Kristen Godinho Interview
Item
Title
Kristen Godinho Interview
Interviewee, Interviewer
Godinho, Kristen
Borges, Dennis
Relation
Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute
Date
2/3/2020
Identifier
SCUAD_pbbi_00016
extracted text
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Speaker 1: What is your full birth name?
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Speaker 2: Maria Fernanda Lopes Dwart.
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Speaker 1: And were you named after anyone? Do you think?
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Speaker 2: My dad just like the name Maria Fernanda there was a neighbor
or something that had that same name, and he's always liked it. And so
when I came along, I became a Maria Fernanda.
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Speaker 1: when were you born?
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Speaker 2: In 1968, April 8.
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Speaker 1: and where?
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Speaker 2: I was born in Praia and but we were from from Danish,
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Speaker 1: and the island of?
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Speaker 2: Terseda.
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Speaker 1: Azores, okay. And what early memories do you have of life in
Tresada when you were growing up?
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Speaker 2: I left there when I was six years old. So I have vaguely
memories of things. I know that life was hard for my mother there and
that was one of the reasons we came United States. My dad
passed away when I was two and a half months old. And it was just her
raising me. And it was hard for her to work there. Because pretty much
anybody that work there outside of the home was considered
not to be a very good person. So I know that things were rough. I mean,
what helped was that my uncle lived with us, and he worked and that's
what you know, helped, helped raise me.
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Speaker 1: So when did you immigrate to the United States? So.... let us
come over
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Speaker 2: in 1974.
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Speaker 1: Okay. And so, kind of answer this, but the major reason you
think your mom left Azores?
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Speaker 2: because it was hard for a woman to work back in those in those
days.
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Speaker 1: And when you arrived here, where did you guys settle?
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Speaker 2: in Tulare.
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Speaker 1: Why Tulare?
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Speaker 2: Because I have my godmother was here already. And she's the
one that's called my grandmother over here, because she had gotten her
citizenship papers. And then my grandmother, back then was
able to call us over here.
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Speaker 1: So when you arrived, you're six years old?
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Speaker 2: I was six years old.
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Speaker 1: How was that for you remember the adaptation coming from
Portugal here?
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Speaker 2: It was a little hard because of course I knew no English at
all. So from my recollection, I we got here in December of 74. So I don't
know if I started, I can't remember if I started school
right away or if I if they waited until the following June, to get me
started. They'd put me in the first grade, because I was too old to go to
kindergarten, but they had said if I didn't learn, I'd
have to go into kindergarten. But I was not it was not needed. I was able
to pick up the language pretty fast.
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Speaker 1: How long do you think it's okay to pick up the language more
or less. When you start a school, will you able to talk by the first
year?
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Speaker 2: I believe. I was. And I was even already going with some
cousins and some neighbors that did not speak the language. I was able to
go with them and translate with the little that I knew.
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Speaker 1: How do you what do you remember those early times? You're
young but what do you remember those early times? how life was for your
mom when she got here?
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Speaker 2: I think life was pretty hard for her when she first got here,
not knowing the language, not being able to drive. Because here if you
don't have a car can't drive, it's very hard to get
anywhere. So she went to work at at a Nielsen's restaurant. We found a
home that was within walking distance, you know to the to the restaurant
and then finally somebody you know, actually taught her.
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Speaker 1: How did you go to school?
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Speaker 2: I walked, my grandmother would would walk me to school because
we were all within walking distance of the schools of maple school is
where it was my first school.
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Speaker 1: So when, when when coming to America and living here and your
mom adapting to a to the US, how how did she maintained her Portuguese?
She maintained a Portuguese culture traditions alive
here, even though she was lived working in an American restaurants people
spoke Portuguese, but how? How do you think that she was able to maintain
those? Did she continue to speak in Portuguese to
you guys and everything else?
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Speaker 2: She did. She's really never known how to speak the English. I
mean, the Spanish came a lot easier than the than the English. So she
always spoke to me in Portuguese all the time, which
which I'm thankful for.
