Like whales and birds, I have my own annual migration that occurs in late May when I travel from wherever I am at the time (in this case San Diego, California) to Rio Grande City, Texas in order to see my former students graduate from high school. Now, I am not the only one who has this annual migration to RGC, my former roommate, Erin, and several of our close friends/TFA teachers, also make this trip. This year’s trek to Rio Grande City (and back again) was more arduous than I expected. Due to unforeseen traveling mishaps (I’d like to point out that none of them were my fault), I arrived a day late and with less sleep than I had originally intended. When I stepped out of the airport, my lungs were assaulted by the heat and humidity that, living in San Diego, they had become unaccustomed to. The temperature in San Diego had been around 70F, the temperature in McAllen, Texas was 106F. While I miss many things about Texas, I do not miss the heat.
Before we went to visit the high school, we stopped at Tacos Aka #1, one of our favorite places, to have lunch. When we walked in, everyone stopped eating and talking to stare at us. This was something I'd forgotten: as a white person in Rio Grande City, you stand out (i.e. glow) and people stare. Of course, by the end of lunch, we were conversing in our broken Spanish with the owners about how we used to be teachers at the high school, were from Montana and California, and were in town for graduation. When we left, we waved and everyone waved right back!
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| Our yummy leftovers |
Erin and I then proceeded to the high school to visit our favorite teachers and staff. "Technically" school was in session, but as attendance was no longer being taken and grades had been submitted weeks ago, it was more of a teacher work day than anything else. Everyone from the custodians to the office staff still recognize us. When we taught there, people were constantly getting Erin and I confused (although we don't look much alike). Now that we only come back once a year, I'm convinced that people won't recognize me without Erin at my side (and vice versa). In fact I walked into one teacher's classroom and after enthusiastically greeting me she asked, "Where is Miss Mohr?" because she knows if I'm around, so is Erin. Another teacher upon seeing us said, "Oh, the Bobbsey Twins!"
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| Erin and I, the "Bobbsey Twins". It must be the hats. (Don't worry, we didn't go to Mexico this trip) |
This year there are now two high schools: La Grulla HS and Rio Grande City HS; this meant we had two graduations to attend rather than the usual one. This also meant that RGCHS no longer needed all the portable buildings they had in the past, like the one I taught in for two years. I watched as they carried off the portable where my friend Amy Long used to teach with a tractor. Apparently "my" portable will have the same fate, but it didn't happen while we were there (if it had, I would have taken a video to post!).
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| Where the magic happened, Classroom 908. The last time I'll see it. |
As Erin and I are old pros at the graduation thing, we knew to get to the football stadium early so we could see our students as they lined up before the ceremony started. This year we were the very first people to get to the stadium, which meant we had prime choice of parking (turns out it didn't matter where we parked since we were some of the last to leave as well and there was no traffic anymore). La Grulla's graduation was on Friday night, and we got there at 5:00 pm for the 7:00 pm ceremony. That might have been a bit early since we didn't actually see students until 5:45 pm.... Graduation went well, and it was delightful to see our former students. Apparently appearances change quite a bit from freshman to senior year, so I was having a hard time recognizing some of my students. Luckily, though, if I didn't recognize them right away, they recognized me. I'm always jealous of their graduation gowns--I've only ever graduated in black--but theirs were a pretty blue (La Grulla) and red (Rio Grande City).
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| Two La Grulla graduates and their proud (small) teacher |
After the ceremony we wandered around on the field, congratulating our students. When I saw a student graduate and didn't have a chance to see them beforehand, I memorized their shoes in order to make it easier to find them afterwards. Using their outfit wasn't terribly helpful since they were all wearing blue.
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| I wouldn't have missed seeing her graduate! She was wearing silver shoes. |
For our late dinner, we ate at Tacos Nay, another favorite, that stays open incredibly late, and I had a Taco Pirata. Sean wanted me to bring one back for him; he calls it the Pirate Taco. I didn't think it would fit in my suitcase very well.
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| A Taco Pirata--Chipotle could take a lesson. |
That night, as we were going to bed, a former student and graduate of Erin's knocked on our hotel door and asked if we wanted to come down for some cake to celebrate her graduation. Erin, in her PJ's already, politely declined and said we were getting ready for bed. I'm convinced this sort of thing only would happen in Rio. I would NEVER have knocked on a teacher's door, especially hotel door, EVER! Nor did we figure out how she knew what hotel room we were in....only in Rio.
The next night was Rio Grande City High School graduation, and we got there plenty early (not quite so early this time though). Once again, it was difficult to recognize my former students. The girls, especially, look so much older! The boys just grow taller and larger (and facial hair-ier). It was so wonderful to see them graduate.
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| They've been friends since freshman year, and both pinky promised they'll go to college. |
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| SO PROUD! |
Afterwards, I went down on the field to offer my congratulations. Shortly after all of us friends and family poured onto the field, the stadium lights went out (Oh, Rio). Now, trying to find grown up students in the dark is even harder than finding them in the light! Luckily though, I found almost all of the students I had wanted to.
One of Erin's favorites invited us to her house for a graduation party, so we stopped by. After getting lost on the way to her house and having to be rescued by the student herself, we finally made it to her house. Her graduation party consisted of her grandma, mother, sister, and two aunts and uncles... and us! They welcomed us graciously into their home, even though I had never actually taught their child, and fed us a wonderful meal. This student turned down going out with her friends to spend her evening with us.
Unfortunately, because it was a short trip, we left the next morning and migrated back to our respective homes. First, though, we bought some Texas memorabilia, and a nice lady took the only picture of the two of us together on the trip.
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| Erin and I, the Bobbsey Twins. It must be the shirts. |
I can't wait to migrate to Rio Grande City with Erin again next year to see my last group of students graduate. That city, the students, and the people will always have a special place in my heart.
