Carmen Pineheiro Interview
Item
Title
Carmen Pineheiro Interview
Creator
Pineheiro, Carmen
Contributor
McCoy, Kelley Campos
Language
ENG
Relation
Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute
Date
3/18/2022
Identifier
SCUAD_pbbi_00035
extracted text
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, let's start off by what is your full birth
name.
Carmen Pineheiro: My full birth name, Carmina Conceição Mancebo.
Kelly Campos McCoy: Were you named after anyone?
Carmen Pineheiro: My mom, her name was Carmina Conceição. Uh but then
they always call me since there, you know, and there's a lot of in our
family. So, the word is Spike, or my dad shortened at the Carmen, and
it's always been that way.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, when and where were you born, Carmen?
Carmen Pineheiro: I was born in Hanford, California here in the USA. Um
I think everybody knows where Hanford is. Uh it happened to be a
Portuguese speaking doctor because my mom had only, probably only been
in the country for two years. So, she felt comfortable, I used to know
his name and now I can't remember. But anyway.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, when did your family come to the United
States?
Carmen Pineheiro: Well, dad came to the United States in 1922, I
believe. Yeah, 1922.
Kelley Campos McCoy: And your mother?
Carmen Pineheiro: Well, my mom didn't come ‘til actually, I don't even
know that date, but much later she was already, you know, by then my
dad had already started his business here, uh had already had two
children, unsuccessful marriage, had two boys to raise that his
mother-in-law was uh raising for him in the house right next door and,
um, went back to the Azores and uh, the story is uh, Carmina was a, my
mom was already kind of engaged to somebody else and she saw Spike,
and she said that will be mine. The rest is history.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, were they from the same island then?
Carmen Pineheiro: Yes, they're not only from the same island, they're
actually first cousins.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So now tell me why did your father come to the
United States?
Carmen Pineheiro: Well, the story, there's many stories, but the story
that I think is makes most sense is he was 15 years old, there was a
large family, there was 12 of them. Um his older brother, Ignac-- Tony
or Antonio uh came first, was settled in Visalia, milking cows, of
course and one day he told his parents, hey, that's what I'm gonna go,
I'm gonna go across this ocean and that's what I'm gonna do. And
that's where he uh he didn't end up in Visalia. He made a mistake. He,
he knew no English, had no money and ended, came by train and ended up
in Goshen and they kicked him off. They said out. So, they kicked him
off in the middle of nowhere. Uh the story is about an hour later; he
actually found some lights at this house out in the middle of nowhere
and they happened to be Portuguese speaking individuals and uh helped
him find his brother. I think they knew each other. And uh that was
it. But he, you know, he didn't stay in Visalia, he, he went to Los
Banos. Um, the, the most that I know is that he ended up in Tulare,
but the most that I know is that he did a lot of cow milking in, in
Los Banos.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, was your father, was he doing cow milking back
in the Azores or something of an opportunity?
Carmen Pineheiro: Yeah. No, they had cows. They had something like 12,
12 cows I, I just read in the book and that's a lot of cows for not
between 9 and 12 cows. That's kind of a lot of cows for, uh São Jorge.
And then his actual city or village is called Fajã dos Vimes so, wow,
that's kind of, I was impressed. Well, grandpa had that many cows. So,
it's not like if they were starving but, um, because, you know, like
they had enough as long as you have milk and bread, you know, you're
good but, it was a large family and it was just kind of a, a dream of
his to come to the United States. He's always, always, always loved
this country. Uh, he says he always said to anybody that didn't like
this country and he is responsible for sending in those days we called
it calling a chamade, as we say, bringing all of his brothers and
sisters, the ones that wanted to come and it was all of them at the
time. They all had large families and my mom's brothers and sisters,
whoever wanted to come to the United States of America Spike would
finance them and set them up on a dairy or something. Usually at a
dairy.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So curious, how did he get the name Spike?
Carmen Pineheiro: Oh, there's so many stories, but here's my favorite.
So, back in Las Banos they were, um, lifting those big milk cans onto
a truck. [coughs] Excuse me. And he'd see the, he'd see the big
tankers go by on the, the 150, is it 152? Pacheco Pass, and he'd say
to these guys that were speaking with him in Portuguese, hey, um, you
know what, why don't we just dump this milk and, and those trucks are,
there's gotta be a better way to do this because his shins would
always be black and blue. That's a lot of weight. Spike was a big guy.
He was strong, but his shins are always black and blue and um, he got
to be known as tough. One time they said, oh Spike, you're tough as
nails we're gonna, Manuel, you're tough as nails. We're gonna call you
Spike from now on. He said someday I'm gonna have one of those tankers
someday. And he had many, he ended up with a huge business, but he had
many tankers.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, did he establish the business in Hanford then?
Carmen Pineheiro: actually yes, because his first largest contract was
a Hanford Creamy Coop or something like that. That was his largest
contract or his first contract. He stayed very loyal to them, um
there, um they were, they transferred Challenge where they made
Challenge better. And to this day in both my household and my sister's
household, we don't use anything but Challenge butter. It was kind of
a, a thing. Even during the, during this whole pandemic it wasn't easy
to find the top brands where we found had to have Challenge butter, so
silly.
Kelley Campos McCoy: It’s not.
Carmen Pineheiro: But, but another, uh story is that they called Spike,
Spike because our island that he's from Sao George is long like a big
spike or nail. Uh and they started calling him Spike. Another story is
that one of his first bosses was Spark, S-P-A-R-K and he couldn't
pronounce that A R so he called them Spark I Spike somehow or another
It got interpreted. different stories.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, let's talk about your mother and your
you mentioned a sister. So, did they have two children? So, so
so, so let's okay, so, let's go, let's go back. Okay so, let's
about Spike. Started a business in Hanford. Okay so, when were
born?
father,
how uh
talk
you
Carmen Pineheiro: I was born in 1951.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Okay and you had a sister?
Carmen Pineheiro: Yes, I do have a sister. Was born just a year and
seven days apart, 1950.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Okay. So how important was it to your family that
you have a strong sense of Portuguese identity?
Carmen Pineheiro: Oh my gosh. Are you kidding me? My mom was so
Portuguese we were raised so Portuguese we couldn't even date.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Okay.
Carmen Pineheiro: Um, doesn't mean we didn't have our way around it
but, or at least I did. But anyway, no we were so Portuguese, and we
weren't, you know, we weren't raised on a dairy. We were a matter of
fact I came to this house when I was four years old. This was my
parents' home.
Kelley Campos McCoy: This one?
Carmen Pineheiro: This one. And, um, we, you know, we were proper young
ladies that were taught to uh, crochet and knit and bake and garden
because my mom was a big gardener and play with our dolls or color. I
mean, that was kind of, and then of course, school was a big, big, big
priority. But the fact that we, we only spoke Portuguese to my mom,
but she really didn't speak English at the time, and we only spoke
English to my dad because he wanted us to, to learn English as well.
So, my sister started and back in those days she started kindergarten
at five, not kindergarten, but first grade at five because there was
no kindergarten. And um she still has that there's still some
classmates that call her greenhorn because she spoke absolutely no
English. They say I learned from the TV.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Really?
Carmen Pineheiro: Yeah, I was able to, I was able to watch cartoons and
that's how I learned.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Wow.
Carmen Pineheiro: I don't know. I, you know, was so long ago, I don't
have a good memory anyway. There's very few childhood memories that I
have. But, um, that was very important to them that we um that we be
raised as Portuguese as proper young Portuguese Americans.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, tell me what a proper young Portuguese
American is, exactly? You're talking about the traditions…
Carmen Pineheiro: Okay. That's good. I mean, she's a good homemaker. Um
She might be a lousy cook like I am, but she has to have her house
clean. That's, that's, that's the top of the list. She should be a
good cook. My sister took on those genes, I did not. She should have
flowers all over her flower beds. My sister took over that gene. I did
not. She should always be busy with either her kids or her handiwork.
Not so much the community that kind of comes in later. You know what I
mean? It's like to this day I, I love to crochet. I love to teach to
crochet. I love to knit, but I have to have my house in order before I
can sit down and do what I really want to do.
Kelley Campos McCoy: And are these things that you wound up wanting to
pass on to your children?
