Fatima Bettencourt Interview
Item
Title
Fatima Bettencourt Interview
Creator
Bettencourt, Fatima
Contributor
Bettencourt, Nicole
Language
ENG
Relation
Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute
Date
1/19/2022
Identifier
SCUAD_pbbi_00047
extracted text
Nicole Bettencourt: What is your full birth name?
Fatima Bettencourt: My full birth name is Maria Gilda Fatima Brazil
Bettencourt,
Nicole Bettencourt: Were you named after anyone?
Fatima Bettencourt: My name Fatima is, I was named after my mom's
sister who her name was Fatima and she passed away when she was two
years old. And so, when I was born my mother decided to name me after
her.
Nicole Bettencourt: And is that the story behind your name?
Fatima Bettencourt: Yes.
Nicole Bettencourt: When were you born?
Fatima Bettencourt: I was born May 4, 1976.
Nicole Bettencourt: Where were you born?
Fatima Bettencourt: I was born in Velas, São Jorge, Azores.
Nicole Bettencourt: What early memories do you have as a child in the
Portuguese American community or in Portugal?
Fatima Bettencourt: Um my family immigrated to the United States when
I was six months old. Um some memories that I have growing up in a
Portuguese American community was going to the festas, um celebrating
religious holidays, um getting together with family.
Nicole Bettencourt: Um, when did your family immigrate to the United
States?
Fatima Bettencourt: My family immigrated to the United States when I
was six months old. Um that was November of 1976.
Nicole Bettencourt: Why did your family leave the Azores?
Fatima Bettencourt: My family left the Azores for a better life. For
more opportunities here in the United States, such as jobs and
housing.
Nicole Bettencourt: Where did your family settle? And why there?
Fatima Bettencourt: My family ultimately settled in Turlock,
California. Um, my family had, my parents had brothers and sisters
that were already living here in the area, and they decided to stay
nearby where they would have support from their families, and my
parents got jobs in Turlock and surrounding areas and eventually my
dad was able to establish, my mom and dad were able to establish
their dairy business in Turlock and that's where they've been ever
since.
Nicole Bettencourt: Did your parents or grandparents ever tell you
what it was like to adjust to life in a new country? What stories
were passed down to you regarding their early experiences?
Fatima Bettencourt: Um, they talked about it often. They talked about
how hard it was to be able to communicate with others when they um
barely spoke English themselves. Um, they talked about how it was
difficult to adapt to customs that they weren't used to or didn't
agree with. Um.
Nicole Bettencourt: Um, um since you're part of the first generation
of your family to immigrate to the United States, how important was
it to your parents that you be raised with a strong Portuguese
identity?
Fatima Bettencourt: Um I think very important, especially to my
mother who would always correct us when we didn't speak Portuguese
properly. Um, she would always make sure that we were pronouncing
words properly and that we would you know respect others, aunts and
uncles and um and also that we went to church every Sunday that was
important to her and my dad um and that we worked very hard and had
a lot of respect for our elders.
Nicole Bettencourt: How is this identity expressed through language,
foods, traditions and festivals?
Fatima Bettencourt: Um, this identity was expressed through um the
foods that they made the traditions such as going to the festas and
being a part of them. Um yeah.
Nicole Bettencourt: What cultural traditions have you maintained and
why has it been important to you to maintain them?
Fatima Bettencourt: Um some of the cultures that I've maintained have
been um including my kids, my children to be part of the Portuguese
festas and those groups I find that are important. A lot of
community, a lot of Portuguese exposure being that we live in the
United States, in California. I want them to have as much exposure to
the Portuguese community as possible and so having my girls be side
maid or queen for a festa, I think is a little bit of that exposure
that I can give them.
Nicole Bettencourt: Have you been to the Azores and what was that
experience like for you?
Fatima Bettencourt: Um, I've been back twice since um we immigrated.
I went back when I was five years old and again when I was 15. Um so
many, many years ago. I don't remember much about those times as a
teenager when I went, I just remember it was a little difficult to
adapt to because there wasn't the foods and the things that I was
accustomed to already in the United States.
Nicole Bettencourt: Um trace if you will some of your experiences
growing up in the Portuguese American community in the Central Valley
throughout your life.
Fatima Bettencourt: Growing up on the dairy and working um every day,
day and night on the dairy. Um going to church every Sunday, um
celebrating festas when those times came around, going to dances,
going to the bullfights, those were very fun. Um yeah.
Nicole Bettencourt: Of all you have accomplished, what are
you most proud of and what proud moments do you remember in
the Portuguese American community?
Fatima Bettencourt: Of all that I've accomplished, I have to say I'm
pretty proud of my family, my kids, where we've gotten today. I owe
it to my parents who sacrificed quite a bit for us. Um, they worked
very hard to get to where they are and to provide for us and to
provide an education for me and my brothers.