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Speaker 1: Would you Would you say that even though you were spend most
of your life in America and being raised you raise more Portuguese or
more American?
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Speaker 2: 100% Portuguese, even though we lived here, but she always
raised me was what the what the Portuguese culture.
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Speaker 1: So all the social events and things that you went to were in
the community.
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Speaker 2: Yes.
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Speaker 1: And so how, besides speaking the language besides going to the
Portuguese events, did she continue and then you the some of the
Portuguese traditions with foods with things like that, I
mean, is is Portuguese still something that is part of your life today?
With the traditions and the culture, even in your home, cooking, etc?
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Speaker 2: Yes, all the time. I wouldn't have it any any other way.
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Speaker 1: So you cook more Portuguese then then other ethnic groups.
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Speaker 2: Yes, I do.
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Speaker 1: And what What cultural ties? What cultural traditions have you
yourself maintained here? Let me back that up a little bit. So, you you
were you you were raised here and when did you get
married?
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Speaker 2: I got married in July of 1987.
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Speaker 1: Here or in Portugal?
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Speaker 2: I got married over there in Terseda.
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Speaker 1: How'd that come about?
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Speaker 2: I met my husband when I was 15 years old. I went to a ....
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Speaker 1: So you went to Tresada when you were 15.
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Speaker 2: Yes. And through the at the ..., you know, there was before
praying the rosary there was dancing and, and that's how I met my
husband. We wrote back and forth for four years. And then we
got married in 1987.
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Speaker 1: And so then he came over?
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Speaker 2: He did come over with me because I was a US citizen, because
when I turned 18, I got my citizenship papers.
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Speaker 1: So the maintaining these cultural traditions here. What
cultural editions you think you maintain most of the various ones. I know
there's a couple like the Holy Ghost, things like that
they're kind of special to your heart. So talk to me a little bit about
some of the things that you feel that's important that you continue even
though you live for the American lifestyle.
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Speaker 2: Yes, the Holy Ghost is is got to be my number one priority
whenever I feel like I'm in some kind of a need or in trouble. I always
ask for help and he always seems to be there and guide me
through wherever, you know, whatever hardships I'm having. Um, the other
thing is is Carnival.
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Speaker 1: Explain it to us what's carnival. So people who don't know
what kind of Carnival.
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Speaker 2: Oh, Carnival is what they call the Portuguese Mardi Gras,
which is a little bit different than the Brazilian one and the one from
New Orleans. It's plays that people put together sometimes
it can be funny sometimes it could be sad. They dress up with different
different types of costumes. And I always like to help in that the
costume department.
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Speaker 1: And so, maintaining the traditions do you maintain, for
example, the Holy Ghost just by going to the festas or use something
within your own household to maintain it?
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Speaker 2: No, I do it in my own household to maintain it. If I make a
promise, I will make an altar at home. I will pray the rosary at home for
that whole week. I will also bake the sweet bread will
make the traditional soap or I will give the you know, like mellish if my
promises to give Schmeling. And then I'll have like family members come
over and you know, have lunch or dinner with us.
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Speaker 1: And have you this has been doing this for a while. Yes, I
have. And do you do it every year or just when you have the crowd at your
house?
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Speaker 2: Pretty much when I have a need to make a promise to have it
lately, it's been pretty much almost every year. But every year my prayer
is answered. So then I have to fulfill my my promise.
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Speaker 1: And so you have visited the Azores, what was the first time
that you visited the Azores after community age of 6.
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Speaker 2: 1980, the year of the earthquake, which I was very nervous to
go back over there because of all the big earthquakes because it happened
in the earthquake was in January, and we went in
June.
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Speaker 1: How old were you then?
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Speaker 2: Oh, goodness, I was 12.
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Speaker 1: So being here in America for six years. What was your first
impression after you got there?
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Speaker 2: Um, I everything pretty much still kind of look the same.
there hadn't been a whole lot of change in those six years. I thought I
wasn't going to recognize the, you know, our hometown or
anything like that, or some some of the people are but when I got to I
pretty much recognized everything and everyone.
