Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute Collection

António Azevedo Interview

Azevedo, António

Garcia, Brandi

ENG

Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute

11/17/2021

SCUAD_pbbi_00045

Brandi Garcia: So, okay, so first, what is your full birth name?
Antonio Azevedo: Is Antonio José Luis Rogério Azevedo.
Brandi Garcia: Were you named after anyone?
Antonio Azevedo: Um well, Luis is after my mother's maiden name and
then Azevedo is after my dad's name.
Brandi Garcia: Okay and then um is there like a story behind like your
first name or anything?
Antonio Azevedo: No, I'm not that I'm aware of. I asked my mom, but
she couldn't recollect why they decided on that.
Brandi Garcia: Um where were you born?
Antonio Azevedo: Um I was born in an island called São Jorge, São
Jorge, Azores and in a little city called Velas in 1966. May 11th of
1966, to be exact.
Brandi Garcia: And you answered my question. What early memories do
you have of a child in the Portuguese American community or in
Portugal?
Antonio Azevedo: Um you know, uh early on I was raised to, to be
members of a little society. So we had um, um the like um, I forget
what the exact name of it was now because it's been so long, but it
was part of doing like um little comedy, um little small movies for
entertainment with a little group, they call it joventu, they call it
group joventu which is means for the young, for the young, uh you
know, for the young, I guess. So, that's when I first was kind of
involved with the, with the Portuguese traditions to try to keep those
uh things going, you know?
Brandi Garcia: Mhm. Okay. Um when did your family immigrate to the US?
Antonio Azevedo: Well, um I came by myself in, in 1981. Uh but the
rest of my family came way before me. Uh they came in the seventies.
My mom was in 1974 and my uncle, um were, they were right around that
area between ‘71 and ‘74. They all came, including my grandfather from
both sides, from my mom and from my dad's side as well.
Brandi Garcia: Um and then let's see, why did your family leave the
Azores?

Antonio Azevedo: You know, everyone was looking for, to better
themselves, their life over there was, you know, really, really rough,
except, especially in those days. And so, they were looking for, you
know, a way to, to do better than what they had at the time. Like my
grandpa, let's say he didn't even have, he only had one pair of shoes
to go to church or to go to a special event. Otherwise, they would
walk barefooted for an example, you know, to go to work, he had one
set of clothes, his mom used to wash it. Then later when he got
married, his wife used to wash it for him so he could go to work the
next day they would dry them on those ovens that they had back in the
day that they used to, you know, make bread and whatnot out of. And so
that was kind of interesting. So, it was really the need to better and
do better for themselves.
Brandi Garcia: Okay. And um, where did your family settle?
Antonio Azevedo: Um, from my dad Azevedo side, they went to the coast,
so they lived in the Pismo area, like, right around where Tia Maria
lives today. Um you remember who she is? Correct?
Brandi Garcia: Yes, I do. I need to go.
Antonio Azevedo: Yeah. So, and, and my, from my mom's side, they
landed in Lemoore and worked out there on the dairy for most of their
lives. My grandpa did.
Brandi Garcia: Okay. And then why did they settle there?
Antonio Azevedo: Um, you know, they, they had background, my grandpa
had a background in, in, in the cattle business, you know, that's kind
of what he did over there. So that was an easy transition for him to,
to do that. You know, where my dad Azevedo, he, he was more of a
fisherman. So, he went to the coast side, and he went fishing and
worked on those ships there. Give me just a second if you don't mind.
Brandi Garcia: Yes.
Unknown speaker: He, he's understanding. Yeah.
Antonio Azevedo: Okay. I'm sorry about that. Okay, we're good to go.
Brandi Garcia: Okay. Um, did your parents or grandparents ever tell
you what it was like to adjust to life in a new country?
Antonio Azevedo: Um, you know, they, they always said that it was
tough to because of the, you know, the English language that they
were, they were having a little bit of a hard time, you know, learning

it. But that, uh, but that they were on the other hand that they were
happy because of what they already had been able to accomplish. Uh,
just before I came, you know, everyone had jobs, they had homes, cars,
and things that they never thought that one day they would, you know,
be able to have. You know, so, and I too got to experience that when I
came um to learn the English language and to adapt to the ways the
American ways and the culture, even though that, you know, obviously
we're still involved in the Portuguese community uh at the San John
Hall here in Hanford, I'm, I'm part of that group. Um but still, it's
not the same as being over there, you know, but it is definitely the
land of opportunity without a doubt, you know.
Brandi Garcia: Yes, let's see here. How important was it to your
parents, to your parents that you were raised with a strong Portuguese
identity?
Antonio Azevedo: They felt that it was the part of their legacy, you
know, and that they want to leave. That's what they wanted to leave
behind. Like someone to continue on with the traditions, to keep the,
the older things alive. So, the young could see, you know, the way it
was how it was and that kind of thing.
Brandi Garcia: Let's see. How was this identity expressed, like
through language foods, traditions, festas, any kind of festivals?
Antonio Azevedo: Yeah. Mostly traditional celebrations that we have.
Like Saint John’s. Most of, most of them here are religious. You know,
like your dad is part of in Riverdale. He used to do the sopas and all
that for the people that, you know, to serve the hungry. And uh so
it's kind of all the same idea.
Brandi Garcia: What cultural traditions have you maintained?
Antonio Azevedo: Um, really, I've just been helping out to, to set, to
set Saint John's Hall up for the celebration, right? So, like the
organized uh, uh the meals, uh to help with the barbecue for the
dinners that they have for the celebrations. Um uh really haven't done
as much theater like I, I used to when I was in the old country
because of the business I'm in takes a lot of time and so I can't
devote that time for the practices of that and what not, so the
helping out with the ins and outs of what needs to be done around the
hall is kind of what I do.
Brandi Garcia: And why is it like important to you to maintain that?
Antonio Azevedo: I want, I would like to see that hall to stay for,

