Clement Fagundes Interview
Item
Title
Clement Fagundes Interview
Interviewee, Interviewer
Fagundes, Clement
Ferreira, Bruna
Relation
Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute
Date
11/18/2019
Identifier
SCUAD_pbbi_00025
extracted text
1
00:00:02,220 --> 00:00:15,030
Speaker 1: Hi, my name is Bruna feta and I am doing a Portuguese oral
history interview at Fresno State. Hi, um, what is your full birth name?
2
00:00:15,900 --> 00:00:24,030
Speaker 2: My full birth name is Clement fernanch fogounch.
3
00:00:24,060 --> 00:00:28,740
Speaker 1: Where were you named after anyone? And is there a story behind
your name?
4
00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:53,740
Speaker 2: And when I was born in the Azores, my dad went to the church,
a local church in Algarve and found out that the st. Clement was born in
the same day, November 23. And so I am named after
saint comment.
5
00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:57,340
Speaker 1: When were you born?
6
00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:05,980
Speaker 2: I was born in November 23. 1963 in Algavre Terseda Azores.
7
00:01:10,090 --> 00:01:16,030
Speaker 1: Okay, great. So it says here, where were you born? So where
we're at so you were born in Algavre you said?
8
00:01:16,390 --> 00:01:18,640
Speaker 2: Alguavre Terseda Azores.
9
00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:19,720
Speaker 1: in a hospital?
10
00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:29,140
Speaker 2: in Casa. Oh at home At home known hospital. Not in the
hospital. at home.
11
00:01:30,730 --> 00:01:39,670
Speaker 1: What early memories Do you have of a child in the Portuguese?
Do you have as a child in the Portuguese American community or in
Portugal?
12
00:01:39,000 --> 00:02:39,360
Speaker 2: In Portugal, I have my memories of just having lots of friends
and because we did not have any television or any games, we always used
to play outside play soccer or play any any types of
games that we wouldn't actually invent as kids, and those are really fun
memories, because we were always very active and had a lot of
friendships. In in the United States was different, but my dad
worked in a dairy. And we're more isolated. So we did not have many
friends to play with. We usually played either with some cousins or some
siblings. But now we had television that occupied our time.
So it was much different and probably not as enjoyable at all. So
13
00:02:40,050 --> 00:02:42,510
Speaker 1: when did your family immigrate to the United States?
14
00:02:43,260 --> 00:02:47,790
Speaker 2: My family emigrated in March 1974.
15
00:02:50,450 --> 00:02:53,600
Speaker 1: And when did you immigrate to the United States with them?
16
00:02:53,630 --> 00:02:58,370
Speaker 2: With them with my whole family and my two sisters and a
brother.
17
00:03:02,510 --> 00:03:04,490
Speaker 1: Why did your family leave the Azores?
18
00:03:04,970 --> 00:04:03,590
Speaker 2: My family left the Azores from Azores. Two reasons possibly.
One is because in that time was still the colonial wars. So most families
that had boys they wanted to immigrate so they
wouldn't have to go fight in the colonial wars, even though I was just 10
and a half, but never knew how long those colonial wars were going to
last So, and every young man had to was drafted and had
to serve in the military, and they usually were sent to Africa to fight
the colonial wars. The other reason was that I have a sister that
acquired polio was disabled, so we felt my parents felt they
would be better Healthcare for her in United States. So
19
00:04:05,220 --> 00:04:08,070
Speaker 1: where did your family settles and why there?
20
00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:51,950
Speaker 2: We lived in Merced for three years. Then my dad's boss moved
to Strathmore. So we followed the job and came to Strathmore leave lived
in Strathmore for about three years also. And again, my
dad's work changed and we moved to Tualre. And that was in 1979. And then
we've lived in Tulare ever since from 79. till now.
21
00:04:53,870 --> 00:05:04,730
Speaker 1: Did your parents and our grandparents ever tell you what it
was like to adjust to life in a new country? And what stories were passed
down to you regarding their early experiences?
