Tara in the Neighborhood Episode 28 with Jose “Joe” Sanchez

Tara in the Neighborhood

Jose “Joe” Sanchez on Tara in the Neighborhood

Jose is a resident on South Padre Island, he is a teacher, musician, storyteller, inn keeper and sandcastle maker. Jose left the Valley in the mid 1970's to attend Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Jose started his academic journey as anthropologist but dropped out of Harvard to experience life. Jose finished Harvard 10 years later after "being" many things from laborer to cook to musician. Jose shares his philosophical views and highlights his nonconformist adventures. The beat movement of the 1950's inspired Jose and authors such as Kerouac created a blueprint for experiencing life "on your own terms".

Jose was drawn to folklore throughout his life, he taught at the the Circle School in San Antonio. The school is based on the work of Nicholas Roerich and is used stories as part of the curriculum. Jose learned much at the Circle school by teaching folklore to children by day and going to underground clubs to sing his music at night.

The new chapter in his life brings Jose to South Padre Island. He has honed his sandcastle techniques and is part of a non profit which teaches sandcastle lesson for free on South Padre Island. Jose plans to take his sandcastle making on the on the road throughout Rio Grande Valley schools. Jose's partner is Lucinda and together they are building castles and raising dogs on the Island.