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Speaker 1: So what was the experience of going back after he was six
years? How did you feel?
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Speaker 2: I loved it. And I've always loved it ever since. So any
opportunity we get we go over there often we were just there. This last
July.
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Speaker 1: And after selector 12, you went back again, when you were 15.
Or?
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Speaker 2: 15.
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Speaker 1: You went back three years later.
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Speaker 2: Yes.
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Speaker 1: And most of the times with your mom as well?
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Speaker 2: Yes, she's always gone. But very, very little has she not gone
with us? I think maybe a total of two, two or three times.
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Speaker 1: So trace back a little bit of growing up here in Tulare, being
Portuguese American. What was what was it like? Did you have Portuguese
friends? how was going through school of, talk a
little bit about your process because you, you went through the public
education High School. So tell us a little bit about that.
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Speaker 2: Yes, through through, I would say the
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grammar school and middle school, my friends. I didn't have a whole lot
of Portuguese friends back, you know, in those two. I my Portuguese
friends didn't come until high school is when we we got all
caught up. I mean, I knew them. We were just not in school together to,
you know, to say they were my friends at school. But then when we came
into high school, then we all you know, met back up. And
then that's when our Portuguese friends developed and then, you know,
being involved in the Portuguese club and Portuguese class that even
brought even more Portuguese friends.
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Speaker 1: So would you say that being although you came here at six, you
were raised still very Portuguese.
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Speaker 2: Oh 100% Portuguese.
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Speaker 1: And and how was the Portuguese community back then? What was
your what what do you what do you call the portraits community? You know,
in the first few years that you start participating in
things you know, when you were two 1112
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this is about the same or
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Speaker 2: Oh no, there's, there's there's a big difference nowadays.
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Speaker 1: So explain to me which I think are the big differences between
then and now.
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Speaker 2: There's just a lot more things to do now than what there was
back then. I mean, back then, whenever the when we first got here, I
believe that the band didn't even exist. The marching band
I think, that was after that, you know, we were we 80 or 81 or whenever,
whenever they were founded, and, and then like, there was a Portuguese
youth group that that was founded, like, I believe my
sophomore junior year in high school and just a lot more Portuguese
events happening now than what there was back then.
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Speaker 1: So do you think it's harder or easier to be Portuguese now
than it was back then?
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Speaker 2: I think it's a lot easier to be Portuguese now. Because
there's just more, more that you can more that you could do.
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Speaker 1: And what what are there any special moments that you kind of
remember in the portuguese American community as you were living through
your youth, you know, your teenage years and even your
early years married and raising a family and there's some special moments
and some of the things that you've been involved with with become
involved with sons or anything like that. The different
clubs and different associations Is there something kind of sticks out in
your mind is something that was special for you with all these years of
involvement, the fortress community,
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Speaker 2: well, helping, always in the Portuguese cup is always always
fun when I was in high school, doing all the stuff of bake sales and
always be in the air. And then after having children and
they're being involved, and having to help, you know, help out. It was it
was awesome. I wouldn't I would do it all over again.
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Speaker 1: Do you still go to many portraits things?
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Speaker 2: I do. I try to as much as I can, as long as I'm in town.
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Speaker 1: And this is the million dollar question. What does it mean to
you to be Portuguese American.
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Speaker 2: Oh boy.
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I don't even know how to put it into words. It's, I wouldn't have any, in
any other way. I mean, being Portuguese to me is is is so important with
our culture and with I think we have a wonderful
culture with the food and the I don't know, it's just everything is just
great.
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Speaker 1: Okay. And how would you describe, in your words, your
thoughts, the Portuguese American community in the Tulare area where
you've lived most of your life today. Is it an active community?
Is that what how would you describe the community today some of the some
of the some of the triumphs are good things and also some of the
challenges How would you How would you describe it?
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Speaker 2: I think the people come together a lot more. Now, to be able
to show How many Portuguese are here?
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Speaker 1: So, do you think there's as much pride today as there was when
you first arrived?