22
00:05:05,300 --> 00:05:39,500
Speaker 2: Well, mostly, the language was a big barrier, the language of
being able to communicate, because we only knew Portuguese. I would say
the language the traveling because everything now was
so far away. Luckily, my dad knew how to drove and even in Azores. My mom
did not. So we have to be very dependent on each other as a family.
23
00:05:44,750 --> 00:05:57,200
Speaker 1: You are a member of the first second or third generation of
your family to be born in the United States. How important was it to you
to your parents that you be raised with a strong
Portuguese identity?
24
00:05:59,300 --> 00:06:17,090
Speaker 2: I'm the first generation immigrant. So my first language was
Portuguese, but is very important to continue the Portuguese traditions
and culture and language for my whole family
25
00:06:18,530 --> 00:06:20,330
Speaker 1: And why do you feel that felt like it?
26
00:06:20,870 --> 00:06:38,930
Speaker 2: I feel that you should never you should always be proud of who
you are and where you come from. And we have really interesting and
traditions, celebrations.
27
00:06:41,630 --> 00:06:46,490
Speaker 1: How was this identity express through language foods,
traditions and festivals?
28
00:06:47,060 --> 00:07:14,030
Speaker 2: It was expressed through foods is making our traditional foods
and gather to as family to enjoy it. Traditions you know the Holy Spirit
Festa the Festas then carnivals all that was a part
of me expression the matanswers that we would have.
29
00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:19,850
Speaker 1: And what about the language?
30
00:07:20,750 --> 00:07:57,140
Speaker 2: Well, the language because my parents did not speak English,
we always have to speak Portuguese so continued on using our language and
to be proud of the language, even though at first
everybody wants to come into this country need to learn the other
language. And that's first you you want to become Americanized, but then
eventually your memories you. So you try to lose a little bit
of the language but then as you get older, you want to bring it back and
express it and be proud that you were Portuguese.
31
00:07:58,650 --> 00:08:04,080
Speaker 1: What cultural traditions have you maintained? Why has it been
important to you to maintain them?
32
00:08:05,610 --> 00:08:52,890
Speaker 2: Well, we don't do any more matansas because they stopped being
fun because of it was just became lots of work and not really much fun.
My daughters now that I have daughters, they like to
participate in the Holy Spirit celebrations. They would have enjoyed
Carnival, but a lot of a lot of times they don't understand the language
so they feel like they're not getting the whole sense of
what Carnival is. We still have the get togethers and enjoy our foods or
Portuguese foods. And just, again, the whole idea of family.
33
00:08:57,210 --> 00:09:00,690
Speaker 1: Have you been to the Azores? What was that experience like for
you?
34
00:09:01,410 --> 00:09:08,850
Speaker 2: Well, I was born in the Azores and I have been to the Azores
probably five six times. When I
35
00:09:08,850 --> 00:09:09,630
Speaker 1: Since you immigrated?
36
00:09:09,750 --> 00:09:55,860
Speaker 2: Since I immigrated. When I was in my I went back when I was
18. Then I went back when I was 23 and 25. At that time I was still
single and then I as a married person, I've gone back three
times. The whole experience is always a good experience a good experience
with the people the enjoy, always enjoy the beauty of the islands. The
food, the foods, the seafood, the traditional foods,
always come back at least 20-30 pounds heavier.
37
00:09:58,290 --> 00:10:04,830
Speaker 1: trace if you will some of your experiences growing up in the
Portuguese American community in the valley throughout your life.
