Tuition Revenue Bonds for UTPA in Play

In State Rep. Aaron Pena's recent blog entry, he has disclosed that UTPA has made a request for $29.9 million in tuition revenue bonds. These bonds allow the University to raise money to construct buildings and other structures and would be paid by future tuitions. Since Pan American joined the UT system, the university has undergone remarkable growth in attendance and construction. Recently, UTPA has been expanding its footprint and is poised to move into the new acquisitions. The request, according to Rep. Pena, is in HB 6 and has a standalone backup in HB 36.

Links Updated

I have added some news links to the RGV Life blog in order to provide more information resources for those who have moved out or are looking to relocate to the Rio Grande Valley.

Flat as can be

The lower Rio Grande Valley is flat. We really don't have any significant hills or elevated areas. The hills don't start until you go towards Rio Grande City. From there, on the Mexican side, you can see the Sierra Madre on a clear day. This can be problematic for some things like mountain biking, rock climbing, and soap box derbies. From the expressway in McAllen, you can triangulate your location relative to the city by using the Bentsen Tower, Neuhaus Tower, and the Texas State Bank building, the 3 tallest buildings for miles and miles. So, to summarize, the RGV is flat.

Diseases of the RGV

I don't want to scare off anybody thinking about moving to the RGV. Our region is just as healthy as any other. The only difference is that we have some diseases that are not a problem in other parts of the country. Some are communicable, others are not.

Of the non-communicable diseases that are rampant in the RGV, there is diabetes. Many of us here are descended from both European and native people. You'll find many mestizos around. The bodies of native Americans don't handle refined sugars and flours too well and end up getting diabetes. Obesity is pretty common here, and so is diabetes.

The next major disease is tuberculosis. Our schools test children for exposure often to keep the disease in check. In addition, our counties have clinics set up to help control TB. Much of the TB that we get is from people visiting from Mexico and from areas of poverty here on this side. Since treatment is provided free by the county, your chances of contracting the disease are small. Even if you do, it's treatable.

Finally, one disease that we still have, suprisingly, is leprosy. I think it is called Hansen's Disease to give it a nicer sound. Leprosy, I understand, is also treatable. It is rare compared to tuberculosis. Just thought that you should know that it does exist in our area and also gets treated.

Don't let the knowledge that these illnesses exist stop you from coming to the Rio Grande Valley. In most public places, you are safe. The availability of treatment keeps the bad stuff in check. With diabetes, you can prevent it with having a good lifestyle.

Dating in the RGV

One curious difference in the RGV from the rest in the country has to do with dating. There is a difference in terms and a difference in significance. Let's start with the significance.

It is possible for friends to go out together, as in a boy and a girl, without commitment. It is however, rare. Going out mostly means that there is some level of commitment. In fact, going out implies some exclusivity. Whereas in other parts of the country, there is going out, going steady, and engagement. In the RGV, there is going steady and engagement. Going out happens when you go on a date with somebody. You can go out on dates with several people with no serious commitment implied or demanded. Once you go steady, you exclusively date somebody. You keep doing that until you decide to break up or get engaged. Engagement is the final step before marriage. I don't think that further explanation is required for either engagement and marriage.

In the RGV the terms are a bit mixed. In the local culture, you "go around" with somebody before having a date. Going around means going steady. So basically, you could jump from being acquainted to going steady before even having a first date. So, if you accept a date, beware that it involves a little more than just having some fun. Don't even mention going steady unless you want a blank stare.

So there you have it. Instead of a 3 step process, it's truncated to 2 steps. Be aware that the terms are a bit different, and you'll do fine.

Other Blogs

http://blog.myspace.com/slmtek

http://360.yahoo.com/shainelee

http://shainemata.blogspot.com

Just some that I remember off the top of my head not including this one. These services are all helpful to finding friends.

There is also Friendzy.com.

Myspace.com

I've been playing around with one of those online networking sites, Myspace.com. It's a great way to find people and hook keep in touch with friends and then find friends of friends. It's cool how you can network. It's a real example of six degrees of separation. You can visit my profile at http://www.myspace.com/slmtek to find my friends and go from there. Best of all is that you can find people from your school or from your class.

My co-worker, Krystal, just got on and is enjoying it. She already has more friends than I do. I am sad.