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Speaker 2: Oh, I think there's more pride today than what there was back
then. I think people were just more afraid, probably to, you know, to
speak out or embarrassed to say that they were Portuguese
or, and now I don't think that that there is I think people are more
proud to show even even kids that are born here I think are proud to say
that they are Portuguese.
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Speaker 1: Would you ever consider moving back to the land you left when
you were six years old forever?
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Speaker 2: I think if I had an opportunity, I think I would. I think I
would. I mean our plan is to actually whenever we retire, we would love
to live like six months there and six months here is our
plan and I wouldn't say go 100% over there just because I do have two
children. And one of them is married already and I would not want to go
over there forever and not come back to you know to see
them so figure going over there six months and coming six months I'd have
probably the best of both worlds.
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Speaker 1: What is it you like best about going to Tresada or being
there?
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Speaker 2: I think that more laid back atmosphere you're never in a rush
for anything those people are never in a rush you know it's you have time
for everything here it seems like we're always go go
go and you know, rushing to get here and rushing to get there and and
they're they go to work, they come home but they're still not rushed. So
I kind of like that. I think maybe I'll last a few more
years if I'm in a more relaxed atmosphere.
00:00:02,639 --> 00:00:04,529
Speaker 1: What is your full birth name?
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Speaker 2: Maria Fernanda Lopes Dwart.
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Speaker 1: And were you named after anyone? Do you think?
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Speaker 2: My dad just like the name Maria Fernanda there was a neighbor
or something that had that same name, and he's always liked it. And so
when I came along, I became a Maria Fernanda.
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Speaker 1: when were you born?
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Speaker 2: In 1968, April 8.
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Speaker 1: and where?
8
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Speaker 2: I was born in Praia and but we were from from Danish,
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Speaker 1: and the island of?
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Speaker 2: Terseda.
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Speaker 1: Azores, okay. And what early memories do you have of life in
Tresada when you were growing up?
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Speaker 2: I left there when I was six years old. So I have vaguely
memories of things. I know that life was hard for my mother there and
that was one of the reasons we came United States. My dad
passed away when I was two and a half months old. And it was just her
raising me. And it was hard for her to work there. Because pretty much
anybody that work there outside of the home was considered
not to be a very good person. So I know that things were rough. I mean,
what helped was that my uncle lived with us, and he worked and that's
what you know, helped, helped raise me.
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Speaker 1: So when did you immigrate to the United States? So.... let us
come over
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Speaker 2: in 1974.
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Speaker 1: Okay. And so, kind of answer this, but the major reason you
think your mom left Azores?
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Speaker 2: because it was hard for a woman to work back in those in those
days.
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Speaker 1: And when you arrived here, where did you guys settle?
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Speaker 2: in Tulare.
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Speaker 1: Why Tulare?
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Speaker 2: Because I have my godmother was here already. And she's the
one that's called my grandmother over here, because she had gotten her
citizenship papers. And then my grandmother, back then was
able to call us over here.
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Speaker 1: So when you arrived, you're six years old?
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Speaker 2: I was six years old.
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Speaker 1: How was that for you remember the adaptation coming from
Portugal here?
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Speaker 2: It was a little hard because of course I knew no English at
all. So from my recollection, I we got here in December of 74. So I don't
know if I started, I can't remember if I started school
right away or if I if they waited until the following June, to get me
started. They'd put me in the first grade, because I was too old to go to
kindergarten, but they had said if I didn't learn, I'd
have to go into kindergarten. But I was not it was not needed. I was able
to pick up the language pretty fast.
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Speaker 1: How long do you think it's okay to pick up the language more
or less. When you start a school, will you able to talk by the first
year?
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Speaker 2: I believe. I was. And I was even already going with some
cousins and some neighbors that did not speak the language. I was able to
go with them and translate with the little that I knew.
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Speaker 1: How do you what do you remember those early times? You're
young but what do you remember those early times? how life was for your
mom when she got here?