38
00:10:07,330 --> 00:12:15,310
Speaker 2: Some of the expand growing up in a Portuguese American
community, a lot of times has been good experience. But at the same time,
at times, there's been an experience that weren't so
positive. I believe that there's a sense of community and, and people are
very proud to be Portuguese. But at times, and especially in the
beginning of me, when I was here, it was it was hard to fit
in in some groups. There was already some established groups, or us
soccer teams or bands or even groups in forecore, which had its already
own members and it was hard to then become part of that
group because they have been together for a long time. Once you've fit,
were accepted and entered into that group. Then it became It was good,
but it was, it's still had a lot of people who had
different ideas or very sad ideas. And sometimes it made it hard to
really be a fun place to be with or at some of the traditions, and it's
our good that we have, but the United States sometimes they
eventually they start watering down some of the traditions that are
naturally from the Azores. What I mean by watering down is they'll have
this main idea, but some aspects are changed. Not
necessarily saying that's bad, but it becomes a little different and the
whole sense of why we do specific things, for example, with Holy Spirit
becomes centered on queens, or other things when it's
has other meaning than just that.
39
00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:23,740
Speaker 1: Of all you have accomplished. What are you most proud of? What
proud moments do you remember in the Portuguese American Community?
40
00:12:27,070 --> 00:13:09,820
Speaker 2: Well, I've been able to, I have my own business I've been able
to, to get a college education. I've been able to be financially stable
and travel without any problems. So as a whole, being
in United States has provided me with a lot of good things, but it takes
off like anything. It takes all Hard work is just doesn't come naturally.
You always have to put in the hard work, to be able
to have good things.
41
00:13:11,460 --> 00:13:20,280
Speaker 1: To what extent do you believe Portuguese American has been
Portuguese American has shaped the way you have your life, both
professionally and personally.
42
00:13:21,360 --> 00:14:07,080
Speaker 2: Well, because you never forget that you are Portuguese. And so
you always keep that cultural aspect of being Portuguese in your mind.
Even though you end up living more, a lot more, more
your time in United States you never forget to be Portuguese. But then
you also now are living in a different country and you have to be part of
this new country and accept some of their customs and
actually integrate them so you could blend them in so be being a
Portuguese American You don't have to be just American. You don't have to
be just Portuguese but you can integrate both cultures.
43
00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:11,850
Speaker 1: What does being Portuguese American mean to you?
44
00:14:13,430 --> 00:14:56,270
Speaker 2: Portuguese American means that I am Portuguese and that I
respect and then an impart of the American system. Once again, I never
I'm very proud to be in Portuguese and never forget where I
came from. And I love the islands or the island or islands that I am part
of, but at the same time, I like the opportunity opportunities that
United States has given me. And also like being part of
United States and being part of being American,
45
00:14:57,260 --> 00:14:59,870
Speaker 1: How do you see the Portuguese American community today?
46
00:15:00,809 --> 00:15:55,169
Speaker 2: See the Portuguese American community they kind of struggling,
but at the same time, trying to keep up with the traditions with the
language with with the community. But it seems like it's
a struggle, sometimes not enough people take the initiative or the
leadership to continue some of the traditions we have, which takes a lot
of work. And eventually people the same people do the same
things over and over. And they get tired of it after a while with the new
new new blood or the new generations need to take it over. But at times,
that's hard, because there's some people still that
don't want to let go and accept new ideas.
47
00:15:56,110 --> 00:15:58,870
Speaker 1: Is there anything we didn't cover that you'd like to share?
48
00:16:02,050 --> 00:16:25,810
Speaker 2: No, I enjoy being Portuguese. I love being Portuguese. I love
that I am living in the United States, but I also love that I am able to
travel to the Azores and when I'm there, I feel at
home just as I feel at home here in the United States.
49
00:16:26,620 --> 00:16:32,500
Speaker 1: So just because I know you a little bit, I think there's a big
part that you left out, which is?
50
00:16:32,530 --> 00:17:24,700
Speaker 2: You're Portuguese teacher. Oh, I didn't know how to accent.
Well, part of I am a Portuguese teacher, I and I was I was also a
dairyman. For many years, I worked in dairies and wasn't into
agriculture for a majority part of my my life. As as I worked through in
the agricultural field, I decided I wanted to go back to college and took
me 15 years but I got my college degree. Then I got
my credential teacher credential for to teach elementary school, but then
ended up also getting my single subject credential. And I've been
teaching Portuguese so I am a Portuguese teacher.
