Survey: What is the Valley to you?

So today, I began my new internship and I worked on implementing an artsreach program for high school art students. But as I began to accumulate a mission statement for the program, I realized I had a wealth of scholarly resources to research, just so I won't misrepresent anything or say somehting totally out of context in concern to intercultural study and Rio Grande Valley art and culture in particular...

But then I got to thinking...I can read all the scholarly material out there, but if I only know how people with PhD's view the Valley, then what do I really know??? I need to also know how people from the Valley view themselves and how people who are not from the Valley think or feel about this region.

So my question to you all is:

What is the Rio Grande Valley to you? What is the Valley about? What makes up the Valley?

I mean, these questions are basically the same, but however you wish to put it, I would like to know your reflections on The Rio Grande Valley.

In the name of well intentioned research, comment today! Oh, and it would be cool if you call could sign it or leave an alias too. Thanks folks and I do hope an awesome forum of reflections on Rio Grande Valley life can develop! So don't be shy and please contribute your comments/reflections. Thanks!