In case you haven't caught on, the Valley is a beautiful culmination of the United States and Mexico; both nations collide and form what we call a border town. Border Towns have their own rules and the community is united under commonality. 

I understand the Valley is different and it has its quirks and to outsiders, these quirks can come across as inconvenient and frustrating, at times. However, my attempt is not to persuade you to accept the Valley or Border Towns, but to help you understand the culture. I want to begin with one central message: dialects.

While it sounds like something made up, I can assure you, "Tex-Mex" is a legitimate dialect. Below are brief examples of dialects that many have a misunderstanding of and here is my attempt to help bring it all together. 

CHICANO ENGLISH

It's not uncommon to travel to southern California and hear Mexican-Americans (or people of Mexican heritage) refer to themselves as Chicanos. Similar to the Valley, California's border towns provide a unique sense of culture and language. While we have a lot in common, the choice of words for certain things are different. 

Tacos are burritos while in Texas a burrito is fried or an enormous tortilla filled with meat, rice, beans, and cheese; a taco is a soft tortilla wrapped in a delicious delicacy. Additionally, in SoCal, fajitas is carne asada, but in Texas carne asada refers to meat that is grilled over fire; fajitas is a type of meat. 

My wife is from California and we have this argument often. 

In any case, California and Texas share common interests, but it's simply communicated differently- this includes slang. 

POCHO

"Pocho" refers to broken Spanish. It's taking words from the English language and making them sound Spanish. It can be hilarious. It can be insulting. But at the end of the day, if you walk into a barrio and do not speak Pocho, but formal Spanish, you might as well be a rich white boy from Harvard- you're not welcomed. 

Words in Pocho include "lonche" which means "lunch," "chorts" which mean "shorts (yes, the kind you wear," or "tochar" meaning "to touch." Get it? Pocho. 

I could give this large sociological excerpt on Pocho, but this is a blog, not a journal. 

SPANGLISH

This is a serious debate for many because often it can be confused for Tex-Mex or Chicano English, but quite frankly, it isn't. 

Spanglish is its own dialect and it refers to the unity of two languages in order to paint one picture. In short, starting a sentence in English is the beginning of a thought and what brings color and life to that thought, idea, or conversation is finishing it in proper Spanish.

"The people needed to be led; they needed orgullo, animo."

TEX-MEX

Tex-Mex is very similar to Pocho, much like many forms of Chicano English. In fact, the separation in both dialects is geographical location. If Pocho is broken Spanish, then Tex-Mex is broken Spanglish.

For example: 

"I'm going to the store." | "Voy a ir a la tienda." | "Voy 'pa la store."

"Why?" | "¿Porque?" | "Por why?"

"Stop." | "Alto." | "Estop." 

Additionally, whistling is a form of communication. How one whistles will determine their feelings or thoughts. If one whistles before finishing their sentence, it is because the whistle conveys the remainder of the thought or feeling. Whistling is also used to grab one's attention (No you're not a dog, get over yourself. If you think that, then you take yourself way to seriously). 

CONCLUSION

I wish to end by saying that this brief introduction into border language is an attempt to help you (or make you laugh) understand border culture. Please, do not be offended when you step on border soil and the majority population doesn't speak English, it's an insult when you speak louder or display irritation. 

Remember, this is a country of immigrants with a ridiculous amount of cultures, dialects, and beliefs. And, no where in the constitution or declaration does it state that English is the official language of the United States. It's the most common, estuped. 

I normally do not write about the weightlifting side of my life on Puro Valluco, but this post isn't exactly about weightlifting.

I (Marco) am very excited about this January as I look to launch a small business where we specialize in olympic weightlifting along with other power sports. The name of our company is called Bear Stout Strength Training.  

I started thinking through the process and purpose of this company well over a year ago and as I have been coaching athletes, my passion to help others better themselves as athletes or someone looking to become healthy has grown.