51
00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:27,210
Speaker 1: Great, thank you so much.
52
00:17:27,270 --> 00:17:28,320
Speaker 2: You're welcome.
00:00:02,220 --> 00:00:15,030
Speaker 1: Hi, my name is Bruna feta and I am doing a Portuguese oral
history interview at Fresno State. Hi, um, what is your full birth name?
2
00:00:15,900 --> 00:00:24,030
Speaker 2: My full birth name is Clement fernanch fogounch.
3
00:00:24,060 --> 00:00:28,740
Speaker 1: Where were you named after anyone? And is there a story behind
your name?
4
00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:53,740
Speaker 2: And when I was born in the Azores, my dad went to the church,
a local church in Algarve and found out that the st. Clement was born in
the same day, November 23. And so I am named after
saint comment.
5
00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:57,340
Speaker 1: When were you born?
6
00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:05,980
Speaker 2: I was born in November 23. 1963 in Algavre Terseda Azores.
7
00:01:10,090 --> 00:01:16,030
Speaker 1: Okay, great. So it says here, where were you born? So where
we're at so you were born in Algavre you said?
8
00:01:16,390 --> 00:01:18,640
Speaker 2: Alguavre Terseda Azores.
9
00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:19,720
Speaker 1: in a hospital?
10
00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:29,140
Speaker 2: in Casa. Oh at home At home known hospital. Not in the
hospital. at home.
11
00:01:30,730 --> 00:01:39,670
Speaker 1: What early memories Do you have of a child in the Portuguese?
Do you have as a child in the Portuguese American community or in
Portugal?
12
00:01:39,000 --> 00:02:39,360
Speaker 2: In Portugal, I have my memories of just having lots of friends
and because we did not have any television or any games, we always used
to play outside play soccer or play any any types of
games that we wouldn't actually invent as kids, and those are really fun
memories, because we were always very active and had a lot of
friendships. In in the United States was different, but my dad
worked in a dairy. And we're more isolated. So we did not have many
friends to play with. We usually played either with some cousins or some
siblings. But now we had television that occupied our time.
So it was much different and probably not as enjoyable at all. So
13
00:02:40,050 --> 00:02:42,510
Speaker 1: when did your family immigrate to the United States?
14
00:02:43,260 --> 00:02:47,790
Speaker 2: My family emigrated in March 1974.
15
00:02:50,450 --> 00:02:53,600
Speaker 1: And when did you immigrate to the United States with them?
16
00:02:53,630 --> 00:02:58,370
Speaker 2: With them with my whole family and my two sisters and a
brother.
17
00:03:02,510 --> 00:03:04,490
Speaker 1: Why did your family leave the Azores?
18
00:03:04,970 --> 00:04:03,590
Speaker 2: My family left the Azores from Azores. Two reasons possibly.
One is because in that time was still the colonial wars. So most families
that had boys they wanted to immigrate so they
wouldn't have to go fight in the colonial wars, even though I was just 10
and a half, but never knew how long those colonial wars were going to
last So, and every young man had to was drafted and had
to serve in the military, and they usually were sent to Africa to fight
the colonial wars. The other reason was that I have a sister that
acquired polio was disabled, so we felt my parents felt they
would be better Healthcare for her in United States. So
19
00:04:05,220 --> 00:04:08,070
Speaker 1: where did your family settles and why there?
20
00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:51,950
Speaker 2: We lived in Merced for three years. Then my dad's boss moved
to Strathmore. So we followed the job and came to Strathmore leave lived
in Strathmore for about three years also. And again, my
dad's work changed and we moved to Tualre. And that was in 1979. And then
we've lived in Tulare ever since from 79. till now.
21
00:04:53,870 --> 00:05:04,730
Speaker 1: Did your parents and our grandparents ever tell you what it
was like to adjust to life in a new country? And what stories were passed
down to you regarding their early experiences?