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Speaker 2: I think life was pretty hard for her when she first got here,
not knowing the language, not being able to drive. Because here if you
don't have a car can't drive, it's very hard to get
anywhere. So she went to work at at a Nielsen's restaurant. We found a
home that was within walking distance, you know to the to the restaurant
and then finally somebody you know, actually taught her.
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Speaker 1: How did you go to school?
30
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Speaker 2: I walked, my grandmother would would walk me to school because
we were all within walking distance of the schools of maple school is
where it was my first school.
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Speaker 1: So when, when when coming to America and living here and your
mom adapting to a to the US, how how did she maintained her Portuguese?
She maintained a Portuguese culture traditions alive
here, even though she was lived working in an American restaurants people
spoke Portuguese, but how? How do you think that she was able to maintain
those? Did she continue to speak in Portuguese to
you guys and everything else?
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00:04:44,930 --> 00:04:59,930
Speaker 2: She did. She's really never known how to speak the English. I
mean, the Spanish came a lot easier than the than the English. So she
always spoke to me in Portuguese all the time, which
which I'm thankful for.
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Speaker 1: Would you Would you say that even though you were spend most
of your life in America and being raised you raise more Portuguese or
more American?
34
00:05:10,730 --> 00:05:19,610
Speaker 2: 100% Portuguese, even though we lived here, but she always
raised me was what the what the Portuguese culture.
35
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Speaker 1: So all the social events and things that you went to were in
the community.
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Speaker 2: Yes.
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Speaker 1: And so how, besides speaking the language besides going to the
Portuguese events, did she continue and then you the some of the
Portuguese traditions with foods with things like that, I
mean, is is Portuguese still something that is part of your life today?
With the traditions and the culture, even in your home, cooking, etc?
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00:05:47,870 --> 00:05:51,740
Speaker 2: Yes, all the time. I wouldn't have it any any other way.
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Speaker 1: So you cook more Portuguese then then other ethnic groups.
40
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Speaker 2: Yes, I do.
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Speaker 1: And what What cultural ties? What cultural traditions have you
yourself maintained here? Let me back that up a little bit. So, you you
were you you were raised here and when did you get
married?
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Speaker 2: I got married in July of 1987.
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Speaker 1: Here or in Portugal?
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Speaker 2: I got married over there in Terseda.
45
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Speaker 1: How'd that come about?
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Speaker 2: I met my husband when I was 15 years old. I went to a ....
47
00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:30,890
Speaker 1: So you went to Tresada when you were 15.
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Speaker 2: Yes. And through the at the ..., you know, there was before
praying the rosary there was dancing and, and that's how I met my
husband. We wrote back and forth for four years. And then we
got married in 1987.
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Speaker 1: And so then he came over?
50
00:06:49,250 --> 00:06:56,120
Speaker 2: He did come over with me because I was a US citizen, because
when I turned 18, I got my citizenship papers.
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Speaker 1: So the maintaining these cultural traditions here. What
cultural editions you think you maintain most of the various ones. I know
there's a couple like the Holy Ghost, things like that
they're kind of special to your heart. So talk to me a little bit about
some of the things that you feel that's important that you continue even
though you live for the American lifestyle.
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00:07:20,270 --> 00:07:40,160
Speaker 2: Yes, the Holy Ghost is is got to be my number one priority
whenever I feel like I'm in some kind of a need or in trouble. I always
ask for help and he always seems to be there and guide me
through wherever, you know, whatever hardships I'm having. Um, the other
thing is is Carnival.
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Speaker 1: Explain it to us what's carnival. So people who don't know
what kind of Carnival.
54
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Speaker 2: Oh, Carnival is what they call the Portuguese Mardi Gras,
which is a little bit different than the Brazilian one and the one from
New Orleans. It's plays that people put together sometimes
it can be funny sometimes it could be sad. They dress up with different
different types of costumes. And I always like to help in that the
costume department.
55
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Speaker 1: And so, maintaining the traditions do you maintain, for
example, the Holy Ghost just by going to the festas or use something
within your own household to maintain it?