Carmen Pineheiro: I certainly did try. I raised four boys. Um, they
were for, for a while there. I had three 3 and under. And so nowadays
they're, they're all grown up and they have their own children. Uh,
but they were all uh a year and a year and eight months apart. So, I
tried, um, the um they, they very much know they very much know what
the Port, what the Portuguese culture is, what the um-- we talk about
it all the time and we also talk about um how Vo would say this, or Vo
would say that or because they spent so much time with my mom. I
actually lived right next door when I was raising those boys. So, um
it was, it was important to her that they learned the Portuguese
language. I'm not gonna lie and say that I pushed it because I didn't,
I was uh married at the time to uh Mr. Pineheiro and um I remember one
time and although he's also very Portuguese and his parents were very
Portuguese,
to shut the
door and he
a porta and
I remember one time my oldest son, we needed to tell him
door and we said it in English, shut the door, shut the
just looked at him like huh? And I said, oh Michael feche
then he shut the door and I thought, oh my gosh.
Kelley Campos McCoy: How old was he?
Carmen Pineheiro: He was just probably three years old at the time. I
thought, oh my gosh, this kid is not gonna be able to uh I kind of
scared me. This kid's not gonna know any, any English. I better back
off, so.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, let me ask you a question, Carmen why was it
and why is it so important to preserve Portuguese culture in the
United States?
Carmen Pineheiro: Why is it so important? I, I think because it's such
a good culture I think if nothing else, the worth ethic is projected
hopefully onto our children. I just attended a commons thread, common
threads, a luncheon. I don't know if you're, but it's women in
agriculture that have just done so much. And of the ten or twelve
recipients, now, I kind of lost track, but let's say of the ten
recipients. Um, eight of them had Azorian roots and um it's amazing
how, what they did to maintain their culture with their family, with
their grandchildren. But most of all the work ethic that, uh, that
their parents and grandparents installed in them, they were hard
workers. They were perseverant. They, um, they didn't quit. You know
what I mean? They faced struggles, I'm sure. But didn't quit.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Do you think part of that comes from the fact that
life in the Azores quite frankly was not easy and so-Carmen Pineheiro: Very, that's a good point. Yeah, life in the Azores
was not easy back then.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Right.
Carmen Pineheiro: Back, way, way, way back then. Yeah, they, they, you
know, we, we heard stories about things that they, that they needed to
do. Um Spike tells a story about how he, uh, when he milked the cows,
it was the happiest day of his life when his father invested in a
donkey or a burrow, because then the burrow actually carried the milk
cans for them. You know, they'd strap them instead of having that
piece of wood over their shoulders. I'm sure there's a word for that,
but I can't remember. But it must have been pretty painful.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Did your family ever talk about uh any
difficulties that they had adjusting to life in the United States? I
mean, on the one hand they left their country. Therefore, there were
other opportunities here and there was a dynamic Portuguese community
already here. But were there challenges?
Carmen Pineheiro: Well, my, my, not so much my dad, you know, my dad
was pretty much established but then there is a large age difference
between my mom and my dad. But my mom would talk about because she
was, she was, she was 20 years old when she got married and came to
this country. So, she was very established there. She also was the
youngest of twelve. So that was a large family um, she would talk
about how she had to come to this country and start from scratch. Um,
she didn't know how to bake bread here. She didn't know what to go buy
at the grocery store. She, you know, it was, it was, it must have
been, it must have been really tough. Luckily her, uh, I'm gonna, my
dad's ex mother-in-law. Yes, who also lived right next door at the
time, um, helped her a lot and she had, um an uncle, no, a brother who
lived in Los Banos. Whenever they could, they would go visit. I think
that Spike saw that she was lonely, and he had a business in Los Banos
as well or a terminal, I should say not business, but he had a
terminal in Los Banos as he started growing so I think I remember even
as we as youngsters would visit Los Banos a lot. We loved Uncle Mão
[assumed spelling] and Aunt Barbara and Aunt Barbara was very um kind
to my mom. She was kind to everyone, but she was kind to my mom, and
they shared recipes and talked about, oh, this is the kind of things,
this is what we substitute. We don't use this, we use this. You know
what I mean? Because there were so many more. Um, over there
everything was homegrown and homemade. Over here there was, oh, you
know, “What do you mean I, I don't have to grind my own corn?” You
know.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Yeah.
Carmen Pineheiro: “What? I can buy flour?!” That type of thing.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Any discrimination?
Carmen Pineheiro: So, no, I never, I never heard that my dad always
spoke highly of this country. If my mom had anything negative about
this country, it was probably the heat that she put up with. I
remember that um, I don't know who told me the story, but they would,
back in the years they'd say, uh, well, Carmina, they say “It's so hot
in the San Joaquin Valley and you have so much cement around the
house. Isn’t that a problem?” And she said “No, it's not a problem
that we have so much cement, but the problem is that, um, if you want
to, you could fry an egg on that cement when it's really warm.” I
remember hearing that story. I don't, I don't know how she got that
came up with that conclusion or analogy, but I think it's true.
Especially nowadays things are getting worse.
Kelley Campos McCoy: I agree with you.
heat, it seems?
Do you notice less fog, more
Carmen Pineheiro: Isn't that true? Yeah. Yeah.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, we've been talking about traditions now, let's
talk about festas. I understand you were a queen.
Carmen Pineheiro: I was, I was.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, how old, were you? Where was it?
Carmen Pineheiro: Oh, gosh, I was 16. It was here in Tulare; it was Our
Lady of Fatima Festa. I, uh, in those days you weren't asked to be a
queen, or you didn't volunteer to be a queen. You, you know your dad
came home from a meeting and he said, “By the way you're the queen.”
Oh, what's that? What, what do I do? How is that? You know, I didn't
really know a whole lot about it. I thought by the time it came to my
turn, my sister had already done it and I was her [inaudible] or
attendant. So, I knew what I was in for, and I was thrilled that I got
to be the queen. But, um, you weren't, you know, it wasn't like very
many people volunteered back then. Nowadays I am so amazed by the
girls that want to do this. They're so willing and the parents and
then I say to them, well, you know there's a lot of traveling besides
expenses there's a lot of traveling involved and a lot of this. Oh,
yeah, that's, that's our favorite part. And I said okay, that's
wonderful. And I just think that I am just thrilled by the fact that I
don't TDES in Tulare, we have TDES speech sent [sic] and our Lady of
Fatima, and Our lady of Fatima has grown by leaps and bounds, but I am
so thrilled when I see the younger generation participating, all the
funds from Our Lady of Fatima auction and the games go to, to our
school to keeping our school alive and it's hundreds and thousands of
dollars that, that they've been able to accumulate with the auction
and the games and, and donations. And I'm amazed. So, my dad has
always been-- education was at the top there my dad is uh we also went
to San Aloysius School, so did our children. But anyway, um uh dad was
always devoted to our Lady of Fatima Committee He was also a
president. My brother-in-law has been the president. My nephew, Robert
has been the president, my kids have helped in various capacities. Um
He's always devoted to our Lady of Fatima. You could never say if
anybody came and asked you for a cow donation which is you don't dare
say no, I mean, you just don't.
Kelley Campos McCoy: When you say a cow donation, can you explain what
that means?
Carmen Pineheiro: Okay, well, in order to make the sopas, which uh
Donna Isabela started thousands of years ago as a donation to the
poor. Uh now it's not quite the same thing. You know economy has kind
of, they don't quite give us away as much as they used to give away.
They might actually have to sell some now, but still. In order to make
the sopas, you can't do it without beef. So that's why, that's why the
donation when they come to your house and say, can I have or your farm
or whatever? Can I have a cow or two? It used to be really easy. It's
not so easy anymore. The younger generation that are taking over the
dairies. Well, I don't have to tell you what's happening with the
dairy industry or what has happened. But if they can even the younger
generation they do, they do indeed. Like I heard one. Well, my cousin,
as a matter of fact, I heard him say uh say once I, I've always
donated to these festas, and it's never hurt me. It's any, if
anything, it's helped me.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, have you been surprised that our Lady of
Fatima is still so more dynamic than ever? And that they still seem to
have a powerful presence.
Carmen Pineheiro: I am surprised by all the cultural activities that
this community our Azorians, up and down the state and all over the
United States are able to maintain. Their matanzas for one thing, you
know, the killing of the pig, the serving of your family. They might
do it in a modern technology, but they nowadays, they because there
are certain rules and regulations, but they still make them cacoilas,
make them bifanas, make the pork steaks. Uh, not only that, that the
festas, that they still, that they, the bull fights, I can't believe
that they still have bull fights. I can't believe. And I'm a major,
major aficionado in bull fights and I can't believe that they have
such a strong group of forcados. Does anybody even know what a forcado
is? A forcado is the suicides, the suicide squad that tackles the
bull, you know, like I don't wanna say idiots, but because I happen to
be dating one that was dating one that was a forcado, for thousands
of, you know, many, many anyway, I'm amazed at the and their church,
the churches that they have built that are mostly Portuguese churches,
the, uh, the bakery, the Portuguese bakery that we're lucky enough to
have now again in Tulare. Hanford also has quite a popular bakery.
