Vida En El Valle Blogs: The Latin voice of the central valley.

Three months ago today, I arrived at the San Jose airport, drove to Fresno, and prepared to start a new life in Central California. So in honor of this anniversary, I’ve compiled a list of things I’ve learned in my first three months in the Valley.

1. I’ve learned to circulate the air through my car as I drive along the highways here. (Thanks for the tip, roommate!) It’s not that I have anything against the sweet scent of agriculture but… okay, I do have something against it. It’s a little stinky.
2. I learned that a “stone fruit” is a fruit with a pit, like peaches, nectarines, plums, etc. Unfortunately, I had to learn this term directly from the county agricultural commissioner.
3. I’ve also learned that raisins are, literally, dried in the sun, that you can crack open a walnut shell by using another walnut shell (and I always thought you needed a Nutcracker, like the ballet)…the list goes on. I clearly have a lot to learn about agriculture.
4. Before I left my old job, an acquaintance gave me one tip for reporting in California: focus on water. Well, I’ve definitely learned that water doesn’t just flow out of the faucets. I have a “California Water Map” on the wall by my desk, so I am continually learning about where the Valley’s water does come from – and what happens to an agriculture-based economy where there is a water shortage.
5. I’ve learned some new Spanish words that are commonly used here in the Valley – like mande.