56
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Speaker 2: No, I do it in my own household to maintain it. If I make a
promise, I will make an altar at home. I will pray the rosary at home for
that whole week. I will also bake the sweet bread will
make the traditional soap or I will give the you know, like mellish if my
promises to give Schmeling. And then I'll have like family members come
over and you know, have lunch or dinner with us.
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Speaker 1: And have you this has been doing this for a while. Yes, I
have. And do you do it every year or just when you have the crowd at your
house?
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00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:12,920
Speaker 2: Pretty much when I have a need to make a promise to have it
lately, it's been pretty much almost every year. But every year my prayer
is answered. So then I have to fulfill my my promise.
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00:09:13,550 --> 00:09:20,360
Speaker 1: And so you have visited the Azores, what was the first time
that you visited the Azores after community age of 6.
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00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:31,190
Speaker 2: 1980, the year of the earthquake, which I was very nervous to
go back over there because of all the big earthquakes because it happened
in the earthquake was in January, and we went in
June.
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00:09:31,490 --> 00:09:32,390
Speaker 1: How old were you then?
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00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:35,810
Speaker 2: Oh, goodness, I was 12.
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00:09:38,030 --> 00:09:43,580
Speaker 1: So being here in America for six years. What was your first
impression after you got there?
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00:09:44,360 --> 00:10:02,870
Speaker 2: Um, I everything pretty much still kind of look the same.
there hadn't been a whole lot of change in those six years. I thought I
wasn't going to recognize the, you know, our hometown or
anything like that, or some some of the people are but when I got to I
pretty much recognized everything and everyone.
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00:10:03,380 --> 00:10:07,190
Speaker 1: So what was the experience of going back after he was six
years? How did you feel?
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00:10:08,390 --> 00:10:17,480
Speaker 2: I loved it. And I've always loved it ever since. So any
opportunity we get we go over there often we were just there. This last
July.
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Speaker 1: And after selector 12, you went back again, when you were 15.
Or?
68
00:10:22,370 --> 00:10:22,970
Speaker 2: 15.
69
00:10:23,030 --> 00:10:24,170
Speaker 1: You went back three years later.
70
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Speaker 2: Yes.
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Speaker 1: And most of the times with your mom as well?
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00:10:27,260 --> 00:10:35,660
Speaker 2: Yes, she's always gone. But very, very little has she not gone
with us? I think maybe a total of two, two or three times.
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00:10:36,230 --> 00:10:55,040
Speaker 1: So trace back a little bit of growing up here in Tulare, being
Portuguese American. What was what was it like? Did you have Portuguese
friends? how was going through school of, talk a
little bit about your process because you, you went through the public
education High School. So tell us a little bit about that.
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00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:59,540
Speaker 2: Yes, through through, I would say the
75
00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:37,460
grammar school and middle school, my friends. I didn't have a whole lot
of Portuguese friends back, you know, in those two. I my Portuguese
friends didn't come until high school is when we we got all
caught up. I mean, I knew them. We were just not in school together to,
you know, to say they were my friends at school. But then when we came
into high school, then we all you know, met back up. And
then that's when our Portuguese friends developed and then, you know,
being involved in the Portuguese club and Portuguese class that even
brought even more Portuguese friends.
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00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:44,570
Speaker 1: So would you say that being although you came here at six, you
were raised still very Portuguese.
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00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:46,580
Speaker 2: Oh 100% Portuguese.
78
00:11:47,630 --> 00:12:01,460
Speaker 1: And and how was the Portuguese community back then? What was
your what what do you what do you call the portraits community? You know,
in the first few years that you start participating in
things you know, when you were two 1112
79
00:12:02,150 --> 00:12:03,530
this is about the same or
80
00:12:03,560 --> 00:12:06,800
Speaker 2: Oh no, there's, there's there's a big difference nowadays.
81
00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:10,550
Speaker 1: So explain to me which I think are the big differences between
then and now.