The, the, the, what they go through to because most Azoreans really,
really love fish, right? And it's not easy to find fresh fish in this
country. The, the, the things that they go through, the difficulties
that they go through to find fresh fish and to fix it the way they
like it, to cut it the way they like it to, uh, to go, to take off to
Pismo and bring fresh fish to themselves and their neighbors and their
friends because they can't, it's not so easy to buy anymore anyway.
I'm amazed at the, um, at the traditions that they have, have
continued.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Well, because here's the question. Immigration
from the Azores-Carmen Pineheiro: Yes, exactly.
Kelley Campos McCoy: --has tapered off, so we’re talking about second,
third generation Americans-Carmen Pineheiro:
Yes. Yes.
Kelley Campos McCoy: --that are still driving this.
Carmen Pineheiro: I know.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Why do you think that is?
Carmen Pineheiro: I don't know. That's why I'm so surprised to see so
many youngsters, especially at my age, youngsters taking over this
presidencies and vice presidencies of the Our Lady of Fatima as well
as the speech sant [sic]. So, I'm, I'm, I made a speech at one of the,
at one of the TDES meetings and asking them for some donations for our
sister city organization. And I said, I am, I look here and I'm so
proud of what you do to maintain this tradition. And you're all
youngsters compared to me. Now, our sister city, we're, we're trying
to bring up some youngsters otherwise pretty soon it'll be null and
void. But our committee is a bunch of, um, seasoned veterans. I should
say,
Kelley Campos McCoy: When was the Tulare Angrense, uh, is it?
Carmen Pineheiro: Angrense.
Kelley Campos McCoy: And okay, when was that sister city relationship
established?
Carmen Pineheiro: Well, way back in the Eisenhower days and I should
have the date fixed in my mind, but I don't, but I do know that we are
the oldest that we know of. We are the oldest existing sister city
foundation in all of Europe. I think and you know, I'm gonna say
everywhere. 55 we're 55 years old. I was so young when my parents
entered as a result of receiving committees from there, I was 15 and
16 years old. I remember them all in the backyard. I remember them and
our guest room, I remember them everywhere. Um Spike was one of the
origin, dad was one of the originators, Joe Soares, Helter Martins, I
shouldn't, shouldn't say names because then I'll forget. But Joao
Fonse [assumed spelling] um was the um instigator there in the Azores,
he was an author for the Diario Insular and he got a hold of this idea
and, and said, let's go with it. And Joseph and Spike said, “All
right, let's, let's go with it.” So, and here we are and still trying
to maintain my sister and I, and Diniz who is my vice president, my
sister, um, uh, my secretary and we have a committee my treasurer, um,
we're trying to still promote the Portuguese culture and, and maintain
our existence.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, tell me exactly if you can um, how exactly
does that sister city relationship work? You identify a town or a city
in another country? You establish that relationship? So, what exactly
is it a cultural exchange or what it is?
Carmen Pineheiro: It is very, very much a cultural exchange but also a,
a bonding or friendship, I think. You know, with any friendship that
you, uh, whether it's your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your neighbor
if you don't give that friendship time or if you don't get together
for lunch or a drink or just coffee, you don't, you just don't exist
anymore. And we've had our ups and downs, ups and downs because
naturally, the mayor of Angra is the, you know, their, their system
makes their, um, their system work. You know, their sister city work.
We don't have our mayor. Not that we're not lucky enough to have a
Portuguese mayor now to contribute to that relationship. But we have
had in the past and, but it's an up and down type situation. Um, our,
their mayor is very interested in the relationship that we, but we
have a committee. We don't, you know it's not, has nothing to do with,
with the mayor, with sister city funding or anything like that. We're
kind of like we're kind of on our own. Let's put it that way.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, is there like an annual event?
Carmen Pineheiro: Yeah. There is, and there was, we've had to cancel
two years in a row because of COVID. But our annual fundraiser is
called a Soup Festival where we serve four Portuguese soups. And, um,
they're delicious. And, um, every, it's, you know, it's very, every
year it gets bigger and bigger. It's more we serve at least about,
it's not, you know, not 1000 people. We serve at least over 200. And,
uh, and if we have enough left over, we also sell takeouts, but that
doesn't always happen. Just depends.
Kelley Campos McCoy: And so, do people from Angra then come over?
Carmen Pineheiro: Oh, no, that, you know we haven't had that, we
haven't had that luck yet. I mean, it hasn't worked out because it's
always in January and it's kind of a tough time, not a tough time to
travel then, but like either if they're not busy with elections, like,
if we did it in the summer it might be easier for them. But one year,
three years ago, we were lucky enough because one of the things that
we do with sister city is fund or help fund the student exchange
programs in CSUF, Fresno State and uh the University of the Azores in
Terceira, and, and we were lucky enough to have all 10 students
actually attend. So that was kind of fun. And we got to hear from them
and…
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, are there other sister city arrangements do
you know with the Azores in California?
Carmen Pineheiro: Oh, many, um the one that comes to mind that I'm
closest to is Gilroy. Uh they also have a long-standing relationship
with, with Gilroy. Now, you know Angra, or the island of Terceira’s
biggest festa is the Sanjoaninas, which this year I think between the
17th of June and the 26th. So, it's 10 days of festa, festa, festa.
That's how those Terceidos are and there's all kinds of different
activities, but we are always invited to the receptions. We uh always
uh there's a queen and uh she is attended by besides her local
attendants; they invite all the uh all of their sister cities and I
think they have like 14 or maybe 14 or maybe more of them. Taunton
comes to mind besides Gilroy besides, I don't know, I don't wanna,
again, I don't wanna say names because but um and each year, this year
we're, we haven't been able to do that, but this year we send a
representative from our city representing Tulare Sister City. Uh, and
they also send, if they're able to, they also send uh, a
representative. So, it's a big parade.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, it sounds like you probably have gone back to
the Azores at least once or twice?
Carmen Pineheiro: Every summer now, now that I'm retired, I go back
every summer, but I started going back to the Azores every other
summer at age four. My parents would, um, my, my dad really, that's
where he could he, he had a lot of pressure on him here at this
business and that's where he said he could really relax. He didn't
have to answer the phone. Didn't have to, he was lucky enough to have
his son take over for him. Junior, you know, was old enough to take
care of the business by then, I think. There again, there's a big age
difference between my brother and I, but um, my brothers, I had two of
them but, uh, half-brothers, but anyway, um, he, that's where he said
he could really, really relax and he wanted to go back to his roots
and they took, you won't believe this, but they took trunks and trunks
and trunks of goods, mostly Levis and shirts and you, you wouldn't
believe the, the, you know, in those days you, commodities were not
what they are. Nowadays you can buy almost anything in the Azores,
including Levis. You pay six times the price. But there was a lot of
poverty on that island and my mom had a lot of family and she decided
that everybody should get a pair of Levis and a shirt and some socks.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Oh, my gosh.
Carmen Pineheiro: Took a lot of time to fill them up here and then a
lot of time to disperse them when we got there.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, if you started going when you were four, then
the islands have played a huge role in your life.
Carmen Pineheiro: That's funny that you say that because I've always
felt that way. I, I don't feel just American. I'm definitely
Portuguese American. I remember when I was 13 or 14, I would leave
this country, I think in eighth grade I left my best friend. I left
Mary Martin and we cried and cried and cried that day because we
wouldn't see each other for three months and then I'd get there and
develop relationships and cry and cry and cry because I wouldn't see
them for six months. So, it's kind of like, yeah, I was here and
there.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, what is it about the islands that speak to
you?
Carmen Pineheiro: Well, what speaks to me about the islands is the lack
of. It can be an advantage and a disadvantage if you're trying to do
business, that thing is, um, can be very exasperating. But if you're
not trying to do business and you want to rest and relax. But I think
the hospitality of the people is probably what speaks the most to me.
Now that I have a um a boyfriend that lives actually in the continent,
in, in Lisbon. I spend my time between the Azores, the continent and
my home. Um but I, I find the same, I find the same thing, the
hospitality of the people there. Now they have a different lifestyle.
