A Day by the River

After being in the Rio Grande Valley for almost two weeks, my classmates and I have been exposed to the border crisis and the challenges that the people face in border cities concerning immigration and poverty. Much of the content we learn about can give you an emotional toll, but we also have the opportunity to unwind and have fun on the weekends. David, a member of the newly formed Mennonite Disaster Service board in Texas, invited the class to his sister and brother-in-law’s cabin in Arroyo City which is located a bit north of Brownsville on the far east side of Texas. The cabin was located right next to the Arroyo river and was surrounded by beautiful wildlife. David had family there as well and everyone was extremely welcoming. The hospitality of David and his family really stood out to me, as they treated us as if we were family even though it was our first time meeting. 

David provided us with a variety of different activities such as tubing, paddle boats, and other games like cornhole. Additionally, we were given the opportunity to ride in David’s brother in law’s boat. I was excited because I had never been to that type of environment, considering that I have lived in Northeastern Indiana for all of my life. It is much hotter in southern Texas, and the water is also warm as opposed to the lakes in Indiana. Furthermore I was able to gain new experiences, such as riding on a boat. It was also a great opportunity for the group to spend time together and bond. The trip to the cabin was also helpful as the group had been feeling the physical toll of working on the fence at La Posada during the week. 

Students playing cornhole.

Students getting a ride on the boat.

Upon the group’s arrival, David provided us with snacks and drinks, and they made us dinner as well. They cooked us charro beans and cowboy bread, which I really enjoyed. The charro beans reminded me of my mother’s cooking, which helped with my homesickness. In addition to the charro beans, David’s family made us shellfish. We were able to see them still alive and how they were boiled, and they also taught us how to eat them. I had never had shellfish before so that was interesting to learn about. Many of the students were excited as it isn’t something as common in Indiana, and everyone was also intrigued to see how they are prepared. 

Students get taught how to eat crawfish.

As David’s family taught us how to eat crawfish, a few of us got to learn more about Tex-Mex culture. They spoke to us about how they struggle with the Spanish language because there are certain words or slang that they do not understand. Through being in the Rio Grande Valley, I have definitely picked up on the differences between the Mexican culture in Goshen and the Mexican culture here. The Rio Grande has definitely created its own culture that is a blend of American and Mexican culture, which is what all of the people here have been exposed to, since Goshen has many first generation immigrants while the Rio Grande Valley has Mexicans that have been here for several decades. I have enjoyed learning about the culture here in Southern Texas, and I really enjoyed being able to learn more about it from David and his family.

-Leslie Ortega, Goshen College Class of ’24, Public Health major