82
00:12:10,580 --> 00:12:42,590
Speaker 2: There's just a lot more things to do now than what there was
back then. I mean, back then, whenever the when we first got here, I
believe that the band didn't even exist. The marching band
I think, that was after that, you know, we were we 80 or 81 or whenever,
whenever they were founded, and, and then like, there was a Portuguese
youth group that that was founded, like, I believe my
sophomore junior year in high school and just a lot more Portuguese
events happening now than what there was back then.
83
00:12:42,620 --> 00:12:46,880
Speaker 1: So do you think it's harder or easier to be Portuguese now
than it was back then?
84
00:12:46,970 --> 00:12:53,330
Speaker 2: I think it's a lot easier to be Portuguese now. Because
there's just more, more that you can more that you could do.
85
00:12:53,900 --> 00:13:24,980
Speaker 1: And what what are there any special moments that you kind of
remember in the portuguese American community as you were living through
your youth, you know, your teenage years and even your
early years married and raising a family and there's some special moments
and some of the things that you've been involved with with become
involved with sons or anything like that. The different
clubs and different associations Is there something kind of sticks out in
your mind is something that was special for you with all these years of
involvement, the fortress community,
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00:13:25,220 --> 00:13:43,610
Speaker 2: well, helping, always in the Portuguese cup is always always
fun when I was in high school, doing all the stuff of bake sales and
always be in the air. And then after having children and
they're being involved, and having to help, you know, help out. It was it
was awesome. I wouldn't I would do it all over again.
87
00:13:43,910 --> 00:13:45,710
Speaker 1: Do you still go to many portraits things?
88
00:13:45,980 --> 00:13:49,850
Speaker 2: I do. I try to as much as I can, as long as I'm in town.
89
00:13:50,750 --> 00:13:56,780
Speaker 1: And this is the million dollar question. What does it mean to
you to be Portuguese American.
90
00:13:59,210 --> 00:13:59,870
Speaker 2: Oh boy.
91
00:14:03,020 --> 00:14:23,930
I don't even know how to put it into words. It's, I wouldn't have any, in
any other way. I mean, being Portuguese to me is is is so important with
our culture and with I think we have a wonderful
culture with the food and the I don't know, it's just everything is just
great.
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00:14:24,140 --> 00:14:49,580
Speaker 1: Okay. And how would you describe, in your words, your
thoughts, the Portuguese American community in the Tulare area where
you've lived most of your life today. Is it an active community?
Is that what how would you describe the community today some of the some
of the some of the triumphs are good things and also some of the
challenges How would you How would you describe it?
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00:14:52,190 --> 00:15:02,240
Speaker 2: I think the people come together a lot more. Now, to be able
to show How many Portuguese are here?
94
00:15:03,350 --> 00:15:09,410
Speaker 1: So, do you think there's as much pride today as there was when
you first arrived?
95
00:15:09,950 --> 00:15:31,970
Speaker 2: Oh, I think there's more pride today than what there was back
then. I think people were just more afraid, probably to, you know, to
speak out or embarrassed to say that they were Portuguese
or, and now I don't think that that there is I think people are more
proud to show even even kids that are born here I think are proud to say
that they are Portuguese.
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00:15:32,510 --> 00:15:38,300
Speaker 1: Would you ever consider moving back to the land you left when
you were six years old forever?
97
00:15:40,580 --> 00:16:13,880
Speaker 2: I think if I had an opportunity, I think I would. I think I
would. I mean our plan is to actually whenever we retire, we would love
to live like six months there and six months here is our
plan and I wouldn't say go 100% over there just because I do have two
children. And one of them is married already and I would not want to go
over there forever and not come back to you know to see
them so figure going over there six months and coming six months I'd have
probably the best of both worlds.
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00:16:14,420 --> 00:16:18,500
Speaker 1: What is it you like best about going to Tresada or being
there?
99
00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:44,610
Speaker 2: I think that more laid back atmosphere you're never in a rush
for anything those people are never in a rush you know it's you have time
for everything here it seems like we're always go go
go and you know, rushing to get here and rushing to get there and and
they're they go to work, they come home but they're still not rushed. So
I kind of like that. I think maybe I'll last a few more
years if I'm in a more relaxed atmosphere.