you know, many generations after we're gone. You know, and then
hopefully, you know, they, they continue the, those traditions, they
have the ability to continue, you know, I feel that that's important.
Brandi Garcia: Have you been to the, Azores, like ever since you came
from there?
Antonio Azevedo: Yes dear, I've been lucky in that respect. We've gone
back a lot of times, uh, about nine times since I've been here since,
uh, 1981 and took my wife Antoinette with me, um, all those times. So,
she had a great time to do that and saw the, every time that we went
back, I took her a different season so she could see the different
celebrations that they do have there um and including New Years and
Christmas time and all that so she could see how it, how it is, you
know, it.
Brandi Garcia: Um what was that experience like for you, like going
back?
Antonio Azevedo: It was, it was great, it was great to relive the,
the, it was, felt like old times, you know, every time with friends
that I still have and um and that I care for a lot and then I think
they feel the same way and just to get together for those, for that
time that we, we get to go um is, you know, is a blessing and it kind
of recharges you, it gives you a new outlook of things, you know, kind
of grounds you if you will.
Brandi Garcia: Yeah. What were some or what are some of your
experiences growing up in the Portuguese American community in the
Valley throughout your life?
Antonio Azevedo: Say it one more time on that one.
Brandi Garcia: Um, what are some of your experiences growing up in the
Portuguese American community in the Valley throughout your life?
Antonio Azevedo: Oh, okay. So pretty much what we were just talking
about just being involved the of the San John's organization and, you
know, meeting a lot of people um, and made a lot of friends through
there and, uh trying to maintain the, the, the Portuguese heritage um
and um traditions going, you know.
Brandi Garcia: Of all you have accomplished, what are you most proud
of? What proud moments do you remember in the Portuguese American
community?

Antonio Azevedo: Well, I mean, one graduating from high school, you
know, going from not understanding the language very well to being
able to graduate, that was, that was a great step. And then I got to
go to college and, and I was blessed and to get a degree there. And um
so I was proud of, I was the only one in my family at the time that uh
was able to do that to accomplish that. So, I felt proud, you know,
and at the same time accomplished a little, you know.
Brandi Garcia: What college did you go to?
Antonio Azevedo: Uh, uh Sequoias and then Fresno State.
Brandi Garcia: Oh, I didn't know that. That’s, that's where I'm at.
I'm at Fresno State right now.
Antonio Azevedo: Yeah, it's pretty cool. It's pretty good college, I
think. I mean.
Brandi Garcia: Awesome. Let's see. To what extent do you believe being
Portuguese American has shaped the way you have moved through life,
both professionally and personally.
Antonio Azevedo: I think that it helped me understand that um, it,
it’s, you, that makes a difference. Not the, the country gave you that
opportunity and then you have to step in with both feet and make it
work and, and, and get what you always wanted to get, you know, find a
way to make it happen yourself because the country gives you that
opportunity and you have to take it on, you have to embrace it. You
know, I've seen a lot of kids that I used to go to school with and
they say, oh, you know, I'm never going [sound cuts out] oh, you know,
all those jobs need to be done, but that's not why I came. I have a
little bit of a different vision in that respect, and I came because I
wanted to better myself as well and, and I was given that opportunity
and I was going to do everything in my power to ensure that it, that
it happens. You know?
Brandi Garcia: Uh what does being Portuguese American mean to you?
Antonio Azevedo: I, it means everything, you know, it, uh it was like
a fresh start. It, it, it gave me the things that I was never, um
gonna be able to in my whole life to accomplish where I was in
Portugal or in the Azores.
Brandi Garcia: Let's see. Um, how do you see the Portuguese American
community today?

Antonio Azevedo: Well, I, I see that the younger the youngsters are
kind of staying away from the old traditions more and more as time
goes by and I see that the older folks were, well, some of them are
passing away, some of them are getting too old to be involved and
that's kind of a little bit, you know, sad to see. But, but yet at the
same time, still very strong.

Brandi Garcia: Mhm.
Antonio Azevedo: Yeah.
Brandi Garcia: Okay, is there anything we didn't cover that you'd like
to share?
Antonio Azevedo: Uh, not, not really. I think we pretty much touched
on, on all bases. It was, uh it was a pleasure to, to have the
opportunity to do this interview and hopefully, um, motivate someone
to wanna do better or, or just put their, both of their feet in, in
their life, you know.