a Friends reference, but I think it suits her!