Trip to Monterrey & Rio Grande River Tour

Before a couple of our Japanese friends were to go back to Japan after 5 years of their stay in McAllen, we have decided to take them to Monterrey, Mexico, where we used to live for more than 5 years more than a decade ago. They had only been to Reynosa and Progresso, and had limited impressions of Mexico.

After a few hours of easy drive, we had arrived to Monterrey, Mexico.
We had decided to go to San Augstin Mall. After we did a little shopping, we went to eat at an Argentine Restaurant.

Before we had even started to eat, we could not resist thinking about the wide variety of sweets they had had at the restaurant.

Their shrrasco and arrachera were excellent!

The name of the Argentine Restaurant we went is 'El gaucho'.

Thumbs up!

The second day we had decided to drive up to Chipinque Mountain before breakfast.

These slides were here when our children were small. They enjoyed them.

Could not believe that they were still here!

After breakfast we went to carretera, where you can find many Mexican art crafts and food.

These are some Mexican sweets made from sweet potatoes and pumpkins.

When we were living here we never had a traffic to go up to Chipinque.

Now this is how it looks like before the entrance gate.

Oh yes, now they even charge to get into the park.

It used to be free. Time flies.

We had our brunch @ our favorite hotel, Quinta Real.

Pans dulces there are so good.

We also like the fresh juice with Nopales(cactus), Orange, and Pineapple.
We also had their Chilaquiles for the first time, and it was excellent!

A week later we took them to Rio Grande River Tour.

You can see the border patrol boats going by the ferry.




This is how it looks like at the back of our ferry boat.





This is a view of the American side from the ferry.
You can see cozy RV homes. They probably are for Winter Texans.

Mexican people were enjoying water.

As you can tell, Mexican border is not far at all.

This is the far end of our trip.

Rio Grande River has a dam between the U.S. and Mexican border.

People on both sides were enjoying swimming, fishing, riding mortar boats, etc.

It was a peaceful sunny summer afternoon.

Graduation

Last Friday John had graduated from his high school.

As he was a Salutatorian of his class he took part in Pledge of Allegiance and Salutatory Address.
4 years have passed so quickly that I cannot believe he is already graduating and soon be going to college! Well, Christine is already starting her jonior year at college and that is also unbelievable!

His Salutatory Address was dedicated to three people, my husband, whose birthday happened to be the same day, Jim, our friend who passed away just recently of cancer, and his classmate who is fighting against lukeimere.

His speech covered all areas of shool life as well as people who supported the students. He put homorous comments and made every audience laugh and relaxed yet his message was clear and strong.My husband and I both felt so proud of him.

Pleadge of Allegience

Salutatory Address

Righ after receiveing the diplomas they all looked so happy.

After the celemony we finally found John in the crowds!

We hugged each other and cried for joy.

Sushi Party!

Last Monday we had a Sushi Party.



I have met this new couple the other day at UTPA's International Committee potluck party at Alicia's and wanted to introduce them to Lily and her friends and family.

Jun brought back some Japanese shiso basils from LA, so we had Chirashi sushi with ume(pickled plums), shiso basils, and sesame seeds. It was delicious!



We also had California rolls, salmon chirashi, fried chicken(Japanese style), broccolini with black sesame seeds, Miso soup with Myoga, and fruit sponge cake by HEB!

Lily is serving ume-shiso sushi rice.

Mat and Shirley. Shirley is visiting from Long Island.

She made steamed sweet rice with Papaya. It was delicious!

Lily, John, and Amanda looking real happy having sushi!

Herb Garden/STISD Dinner

This is how my herb garden looks like. There is a Japanese expression referring to a small space as 'cat's forehead '. This herb garden is so small that it is exactly like cat's forehead!

And my cat,Tamarindo, loves to be out in the garden, because we have a catnip plant!

Oh, he is in Heaven!

On May 22nd. the board members of STISD congratulated

Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the four STISD schools they support.

John is receiving his Salutatory Plaque from Board President, Ernesto Alvarado.

John with School Principal Edward Argueta.

Valley Proud Honors Banquet

John had maintained his GPA good enough to be selected as the Salutatorian of his High School Class of 2007. Because of that John and us, Jun and I as parents, were honored to be invited to Valley Proud Honors Banquet presented by The Rio Grande Valley Partnership Foundation and H-E-B Stores of the Rio Grande Valley last Tuesday.

The top two graduating seniors of every high school, public and private, in the four south-most counties of Texas were invited to this event. There were over a hundred of students from about 60 high schools in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties.

The evening started with my favorite guitarist, Brook Ausborn, playing soothing music such as Amazing Grace. At the round table we sat together with our School Principal, Mr. Edward Argueta, Science Academy's Valedictorian, Steffi, and her father, Mr. Hernandez. Wonderful speeches followed as we enjoyed delicious dinner.

Then it was picture time!

John with Ms. Marcy Martinez, KGBT Action 4 News Anchor, and Mr. Bill Summers, President/CEO of Rio Grande Valley Partnership

John with Mr. Kent Shepard, Chairman of RGVP(left), and our speaker,
the Honorable Armando Martinez, State Representative for District 39.

School Principal, Mr. Edward Argueta, Steffi, and John.

Diana, Valedictorian of Med High and John.

Diana and John were two of the 10 represetatives from Texas

to attend MOAS (Model Organization of American States）

held in Whashington D.C. last November.

Benny is here!

Last Friday I prepared supper for Lily's friend who will soon be moving to LA. Lily came to pick up the sushi and other meal and dessert while she brought Benny, her gold fish, with her.

She and Troy will be visiting their parents in Tennessee and Ohio and are gone for 2 weeks. So Benny came to my house. Yes, I will be fishsitting!





Benny seems a lille lonely with the only one in the tank. When I let Tamarindo see him, Tama actually got a little scared. Tama wants to ignore Benny, so that's good!

There is no Chico around, so he is enjoying his nap in the patio....

to his best extent!

McAllen Artwalk

Last Friday my friends, George and Virginia, invited me to McAllen Artwalk. Many art galleries are open to the public during this event. It is held once a month from March to April during Spring season. The first stop we went was Santa Anita Gallery. George made sure that my Japanese friend, Noriko, and I stop at the restroom, because the restrooms at the gallery are beautifully decorated. I liked the idea of decorating the front of each doors to the restrooms.

Art House on 10th. St. has the most interesting and beautiful arts! I especially liked these wooden panels painted and curbed named 'Azul', which means blue in English.

We were planning to go to a Spanish restaurant called 'Espana' after the Artwalk, but at our last stop I was hit by the heat and humidity and had almost fainted! Right after I finished walking up the stairs to the second floor to see their mobile exhibition, I could not help sitting on a windowsill to get a fresh air. By the way, the window did not have a screen, which made Noriko real nervous! Sorry, Noriko! So, missed going to Espana! Oh, well. Maybe next September when we have another Artwalk series in Fall season, or even in October when the heat and humidity is less intense here in South Texas.