22
00:05:05,300 --> 00:05:39,500
Speaker 2: Well, mostly, the language was a big barrier, the language of
being able to communicate, because we only knew Portuguese. I would say
the language the traveling because everything now was
so far away. Luckily, my dad knew how to drove and even in Azores. My mom
did not. So we have to be very dependent on each other as a family.
23
00:05:44,750 --> 00:05:57,200
Speaker 1: You are a member of the first second or third generation of
your family to be born in the United States. How important was it to you
to your parents that you be raised with a strong
Portuguese identity?
24
00:05:59,300 --> 00:06:17,090
Speaker 2: I'm the first generation immigrant. So my first language was
Portuguese, but is very important to continue the Portuguese traditions
and culture and language for my whole family
25
00:06:18,530 --> 00:06:20,330
Speaker 1: And why do you feel that felt like it?
26
00:06:20,870 --> 00:06:38,930
Speaker 2: I feel that you should never you should always be proud of who
you are and where you come from. And we have really interesting and
traditions, celebrations.
27
00:06:41,630 --> 00:06:46,490
Speaker 1: How was this identity express through language foods,
traditions and festivals?
28
00:06:47,060 --> 00:07:14,030
Speaker 2: It was expressed through foods is making our traditional foods
and gather to as family to enjoy it. Traditions you know the Holy Spirit
Festa the Festas then carnivals all that was a part
of me expression the matanswers that we would have.
29
00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:19,850
Speaker 1: And what about the language?
30
00:07:20,750 --> 00:07:57,140
Speaker 2: Well, the language because my parents did not speak English,
we always have to speak Portuguese so continued on using our language and
to be proud of the language, even though at first
everybody wants to come into this country need to learn the other
language. And that's first you you want to become Americanized, but then
eventually your memories you. So you try to lose a little bit
of the language but then as you get older, you want to bring it back and
express it and be proud that you were Portuguese.
31
00:07:58,650 --> 00:08:04,080
Speaker 1: What cultural traditions have you maintained? Why has it been
important to you to maintain them?
32
00:08:05,610 --> 00:08:52,890
Speaker 2: Well, we don't do any more matansas because they stopped being
fun because of it was just became lots of work and not really much fun.
My daughters now that I have daughters, they like to
participate in the Holy Spirit celebrations. They would have enjoyed
Carnival, but a lot of a lot of times they don't understand the language
so they feel like they're not getting the whole sense of
what Carnival is. We still have the get togethers and enjoy our foods or
Portuguese foods. And just, again, the whole idea of family.
33
00:08:57,210 --> 00:09:00,690
Speaker 1: Have you been to the Azores? What was that experience like for
you?
34
00:09:01,410 --> 00:09:08,850
Speaker 2: Well, I was born in the Azores and I have been to the Azores
probably five six times. When I
35
00:09:08,850 --> 00:09:09,630
Speaker 1: Since you immigrated?
36
00:09:09,750 --> 00:09:55,860
Speaker 2: Since I immigrated. When I was in my I went back when I was
18. Then I went back when I was 23 and 25. At that time I was still
single and then I as a married person, I've gone back three
times. The whole experience is always a good experience a good experience
with the people the enjoy, always enjoy the beauty of the islands. The
food, the foods, the seafood, the traditional foods,
always come back at least 20-30 pounds heavier.
37
00:09:58,290 --> 00:10:04,830
Speaker 1: trace if you will some of your experiences growing up in the
Portuguese American community in the valley throughout your life.
38
00:10:07,330 --> 00:12:15,310
Speaker 2: Some of the expand growing up in a Portuguese American
community, a lot of times has been good experience. But at the same time,
at times, there's been an experience that weren't so
positive. I believe that there's a sense of community and, and people are
very proud to be Portuguese. But at times, and especially in the
beginning of me, when I was here, it was it was hard to fit
in in some groups. There was already some established groups, or us
soccer teams or bands or even groups in forecore, which had its already
own members and it was hard to then become part of that
group because they have been together for a long time. Once you've fit,
were accepted and entered into that group. Then it became It was good,
but it was, it's still had a lot of people who had
different ideas or very sad ideas. And sometimes it made it hard to
really be a fun place to be with or at some of the traditions, and it's
our good that we have, but the United States sometimes they
eventually they start watering down some of the traditions that are
naturally from the Azores. What I mean by watering down is they'll have
this main idea, but some aspects are changed. Not
necessarily saying that's bad, but it becomes a little different and the
whole sense of why we do specific things, for example, with Holy Spirit
becomes centered on queens, or other things when it's
has other meaning than just that.