They're not quite so laid back as the Azoreans. But way back in the
day, the Azores weren't so as popular as they are now. Those, those
continentais would kind of, “Oh you're from the Azores, hmm.” Well,
nowadays they all want to invest and buy homes and go to the Azores to
rest and relax. It's beautiful. It's this, it's that, it's almost like
showing like last summer I spent three weeks with the boys there in
the Azores, the rule here of the house is-- I have nine grandchildren.
Uh, the rule is if you get through high school with decent grades,
you, you Vovó takes you to the Azores, well, last year I ended up with
three because two graduated last year and one-- I was really worried
about it. It wasn't the best year to go traveling. They were 19 and
two 18-year-olds. And I thought, oh God, no, 20-year-old. And I
thought, “Oh God, what am I doing? What am I doing?” Everything went
so well, and they made memories that they will always have for the
rest of their lives. But for me, it's like showing somebody Disneyland
for the first time. It's so exciting.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, so your grandchildren, it sounds like your
boys have also raised your grandchildren with these views and
traditions.
Carmen Pineheiro: Yes.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Do they speak the language as well?
Carmen Pineheiro: They don't speak the language as well as they should.
Um, some of them want the old, one of the oldest ones was lucky enough
to have Diniz as a teacher, he, he’s, my Jonathan. He was the most
Portuguese of them all. He also seriously dates a Portuguese gal. So,
all that helps. But even as I was raising my boys, we were, we were
always kind of like the neighborhood house. And um one of the boys
said to me, one of their friends said to me “Why this is so cool that
you have this uh this Portuguese-ness about you,” because I would, I
would say to them tonight we're having no good Portuguese tacos. Oh,
what are no good Portuguese tacos? They're just tacos made by a nogood Portuguese cook. So, um so it's an adaptation, but to him and to
many of them they thought it was so cool that they, that we had that
bond. You know what I mean? Church has always been important,
especially as they were younger. It was always important and um they,
they, I mean, I never forced any of his friends to go with us to
church. But if they happen to be there, you know, get your clothes on.
Let's go. Um or I never forced them to go to the festas, but I think
if you're born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley even if you're
Armenian, you have to know about the Portuguese community because it
envelops you. Right, I mean, who doesn't, who doesn't know about it? I
think I don't know, it's popular.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, what do you think Spike would think about all
of this? Your investment, your continued investment in the Portuguese
community, your sons, your grand, what would Spike say?
Carmen Pineheiro: Yeah. Yeah. Well, he would be so proud of um, the
things that we have continued. He-- I told Robert that when my oldest,
his oldest grandson Robert Quinn, my sister's son. Robert developed a
uh a love for the earth. He just loves to grow. And that was my dad's
favorite thing too, was to pick up a shovel or a handful of dirt and
just let it and say this is mine, this acreage, this is mine or this
is growing something this is producing something. Um all of mine have
taken on different-- They're, they're not, they didn't go into
agriculture, they're, they're not farmers they just went different
routes. Their dad was actually a, a co, a teacher and a coach and they
kind of went kind of took a different route. But um but anyway Dad,
Spike would be so proud of all of them for act as I am for actually
founding their finding their way of life and becoming productive
citizens. But they would also, he would also be so proud, my mom,
especially because she tried so hard to, you know, to do the, you
know, speak the language with them. And my oldest one, and my youngest
too, they all, they all speak a little bit as we say, you know
[inaudible], they all um they all can get by. Um but um, but my
youngest one when they were visiting, when they were all visiting the
Azores, they always make it a point to take Matthew because Matthew
has a type of personality, he didn't care how it came out.
Kelley Campos McCoy: And who is Matthew?
Carmen Pineheiro: Matthew is my youngest.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Okay.
Carmen Pineheiro: Uh, my, my youngest and when I took all four of them,
uh, to the Azores, but anyway, what I'm saying is he didn't, he didn't
care how it came out. The other ones, my Michael, knows a lot more,
but he is not going to repeat something that doesn't sound really
good. He's getting better at it though. He actually took Portuguese in
university, so they had to, didn't keep the class for very long
because there weren't more than three people there but, but, uh, they
care, they really, you know, they really, really care and they're
still like, I still have a, it's not really a Portuguese tradition but
it's kind of a family tradition. I still have a big thing about Sunday
dinner. I try to, um, uh, uh, I, I, I like filozes, just kind of like
one of their favorite things. You guys know those Portuguese donuts
that we serve on Fat Tuesday. Except for I serve them on Sundays when,
you know, when the, when it's okay. Um, but anyway uh, I try to
maintain different things.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Well, I was going to say when I went over saw
that-Carmen Pineheiro: Did you see that dining room table?
Kelley Campos McCoy: You have the longest dining room table I have
ever—Carmen Pineheiro: Yeah, I know.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Seen.
Carmen Pineheiro: But it's usually not enough if they bring their
girlfriends, I have to start serving them in the kitchen especially
for holidays. I don't, I don’t know.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Well, I just have a couple more questions.
Carmen Pineheiro: Yes.
Kelley Campos McCoy: You actually have given me the information that
kind of, you, you've already touched on this. But I wanna hit it hard.
So, um, being Portuguese, what does that mean to you?
Carmen Pineheiro: I don't know it's kind of like the fiber of my being.
I don't know how not to be Portuguese. One time my sister said to me,
“Oh, you've got to be so Portuguese.” I said, “Oh I think that's a
good thing.” I, I feel like if I'm losing the language, uh, mostly
because of memory loss I think, but because I spoke to my mom every
single day and she's been gone for quite so many years and but
whenever I can with my cousins and even with my sister, especially if
we don't want to be understood I'll just speak Portuguese, because I
need to speak Portuguese. But it's a fiber of my, I don't know. It's a
fiber of my being. I just am and I was born and raised that way and
that's the, not that I agreed to everything that we did as Portuguese
people. Uh not that I agree with all of their thought processes but,
you know, things have changed. But um but, you know, like when I told
my dad that I was actually gonna go back, like I said, he stressed
education. I got my degree in, in education. Um I started teaching
kindergarten in ‘72. I got married in ‘73. Um and then I had 1, 1 baby
in ’75, ’76, ’77 and ’79. So, I had my own preschool at home. Um I
wasn't about, you know to, I wasn't gonna go out in the workforce at
that time. I stayed home and did the best I could, and it wasn't
always good, but I did the best I could. Uh they all survived. I
barely survived, but they all survived. Uh but anyway, when they
started getting older and actually started going to school themselves,
I, they the school, the Catholic school needed a lot of substitute
teachers. So, I, I helped out as much as I could and I always worked
in the classroom or whatever, you know how room moms do. But when I
told him I was going back to work and I don't know why I thought that
I should have his approval, but I did. He said, “Well why, why would
you do that? Who's gonna take care of the house?” And I said, “Hey,
dad, I'm not married to the house. You spent a lot of money on this
education, I'm not married to my house. My house isn't gonna fall
apart.” Uh, he just kind of, oh, and he just, “Okay, do whatever you
wanna do.” I said, okay, so we went for it.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Because you were Portuguese and American.
Carmen Pineheiro: But, but that, yeah, exactly. Right. But you know, if
I was Portuguese Portuguese, I'd stay at home and finish raising those
babies and then I finish raising grand babies and then the Lord knows
what else. But anyway.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Well, is there anything that I didn't touch on?
Carmen Pineheiro: Yeah, I, I don't, I probably, I have talked too much—
Kelley Campos McCoy: Not at all.
Carmen Pineheiro: --and too fast.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Not at all.
Carmen Pineheiro: But that's a Portuguese in me.
Kelley Campos McCoy: These interviews that we've had. I mean, they,
they've just been wonderful.
Carmen Pineheiro: Oh, I'm glad you feel that way. One thing I think I
probably didn't that I appreciate so much too in the Azores is that
we're, we're, and we’re such a social group. We, and even in, in there
are many differences between actual Portugal and, and Azores, but
we're such a social group but even in the continent as well, like when
my boyfriend's visiting with me and he'll say, let's go see Manuel and
I said, “Oh no, I wouldn't do that without calling him first.” He
said, “What you have to call your people and tell,” “Oh, yeah.” “Well,
that's just a, let's go see your neighbor's house,” I said, “Why don't
you just come over to your neighbor's house and just say here I am to
visit. We don't do that.” Whereas there they do, they're much more
social. Does that make sense?
Kelley Campos McCoy: Sure does.
Carmen Pineheiro: They're, they're much more open-door policy type
thing. We, we're much more scheduled which, like I said, can be to
your advantage and to your disadvantage as well. You know what I'm
saying?
