Michelle Obama's Day for Sightseeing, and ‘Si'-Saying, in the District

Visiting a community services agency in Adams Morgan yesterday as part of her getting-to-know-the-new-neighbors visits around the District, Michelle Obama received a language lesson from preschoolers.

"You don't know Spanish?" a young girl asked incredulously.

"No, and it's ridiculous," the first lady allowed.

The mostly Latino kids at Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care were happy to help her along as she read from "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?"

"How do you say 'brown' in Spanish?" she asked. "Will you teach me?"

The first lady abandoned her chair and got down on a purple rug to share circle time with the nine children, who attend a bilingual family literacy program. Afterward, there was a group-hug photo op.

It was the first lady's first official visit to a nonprofit organization here; she and her husband previously read to children at a public charter school. She has also been making a thank-you tour of federal agencies that has included remarks promoting President Obama's policy agenda.

Mrs. Obama also met with teenagers who attend the center's after-school programs, and the conversation turned somber, with the high-schoolers asking about immigration reform and crime prevention.

While Mrs. Obama was sympathetic, she reinforced campaign themes about personal responsibility. "No matter what you do, you can't pass a law that makes somebody do the right thing," she said. "You can't pass a law that says treat your neighbor with respect and decency."

-- Richard Leiby