39
00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:23,740
Speaker 1: Of all you have accomplished. What are you most proud of? What
proud moments do you remember in the Portuguese American Community?
40
00:12:27,070 --> 00:13:09,820
Speaker 2: Well, I've been able to, I have my own business I've been able
to, to get a college education. I've been able to be financially stable
and travel without any problems. So as a whole, being
in United States has provided me with a lot of good things, but it takes
off like anything. It takes all Hard work is just doesn't come naturally.
You always have to put in the hard work, to be able
to have good things.
41
00:13:11,460 --> 00:13:20,280
Speaker 1: To what extent do you believe Portuguese American has been
Portuguese American has shaped the way you have your life, both
professionally and personally.
42
00:13:21,360 --> 00:14:07,080
Speaker 2: Well, because you never forget that you are Portuguese. And so
you always keep that cultural aspect of being Portuguese in your mind.
Even though you end up living more, a lot more, more
your time in United States you never forget to be Portuguese. But then
you also now are living in a different country and you have to be part of
this new country and accept some of their customs and
actually integrate them so you could blend them in so be being a
Portuguese American You don't have to be just American. You don't have to
be just Portuguese but you can integrate both cultures.
43
00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:11,850
Speaker 1: What does being Portuguese American mean to you?
44
00:14:13,430 --> 00:14:56,270
Speaker 2: Portuguese American means that I am Portuguese and that I
respect and then an impart of the American system. Once again, I never
I'm very proud to be in Portuguese and never forget where I
came from. And I love the islands or the island or islands that I am part
of, but at the same time, I like the opportunity opportunities that
United States has given me. And also like being part of
United States and being part of being American,
45
00:14:57,260 --> 00:14:59,870
Speaker 1: How do you see the Portuguese American community today?
46
00:15:00,809 --> 00:15:55,169
Speaker 2: See the Portuguese American community they kind of struggling,
but at the same time, trying to keep up with the traditions with the
language with with the community. But it seems like it's
a struggle, sometimes not enough people take the initiative or the
leadership to continue some of the traditions we have, which takes a lot
of work. And eventually people the same people do the same
things over and over. And they get tired of it after a while with the new
new new blood or the new generations need to take it over. But at times,
that's hard, because there's some people still that
don't want to let go and accept new ideas.
47
00:15:56,110 --> 00:15:58,870
Speaker 1: Is there anything we didn't cover that you'd like to share?
48
00:16:02,050 --> 00:16:25,810
Speaker 2: No, I enjoy being Portuguese. I love being Portuguese. I love
that I am living in the United States, but I also love that I am able to
travel to the Azores and when I'm there, I feel at
home just as I feel at home here in the United States.
49
00:16:26,620 --> 00:16:32,500
Speaker 1: So just because I know you a little bit, I think there's a big
part that you left out, which is?
50
00:16:32,530 --> 00:17:24,700
Speaker 2: You're Portuguese teacher. Oh, I didn't know how to accent.
Well, part of I am a Portuguese teacher, I and I was I was also a
dairyman. For many years, I worked in dairies and wasn't into
agriculture for a majority part of my my life. As as I worked through in
the agricultural field, I decided I wanted to go back to college and took
me 15 years but I got my college degree. Then I got
my credential teacher credential for to teach elementary school, but then
ended up also getting my single subject credential. And I've been
teaching Portuguese so I am a Portuguese teacher.
51
00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:27,210
Speaker 1: Great, thank you so much.
52
00:17:27,270 --> 00:17:28,320
Speaker 2: You're welcome.