Kelley Campos McCoy: Right, I totally get that.
name.
Carmen Pineheiro: My full birth name, Carmina Conceição Mancebo.
Kelly Campos McCoy: Were you named after anyone?
Carmen Pineheiro: My mom, her name was Carmina Conceição. Uh but then
they always call me since there, you know, and there's a lot of in our
family. So, the word is Spike, or my dad shortened at the Carmen, and
it's always been that way.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, when and where were you born, Carmen?
Carmen Pineheiro: I was born in Hanford, California here in the USA. Um
I think everybody knows where Hanford is. Uh it happened to be a
Portuguese speaking doctor because my mom had only, probably only been
in the country for two years. So, she felt comfortable, I used to know
his name and now I can't remember. But anyway.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, when did your family come to the United
States?
Carmen Pineheiro: Well, dad came to the United States in 1922, I
believe. Yeah, 1922.
Kelley Campos McCoy: And your mother?
Carmen Pineheiro: Well, my mom didn't come ‘til actually, I don't even
know that date, but much later she was already, you know, by then my
dad had already started his business here, uh had already had two
children, unsuccessful marriage, had two boys to raise that his
mother-in-law was uh raising for him in the house right next door and,
um, went back to the Azores and uh, the story is uh, Carmina was a, my
mom was already kind of engaged to somebody else and she saw Spike,
and she said that will be mine. The rest is history.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, were they from the same island then?
Carmen Pineheiro: Yes, they're not only from the same island, they're
actually first cousins.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So now tell me why did your father come to the
United States?
Carmen Pineheiro: Well, the story, there's many stories, but the story
that I think is makes most sense is he was 15 years old, there was a
large family, there was 12 of them. Um his older brother, Ignac-- Tony
or Antonio uh came first, was settled in Visalia, milking cows, of
course and one day he told his parents, hey, that's what I'm gonna go,
I'm gonna go across this ocean and that's what I'm gonna do. And
that's where he uh he didn't end up in Visalia. He made a mistake. He,
he knew no English, had no money and ended, came by train and ended up
in Goshen and they kicked him off. They said out. So, they kicked him
off in the middle of nowhere. Uh the story is about an hour later; he
actually found some lights at this house out in the middle of nowhere
and they happened to be Portuguese speaking individuals and uh helped
him find his brother. I think they knew each other. And uh that was
it. But he, you know, he didn't stay in Visalia, he, he went to Los
Banos. Um, the, the most that I know is that he ended up in Tulare,
but the most that I know is that he did a lot of cow milking in, in
Los Banos.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, was your father, was he doing cow milking back
in the Azores or something of an opportunity?
Carmen Pineheiro: Yeah. No, they had cows. They had something like 12,
12 cows I, I just read in the book and that's a lot of cows for not
between 9 and 12 cows. That's kind of a lot of cows for, uh São Jorge.
And then his actual city or village is called Fajã dos Vimes so, wow,
that's kind of, I was impressed. Well, grandpa had that many cows. So,
it's not like if they were starving but, um, because, you know, like
they had enough as long as you have milk and bread, you know, you're
good but, it was a large family and it was just kind of a, a dream of
his to come to the United States. He's always, always, always loved
this country. Uh, he says he always said to anybody that didn't like
this country and he is responsible for sending in those days we called
it calling a chamade, as we say, bringing all of his brothers and
sisters, the ones that wanted to come and it was all of them at the
time. They all had large families and my mom's brothers and sisters,
whoever wanted to come to the United States of America Spike would
finance them and set them up on a dairy or something. Usually at a
dairy.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So curious, how did he get the name Spike?
Carmen Pineheiro: Oh, there's so many stories, but here's my favorite.
So, back in Las Banos they were, um, lifting those big milk cans onto
a truck. [coughs] Excuse me. And he'd see the, he'd see the big
tankers go by on the, the 150, is it 152? Pacheco Pass, and he'd say
to these guys that were speaking with him in Portuguese, hey, um, you
know what, why don't we just dump this milk and, and those trucks are,
there's gotta be a better way to do this because his shins would
always be black and blue. That's a lot of weight. Spike was a big guy.
He was strong, but his shins are always black and blue and um, he got
to be known as tough. One time they said, oh Spike, you're tough as
nails we're gonna, Manuel, you're tough as nails. We're gonna call you
Spike from now on. He said someday I'm gonna have one of those tankers
someday. And he had many, he ended up with a huge business, but he had
many tankers.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, did he establish the business in Hanford then?
Carmen Pineheiro: actually yes, because his first largest contract was
a Hanford Creamy Coop or something like that. That was his largest
contract or his first contract. He stayed very loyal to them, um
there, um they were, they transferred Challenge where they made
Challenge better. And to this day in both my household and my sister's
household, we don't use anything but Challenge butter. It was kind of
a, a thing. Even during the, during this whole pandemic it wasn't easy
to find the top brands where we found had to have Challenge butter, so
silly.
Kelley Campos McCoy: It’s not.
Carmen Pineheiro: But, but another, uh story is that they called Spike,
Spike because our island that he's from Sao George is long like a big
spike or nail. Uh and they started calling him Spike. Another story is
that one of his first bosses was Spark, S-P-A-R-K and he couldn't
pronounce that A R so he called them Spark I Spike somehow or another
It got interpreted. different stories.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, let's talk about your mother and your
you mentioned a sister. So, did they have two children? So, so
so, so let's okay, so, let's go, let's go back. Okay so, let's
about Spike. Started a business in Hanford. Okay so, when were
born?
father,
how uh
talk
you
Carmen Pineheiro: I was born in 1951.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Okay and you had a sister?
Carmen Pineheiro: Yes, I do have a sister. Was born just a year and
seven days apart, 1950.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Okay. So how important was it to your family that
you have a strong sense of Portuguese identity?
Carmen Pineheiro: Oh my gosh. Are you kidding me? My mom was so
Portuguese we were raised so Portuguese we couldn't even date.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Okay.
Carmen Pineheiro: Um, doesn't mean we didn't have our way around it
but, or at least I did. But anyway, no we were so Portuguese, and we
weren't, you know, we weren't raised on a dairy. We were a matter of
fact I came to this house when I was four years old. This was my
parents' home.
Kelley Campos McCoy: This one?
Carmen Pineheiro: This one. And, um, we, you know, we were proper young
ladies that were taught to uh, crochet and knit and bake and garden
because my mom was a big gardener and play with our dolls or color. I
mean, that was kind of, and then of course, school was a big, big, big
priority. But the fact that we, we only spoke Portuguese to my mom,
but she really didn't speak English at the time, and we only spoke
English to my dad because he wanted us to, to learn English as well.
So, my sister started and back in those days she started kindergarten
at five, not kindergarten, but first grade at five because there was
no kindergarten. And um she still has that there's still some
classmates that call her greenhorn because she spoke absolutely no
English. They say I learned from the TV.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Really?
Carmen Pineheiro: Yeah, I was able to, I was able to watch cartoons and
that's how I learned.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Wow.
Carmen Pineheiro: I don't know. I, you know, was so long ago, I don't
have a good memory anyway. There's very few childhood memories that I
have. But, um, that was very important to them that we um that we be
raised as Portuguese as proper young Portuguese Americans.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, tell me what a proper young Portuguese
American is, exactly? You're talking about the traditions…
Carmen Pineheiro: Okay. That's good. I mean, she's a good homemaker. Um
She might be a lousy cook like I am, but she has to have her house
clean. That's, that's, that's the top of the list. She should be a
good cook. My sister took on those genes, I did not. She should have
flowers all over her flower beds. My sister took over that gene. I did
not. She should always be busy with either her kids or her handiwork.
Not so much the community that kind of comes in later. You know what I
mean? It's like to this day I, I love to crochet. I love to teach to
crochet. I love to knit, but I have to have my house in order before I
can sit down and do what I really want to do.
Kelley Campos McCoy: And are these things that you wound up wanting to
pass on to your children?