The real reason for this post is to encourage you about the reality of time: it's never convenient. If you're passionate about something and desire others to experience that same passion, the question is going to be whether you launch or not. 

I'm not saying that you shouldn't have a plan, finances in order, and a purpose. I am, however, encouraging movement. I have sat with many who wish to get involved in the world of business and have valuable ideas, passion, and desire, but never doing anything. 

Maybe they're afraid of failing? Or are intimidated by other businesses with similar values? I have struggled with similar fears and what continues to drive me toward my goal is passion. People will follow passion.

In the end, let me encourage you to develop the idea you have in the back of your mind and run with it. I promise, upon launching, you will have forgotten something or will eventually find a more thought-out and efficient process that you wish you knew six months ago. But that's the whole point of trying something!

Be wise with your finances, but be prepared for a few fails. Lead those around you well and they will show you compassion. Build relationships and you will be encouraged. Be faithful and patient, stay on the grind, and have fun. 

Enjoy your future endeavor, amigos. 

Meals: Heart and Stomach

"If you really want to make a friend, go to someone's house and eat with them. The people that give you their food give you their heart." - Cesar Chavez

When meals are cooked, it's a reminder that the table is a place for gathering a family and hearts are exposed because of the stories everyone shares.  It's a building of relationships and a reminder that we are relational beings.

A meal is a social occasion and sharing that time with someone creates opportunity for trust.  Truth and food are directly linked to the heart of an individual. 

If your goal is to speak truth into the life of an individual, but you do not care for their heart first, then you have basically eaten the meal you cooked in front of them without offering and then throwing it away.

You did nothing.

Seize an opportunity to bless someone with a meal, then their heart and the truth will follow; like food, it's something we need. 

Mother's Day or Dia de las Madres?

The holiday passed. We know. And we're sorry. But this post wouldn't be very Valley if it was on time, though we're on board to change that. Eventually.

If you haven't realized, the Valley is a cultured area where holidays such as Mother's Day are taken very seriously and are celebrated grandiosely. 

Every restaurant is packed and all the grocery stores have run out of charcoal and lighter fluid.

But that's not the challenge. The challenge is knowing when to celebrate Mother's Day or Dia de la Madres.

Living in a border town can often be pretty confusing. The majority of our families are of Mexican-descent so it would only be natural to celebrate Dia de las Madres on the 10th, which is the celebration date in Mexico.

But there's this unspoken tension about technically living in the United States so celebrating Mother's Day should be left for celebrating on May 11th.

I see 3 options: 

• Celebrate both days because you can't go wrong in making much of your mom for a full weekend.
• Choose to celebrate on the 10th or the 11th, but make a big deal in leading up to whichever day you decide; a surprise.
• Stop being a menso in using the 11th as an excuse to buy your mom something because you completely forgot that it was Dia de las Madres and you're "saved by the date."

I know you're still living at home with your mom anyway. You might as well make the weekend all about her and do her laundry for a change. 

A Valley Reminder

By: Marco De Leon

I was driving to Roosevelt's (local pub in McAllen) and became frustrated as drivers strategically prevented me from arriving on time.  It's as if everyone knew where I was going and collectively decided to give me smiles at 20 mph in a 45 mph zones.

The Clock

As I sped up to give drivers a verbal two cents, it hit me. I am part of the generation that is focused on lusting after the finish line that we forget about the race. We want everything for the now to live in the future and decided to suffocate by agenda.

The drivers of the Rio Grande Valley taught me something important: I can't beat the clock. The Valley is an area where time doesn't exist for the majority of its residents. Change is heretical and isn't appreciated and several cities are a representation of what the Valley once was.

The Point

The Valley is a great place for a reminder: the appreciation for what used to be is nurtured and most days I'm too focused on the expansion of what I think I own, am entitled to, or deserve.

Amigos, the Valley houses some of the only survivors of time and have been placed in our direction in order to point us back to humility.

Stop taking yourself seriously. Be Still.