Carmen Pineheiro: I certainly did try. I raised four boys. Um, they
were for, for a while there. I had three 3 and under. And so nowadays
they're, they're all grown up and they have their own children. Uh,
but they were all uh a year and a year and eight months apart. So, I
tried, um, the um they, they very much know they very much know what
the Port, what the Portuguese culture is, what the um-- we talk about
it all the time and we also talk about um how Vo would say this, or Vo
would say that or because they spent so much time with my mom. I
actually lived right next door when I was raising those boys. So, um
it was, it was important to her that they learned the Portuguese
language. I'm not gonna lie and say that I pushed it because I didn't,
I was uh married at the time to uh Mr. Pineheiro and um I remember one
time and although he's also very Portuguese and his parents were very
Portuguese,
to shut the
door and he
a porta and
I remember one time my oldest son, we needed to tell him
door and we said it in English, shut the door, shut the
just looked at him like huh? And I said, oh Michael feche
then he shut the door and I thought, oh my gosh.
Kelley Campos McCoy: How old was he?
Carmen Pineheiro: He was just probably three years old at the time. I
thought, oh my gosh, this kid is not gonna be able to uh I kind of
scared me. This kid's not gonna know any, any English. I better back
off, so.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, let me ask you a question, Carmen why was it
and why is it so important to preserve Portuguese culture in the
United States?
Carmen Pineheiro: Why is it so important? I, I think because it's such
a good culture I think if nothing else, the worth ethic is projected
hopefully onto our children. I just attended a commons thread, common
threads, a luncheon. I don't know if you're, but it's women in
agriculture that have just done so much. And of the ten or twelve
recipients, now, I kind of lost track, but let's say of the ten
recipients. Um, eight of them had Azorian roots and um it's amazing
how, what they did to maintain their culture with their family, with
their grandchildren. But most of all the work ethic that, uh, that
their parents and grandparents installed in them, they were hard
workers. They were perseverant. They, um, they didn't quit. You know
what I mean? They faced struggles, I'm sure. But didn't quit.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Do you think part of that comes from the fact that
life in the Azores quite frankly was not easy and so-Carmen Pineheiro: Very, that's a good point. Yeah, life in the Azores
was not easy back then.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Right.
Carmen Pineheiro: Back, way, way, way back then. Yeah, they, they, you
know, we, we heard stories about things that they, that they needed to
do. Um Spike tells a story about how he, uh, when he milked the cows,
it was the happiest day of his life when his father invested in a
donkey or a burrow, because then the burrow actually carried the milk
cans for them. You know, they'd strap them instead of having that
piece of wood over their shoulders. I'm sure there's a word for that,
but I can't remember. But it must have been pretty painful.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Did your family ever talk about uh any
difficulties that they had adjusting to life in the United States? I
mean, on the one hand they left their country. Therefore, there were
other opportunities here and there was a dynamic Portuguese community
already here. But were there challenges?
Carmen Pineheiro: Well, my, my, not so much my dad, you know, my dad
was pretty much established but then there is a large age difference
between my mom and my dad. But my mom would talk about because she
was, she was, she was 20 years old when she got married and came to
this country. So, she was very established there. She also was the
youngest of twelve. So that was a large family um, she would talk
about how she had to come to this country and start from scratch. Um,
she didn't know how to bake bread here. She didn't know what to go buy
at the grocery store. She, you know, it was, it was, it must have
been, it must have been really tough. Luckily her, uh, I'm gonna, my
dad's ex mother-in-law. Yes, who also lived right next door at the
time, um, helped her a lot and she had, um an uncle, no, a brother who
lived in Los Banos. Whenever they could, they would go visit. I think
that Spike saw that she was lonely, and he had a business in Los Banos
as well or a terminal, I should say not business, but he had a
terminal in Los Banos as he started growing so I think I remember even
as we as youngsters would visit Los Banos a lot. We loved Uncle Mão
[assumed spelling] and Aunt Barbara and Aunt Barbara was very um kind
to my mom. She was kind to everyone, but she was kind to my mom, and
they shared recipes and talked about, oh, this is the kind of things,
this is what we substitute. We don't use this, we use this. You know
what I mean? Because there were so many more. Um, over there
everything was homegrown and homemade. Over here there was, oh, you
know, “What do you mean I, I don't have to grind my own corn?” You
know.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Yeah.
Carmen Pineheiro: “What? I can buy flour?!” That type of thing.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Any discrimination?
Carmen Pineheiro: So, no, I never, I never heard that my dad always
spoke highly of this country. If my mom had anything negative about
this country, it was probably the heat that she put up with. I
remember that um, I don't know who told me the story, but they would,
back in the years they'd say, uh, well, Carmina, they say “It's so hot
in the San Joaquin Valley and you have so much cement around the
house. Isn’t that a problem?” And she said “No, it's not a problem
that we have so much cement, but the problem is that, um, if you want
to, you could fry an egg on that cement when it's really warm.” I
remember hearing that story. I don't, I don't know how she got that
came up with that conclusion or analogy, but I think it's true.
Especially nowadays things are getting worse.
Kelley Campos McCoy: I agree with you.
heat, it seems?
Do you notice less fog, more
Carmen Pineheiro: Isn't that true? Yeah. Yeah.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, we've been talking about traditions now, let's
talk about festas. I understand you were a queen.
Carmen Pineheiro: I was, I was.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, how old, were you? Where was it?
Carmen Pineheiro: Oh, gosh, I was 16. It was here in Tulare; it was Our
Lady of Fatima Festa. I, uh, in those days you weren't asked to be a
queen, or you didn't volunteer to be a queen. You, you know your dad
came home from a meeting and he said, “By the way you're the queen.”
Oh, what's that? What, what do I do? How is that? You know, I didn't
really know a whole lot about it. I thought by the time it came to my
turn, my sister had already done it and I was her [inaudible] or
attendant. So, I knew what I was in for, and I was thrilled that I got
to be the queen. But, um, you weren't, you know, it wasn't like very
many people volunteered back then. Nowadays I am so amazed by the
girls that want to do this. They're so willing and the parents and
then I say to them, well, you know there's a lot of traveling besides
expenses there's a lot of traveling involved and a lot of this. Oh,
yeah, that's, that's our favorite part. And I said okay, that's
wonderful. And I just think that I am just thrilled by the fact that I
don't TDES in Tulare, we have TDES speech sent [sic] and our Lady of
Fatima, and Our lady of Fatima has grown by leaps and bounds, but I am
so thrilled when I see the younger generation participating, all the
funds from Our Lady of Fatima auction and the games go to, to our
school to keeping our school alive and it's hundreds and thousands of
dollars that, that they've been able to accumulate with the auction
and the games and, and donations. And I'm amazed. So, my dad has
always been-- education was at the top there my dad is uh we also went
to San Aloysius School, so did our children. But anyway, um uh dad was
always devoted to our Lady of Fatima Committee He was also a
president. My brother-in-law has been the president. My nephew, Robert
has been the president, my kids have helped in various capacities. Um
He's always devoted to our Lady of Fatima. You could never say if
anybody came and asked you for a cow donation which is you don't dare
say no, I mean, you just don't.
Kelley Campos McCoy: When you say a cow donation, can you explain what
that means?
Carmen Pineheiro: Okay, well, in order to make the sopas, which uh
Donna Isabela started thousands of years ago as a donation to the
poor. Uh now it's not quite the same thing. You know economy has kind
of, they don't quite give us away as much as they used to give away.
They might actually have to sell some now, but still. In order to make
the sopas, you can't do it without beef. So that's why, that's why the
donation when they come to your house and say, can I have or your farm
or whatever? Can I have a cow or two? It used to be really easy. It's
not so easy anymore. The younger generation that are taking over the
dairies. Well, I don't have to tell you what's happening with the
dairy industry or what has happened. But if they can even the younger
generation they do, they do indeed. Like I heard one. Well, my cousin,
as a matter of fact, I heard him say uh say once I, I've always
donated to these festas, and it's never hurt me. It's any, if
anything, it's helped me.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, have you been surprised that our Lady of
Fatima is still so more dynamic than ever? And that they still seem to
have a powerful presence.
Carmen Pineheiro: I am surprised by all the cultural activities that
this community our Azorians, up and down the state and all over the
United States are able to maintain. Their matanzas for one thing, you
know, the killing of the pig, the serving of your family. They might
do it in a modern technology, but they nowadays, they because there
are certain rules and regulations, but they still make them cacoilas,
make them bifanas, make the pork steaks. Uh, not only that, that the
festas, that they still, that they, the bull fights, I can't believe
that they still have bull fights. I can't believe. And I'm a major,
major aficionado in bull fights and I can't believe that they have
such a strong group of forcados. Does anybody even know what a forcado
is? A forcado is the suicides, the suicide squad that tackles the
bull, you know, like I don't wanna say idiots, but because I happen to
be dating one that was dating one that was a forcado, for thousands
of, you know, many, many anyway, I'm amazed at the and their church,
the churches that they have built that are mostly Portuguese churches,
the, uh, the bakery, the Portuguese bakery that we're lucky enough to
have now again in Tulare. Hanford also has quite a popular bakery.
The, the, the, what they go through to because most Azoreans really,
really love fish, right? And it's not easy to find fresh fish in this
country. The, the, the things that they go through, the difficulties
that they go through to find fresh fish and to fix it the way they
like it, to cut it the way they like it to, uh, to go, to take off to
Pismo and bring fresh fish to themselves and their neighbors and their
friends because they can't, it's not so easy to buy anymore anyway.
I'm amazed at the, um, at the traditions that they have, have
continued.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Well, because here's the question. Immigration
from the Azores-Carmen Pineheiro: Yes, exactly.
Kelley Campos McCoy: --has tapered off, so we’re talking about second,
third generation Americans-Carmen Pineheiro:
Yes. Yes.
Kelley Campos McCoy: --that are still driving this.
Carmen Pineheiro: I know.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Why do you think that is?
Carmen Pineheiro: I don't know. That's why I'm so surprised to see so
many youngsters, especially at my age, youngsters taking over this
presidencies and vice presidencies of the Our Lady of Fatima as well
as the speech sant [sic]. So, I'm, I'm, I made a speech at one of the,
at one of the TDES meetings and asking them for some donations for our
sister city organization. And I said, I am, I look here and I'm so
proud of what you do to maintain this tradition. And you're all
youngsters compared to me. Now, our sister city, we're, we're trying
to bring up some youngsters otherwise pretty soon it'll be null and
void. But our committee is a bunch of, um, seasoned veterans. I should
say,
Kelley Campos McCoy: When was the Tulare Angrense, uh, is it?
Carmen Pineheiro: Angrense.
Kelley Campos McCoy: And okay, when was that sister city relationship
established?
Carmen Pineheiro: Well, way back in the Eisenhower days and I should
have the date fixed in my mind, but I don't, but I do know that we are
the oldest that we know of. We are the oldest existing sister city
foundation in all of Europe. I think and you know, I'm gonna say
everywhere. 55 we're 55 years old. I was so young when my parents
entered as a result of receiving committees from there, I was 15 and
16 years old. I remember them all in the backyard. I remember them and
our guest room, I remember them everywhere. Um Spike was one of the
origin, dad was one of the originators, Joe Soares, Helter Martins, I
shouldn't, shouldn't say names because then I'll forget. But Joao
Fonse [assumed spelling] um was the um instigator there in the Azores,
he was an author for the Diario Insular and he got a hold of this idea
and, and said, let's go with it. And Joseph and Spike said, “All
right, let's, let's go with it.” So, and here we are and still trying
to maintain my sister and I, and Diniz who is my vice president, my
sister, um, uh, my secretary and we have a committee my treasurer, um,
we're trying to still promote the Portuguese culture and, and maintain
our existence.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, tell me exactly if you can um, how exactly
does that sister city relationship work? You identify a town or a city
in another country? You establish that relationship? So, what exactly
is it a cultural exchange or what it is?
Carmen Pineheiro: It is very, very much a cultural exchange but also a,
a bonding or friendship, I think. You know, with any friendship that
you, uh, whether it's your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your neighbor
if you don't give that friendship time or if you don't get together
for lunch or a drink or just coffee, you don't, you just don't exist
anymore. And we've had our ups and downs, ups and downs because
naturally, the mayor of Angra is the, you know, their, their system
makes their, um, their system work. You know, their sister city work.
We don't have our mayor. Not that we're not lucky enough to have a
Portuguese mayor now to contribute to that relationship. But we have
had in the past and, but it's an up and down type situation. Um, our,
their mayor is very interested in the relationship that we, but we
have a committee. We don't, you know it's not, has nothing to do with,
with the mayor, with sister city funding or anything like that. We're
kind of like we're kind of on our own. Let's put it that way.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, is there like an annual event?
Carmen Pineheiro: Yeah. There is, and there was, we've had to cancel
two years in a row because of COVID. But our annual fundraiser is
called a Soup Festival where we serve four Portuguese soups. And, um,
they're delicious. And, um, every, it's, you know, it's very, every
year it gets bigger and bigger. It's more we serve at least about,
it's not, you know, not 1000 people. We serve at least over 200. And,
uh, and if we have enough left over, we also sell takeouts, but that
doesn't always happen. Just depends.
Kelley Campos McCoy: And so, do people from Angra then come over?
Carmen Pineheiro: Oh, no, that, you know we haven't had that, we
haven't had that luck yet. I mean, it hasn't worked out because it's
always in January and it's kind of a tough time, not a tough time to
travel then, but like either if they're not busy with elections, like,
if we did it in the summer it might be easier for them. But one year,
three years ago, we were lucky enough because one of the things that
we do with sister city is fund or help fund the student exchange
programs in CSUF, Fresno State and uh the University of the Azores in
Terceira, and, and we were lucky enough to have all 10 students
actually attend. So that was kind of fun. And we got to hear from them
and…
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, are there other sister city arrangements do
you know with the Azores in California?
Carmen Pineheiro: Oh, many, um the one that comes to mind that I'm
closest to is Gilroy. Uh they also have a long-standing relationship
with, with Gilroy. Now, you know Angra, or the island of Terceira’s
biggest festa is the Sanjoaninas, which this year I think between the
17th of June and the 26th. So, it's 10 days of festa, festa, festa.
That's how those Terceidos are and there's all kinds of different
activities, but we are always invited to the receptions. We uh always
uh there's a queen and uh she is attended by besides her local
attendants; they invite all the uh all of their sister cities and I
think they have like 14 or maybe 14 or maybe more of them. Taunton
comes to mind besides Gilroy besides, I don't know, I don't wanna,
again, I don't wanna say names because but um and each year, this year
we're, we haven't been able to do that, but this year we send a
representative from our city representing Tulare Sister City. Uh, and
they also send, if they're able to, they also send uh, a
representative. So, it's a big parade.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, it sounds like you probably have gone back to
the Azores at least once or twice?
Carmen Pineheiro: Every summer now, now that I'm retired, I go back
every summer, but I started going back to the Azores every other
summer at age four. My parents would, um, my, my dad really, that's
where he could he, he had a lot of pressure on him here at this
business and that's where he said he could really relax. He didn't
have to answer the phone. Didn't have to, he was lucky enough to have
his son take over for him. Junior, you know, was old enough to take
care of the business by then, I think. There again, there's a big age
difference between my brother and I, but um, my brothers, I had two of
them but, uh, half-brothers, but anyway, um, he, that's where he said
he could really, really relax and he wanted to go back to his roots
and they took, you won't believe this, but they took trunks and trunks
and trunks of goods, mostly Levis and shirts and you, you wouldn't
believe the, the, you know, in those days you, commodities were not
what they are. Nowadays you can buy almost anything in the Azores,
including Levis. You pay six times the price. But there was a lot of
poverty on that island and my mom had a lot of family and she decided
that everybody should get a pair of Levis and a shirt and some socks.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Oh, my gosh.
Carmen Pineheiro: Took a lot of time to fill them up here and then a
lot of time to disperse them when we got there.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, if you started going when you were four, then
the islands have played a huge role in your life.
Carmen Pineheiro: That's funny that you say that because I've always
felt that way. I, I don't feel just American. I'm definitely
Portuguese American. I remember when I was 13 or 14, I would leave
this country, I think in eighth grade I left my best friend. I left
Mary Martin and we cried and cried and cried that day because we
wouldn't see each other for three months and then I'd get there and
develop relationships and cry and cry and cry because I wouldn't see
them for six months. So, it's kind of like, yeah, I was here and
there.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, what is it about the islands that speak to
you?
Carmen Pineheiro: Well, what speaks to me about the islands is the lack
of. It can be an advantage and a disadvantage if you're trying to do
business, that thing is, um, can be very exasperating. But if you're
not trying to do business and you want to rest and relax. But I think
the hospitality of the people is probably what speaks the most to me.
Now that I have a um a boyfriend that lives actually in the continent,
in, in Lisbon. I spend my time between the Azores, the continent and
my home. Um but I, I find the same, I find the same thing, the
hospitality of the people there. Now they have a different lifestyle.
They're not quite so laid back as the Azoreans. But way back in the
day, the Azores weren't so as popular as they are now. Those, those
continentais would kind of, “Oh you're from the Azores, hmm.” Well,
nowadays they all want to invest and buy homes and go to the Azores to
rest and relax. It's beautiful. It's this, it's that, it's almost like
showing like last summer I spent three weeks with the boys there in
the Azores, the rule here of the house is-- I have nine grandchildren.
Uh, the rule is if you get through high school with decent grades,
you, you Vovó takes you to the Azores, well, last year I ended up with
three because two graduated last year and one-- I was really worried
about it. It wasn't the best year to go traveling. They were 19 and
two 18-year-olds. And I thought, oh God, no, 20-year-old. And I
thought, “Oh God, what am I doing? What am I doing?” Everything went
so well, and they made memories that they will always have for the
rest of their lives. But for me, it's like showing somebody Disneyland
for the first time. It's so exciting.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, so your grandchildren, it sounds like your
boys have also raised your grandchildren with these views and
traditions.
Carmen Pineheiro: Yes.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Do they speak the language as well?
Carmen Pineheiro: They don't speak the language as well as they should.
Um, some of them want the old, one of the oldest ones was lucky enough
to have Diniz as a teacher, he, he’s, my Jonathan. He was the most
Portuguese of them all. He also seriously dates a Portuguese gal. So,
all that helps. But even as I was raising my boys, we were, we were
always kind of like the neighborhood house. And um one of the boys
said to me, one of their friends said to me “Why this is so cool that
you have this uh this Portuguese-ness about you,” because I would, I
would say to them tonight we're having no good Portuguese tacos. Oh,
what are no good Portuguese tacos? They're just tacos made by a nogood Portuguese cook. So, um so it's an adaptation, but to him and to
many of them they thought it was so cool that they, that we had that
bond. You know what I mean? Church has always been important,
especially as they were younger. It was always important and um they,
they, I mean, I never forced any of his friends to go with us to
church. But if they happen to be there, you know, get your clothes on.
Let's go. Um or I never forced them to go to the festas, but I think
if you're born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley even if you're
Armenian, you have to know about the Portuguese community because it
envelops you. Right, I mean, who doesn't, who doesn't know about it? I
think I don't know, it's popular.
Kelley Campos McCoy: So, what do you think Spike would think about all
of this? Your investment, your continued investment in the Portuguese
community, your sons, your grand, what would Spike say?
Carmen Pineheiro: Yeah. Yeah. Well, he would be so proud of um, the
things that we have continued. He-- I told Robert that when my oldest,
his oldest grandson Robert Quinn, my sister's son. Robert developed a
uh a love for the earth. He just loves to grow. And that was my dad's
favorite thing too, was to pick up a shovel or a handful of dirt and
just let it and say this is mine, this acreage, this is mine or this
is growing something this is producing something. Um all of mine have
taken on different-- They're, they're not, they didn't go into
agriculture, they're, they're not farmers they just went different
routes. Their dad was actually a, a co, a teacher and a coach and they
kind of went kind of took a different route. But um but anyway Dad,
Spike would be so proud of all of them for act as I am for actually
founding their finding their way of life and becoming productive
citizens. But they would also, he would also be so proud, my mom,
especially because she tried so hard to, you know, to do the, you
know, speak the language with them. And my oldest one, and my youngest
too, they all, they all speak a little bit as we say, you know
[inaudible], they all um they all can get by. Um but um, but my
youngest one when they were visiting, when they were all visiting the
Azores, they always make it a point to take Matthew because Matthew
has a type of personality, he didn't care how it came out.
Kelley Campos McCoy: And who is Matthew?
Carmen Pineheiro: Matthew is my youngest.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Okay.
Carmen Pineheiro: Uh, my, my youngest and when I took all four of them,
uh, to the Azores, but anyway, what I'm saying is he didn't, he didn't
care how it came out. The other ones, my Michael, knows a lot more,
but he is not going to repeat something that doesn't sound really
good. He's getting better at it though. He actually took Portuguese in
university, so they had to, didn't keep the class for very long
because there weren't more than three people there but, but, uh, they
care, they really, you know, they really, really care and they're
still like, I still have a, it's not really a Portuguese tradition but
it's kind of a family tradition. I still have a big thing about Sunday
dinner. I try to, um, uh, uh, I, I, I like filozes, just kind of like
one of their favorite things. You guys know those Portuguese donuts
that we serve on Fat Tuesday. Except for I serve them on Sundays when,
you know, when the, when it's okay. Um, but anyway uh, I try to
maintain different things.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Well, I was going to say when I went over saw
that-Carmen Pineheiro: Did you see that dining room table?
Kelley Campos McCoy: You have the longest dining room table I have
ever—Carmen Pineheiro: Yeah, I know.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Seen.
Carmen Pineheiro: But it's usually not enough if they bring their
girlfriends, I have to start serving them in the kitchen especially
for holidays. I don't, I don’t know.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Well, I just have a couple more questions.
Carmen Pineheiro: Yes.
Kelley Campos McCoy: You actually have given me the information that
kind of, you, you've already touched on this. But I wanna hit it hard.
So, um, being Portuguese, what does that mean to you?
Carmen Pineheiro: I don't know it's kind of like the fiber of my being.
I don't know how not to be Portuguese. One time my sister said to me,
“Oh, you've got to be so Portuguese.” I said, “Oh I think that's a
good thing.” I, I feel like if I'm losing the language, uh, mostly
because of memory loss I think, but because I spoke to my mom every
single day and she's been gone for quite so many years and but
whenever I can with my cousins and even with my sister, especially if
we don't want to be understood I'll just speak Portuguese, because I
need to speak Portuguese. But it's a fiber of my, I don't know. It's a
fiber of my being. I just am and I was born and raised that way and
that's the, not that I agreed to everything that we did as Portuguese
people. Uh not that I agree with all of their thought processes but,
you know, things have changed. But um but, you know, like when I told
my dad that I was actually gonna go back, like I said, he stressed
education. I got my degree in, in education. Um I started teaching
kindergarten in ‘72. I got married in ‘73. Um and then I had 1, 1 baby
in ’75, ’76, ’77 and ’79. So, I had my own preschool at home. Um I
wasn't about, you know to, I wasn't gonna go out in the workforce at
that time. I stayed home and did the best I could, and it wasn't
always good, but I did the best I could. Uh they all survived. I
barely survived, but they all survived. Uh but anyway, when they
started getting older and actually started going to school themselves,
I, they the school, the Catholic school needed a lot of substitute
teachers. So, I, I helped out as much as I could and I always worked
in the classroom or whatever, you know how room moms do. But when I
told him I was going back to work and I don't know why I thought that
I should have his approval, but I did. He said, “Well why, why would
you do that? Who's gonna take care of the house?” And I said, “Hey,
dad, I'm not married to the house. You spent a lot of money on this
education, I'm not married to my house. My house isn't gonna fall
apart.” Uh, he just kind of, oh, and he just, “Okay, do whatever you
wanna do.” I said, okay, so we went for it.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Because you were Portuguese and American.
Carmen Pineheiro: But, but that, yeah, exactly. Right. But you know, if
I was Portuguese Portuguese, I'd stay at home and finish raising those
babies and then I finish raising grand babies and then the Lord knows
what else. But anyway.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Well, is there anything that I didn't touch on?
Carmen Pineheiro: Yeah, I, I don't, I probably, I have talked too much—
Kelley Campos McCoy: Not at all.
Carmen Pineheiro: --and too fast.
Kelley Campos McCoy: Not at all.
Carmen Pineheiro: But that's a Portuguese in me.
Kelley Campos McCoy: These interviews that we've had. I mean, they,
they've just been wonderful.
Carmen Pineheiro: Oh, I'm glad you feel that way. One thing I think I
probably didn't that I appreciate so much too in the Azores is that
we're, we're, and we’re such a social group. We, and even in, in there
are many differences between actual Portugal and, and Azores, but
we're such a social group but even in the continent as well, like when
my boyfriend's visiting with me and he'll say, let's go see Manuel and
I said, “Oh no, I wouldn't do that without calling him first.” He
said, “What you have to call your people and tell,” “Oh, yeah.” “Well,
that's just a, let's go see your neighbor's house,” I said, “Why don't
you just come over to your neighbor's house and just say here I am to
visit. We don't do that.” Whereas there they do, they're much more
social. Does that make sense?
Kelley Campos McCoy: Sure does.
Carmen Pineheiro: They're, they're much more open-door policy type
thing. We, we're much more scheduled which, like I said, can be to
your advantage and to your disadvantage as well. You know what I'm
saying?
Kelley Campos McCoy: Right, I totally get that.