Nicole Bettencourt: To what extent do you believe being Portuguese
American has shaped the way you have moved through life, both
professionally and personally?
Fatima Bettencourt: Um I think it's helped me with integrity as far
as hard work um ethics, I always, I often think back to what my
family and I have accomplished and what they've been through and what
we've been through and what I want for myself in the future.
Nicole Bettencourt: What does being Portuguese American mean to you?
Fatima Bettencourt: There are no words to explain. I'm so happy and
proud to be Portuguese American. I couldn't imagine it being any
other way.
Nicole Bettencourt: How do you see the Portuguese American community
today?
Fatima Bettencourt: Um I've noticed that the Portuguese American
community is, it seems like it's getting smaller and um as far as
festas and um other religious events um there aren't as many
Portuguese people attending those. Um there aren't as many people
helping out with the festas and unfortunately those seem to be dying
a little bit and it's, it's sad to see.
Nicole Bettencourt: Is there anything we didn't cover that you'd like
to share?
Fatima Bettencourt: Not that I can think of.
Nicole Bettencourt: Thank you.
Fatima Bettencourt: My full birth name is Maria Gilda Fatima Brazil
Bettencourt,
Nicole Bettencourt: Were you named after anyone?
Fatima Bettencourt: My name Fatima is, I was named after my mom's
sister who her name was Fatima and she passed away when she was two
years old. And so, when I was born my mother decided to name me after
her.
Nicole Bettencourt: And is that the story behind your name?
Fatima Bettencourt: Yes.
Nicole Bettencourt: When were you born?
Fatima Bettencourt: I was born May 4, 1976.
Nicole Bettencourt: Where were you born?
Fatima Bettencourt: I was born in Velas, São Jorge, Azores.
Nicole Bettencourt: What early memories do you have as a child in the
Portuguese American community or in Portugal?
Fatima Bettencourt: Um my family immigrated to the United States when
I was six months old. Um some memories that I have growing up in a
Portuguese American community was going to the festas, um celebrating
religious holidays, um getting together with family.
Nicole Bettencourt: Um, when did your family immigrate to the United
States?
Fatima Bettencourt: My family immigrated to the United States when I
was six months old. Um that was November of 1976.
Nicole Bettencourt: Why did your family leave the Azores?
Fatima Bettencourt: My family left the Azores for a better life. For
more opportunities here in the United States, such as jobs and
housing.
Nicole Bettencourt: Where did your family settle? And why there?
Fatima Bettencourt: My family ultimately settled in Turlock,
California. Um, my family had, my parents had brothers and sisters
that were already living here in the area, and they decided to stay
nearby where they would have support from their families, and my
parents got jobs in Turlock and surrounding areas and eventually my
dad was able to establish, my mom and dad were able to establish
their dairy business in Turlock and that's where they've been ever
since.
Nicole Bettencourt: Did your parents or grandparents ever tell you
what it was like to adjust to life in a new country? What stories
were passed down to you regarding their early experiences?
Fatima Bettencourt: Um, they talked about it often. They talked about
how hard it was to be able to communicate with others when they um
barely spoke English themselves. Um, they talked about how it was
difficult to adapt to customs that they weren't used to or didn't
agree with. Um.
Nicole Bettencourt: Um, um since you're part of the first generation
of your family to immigrate to the United States, how important was
it to your parents that you be raised with a strong Portuguese
identity?
Fatima Bettencourt: Um I think very important, especially to my
mother who would always correct us when we didn't speak Portuguese
properly. Um, she would always make sure that we were pronouncing
words properly and that we would you know respect others, aunts and
uncles and um and also that we went to church every Sunday that was
important to her and my dad um and that we worked very hard and had
a lot of respect for our elders.
Nicole Bettencourt: How is this identity expressed through language,
foods, traditions and festivals?
Fatima Bettencourt: Um, this identity was expressed through um the
foods that they made the traditions such as going to the festas and
being a part of them. Um yeah.
Nicole Bettencourt: What cultural traditions have you maintained and
why has it been important to you to maintain them?
Fatima Bettencourt: Um some of the cultures that I've maintained have
been um including my kids, my children to be part of the Portuguese
festas and those groups I find that are important. A lot of
community, a lot of Portuguese exposure being that we live in the
United States, in California. I want them to have as much exposure to
the Portuguese community as possible and so having my girls be side
maid or queen for a festa, I think is a little bit of that exposure
that I can give them.
Nicole Bettencourt: Have you been to the Azores and what was that
experience like for you?
Fatima Bettencourt: Um, I've been back twice since um we immigrated.
I went back when I was five years old and again when I was 15. Um so
many, many years ago. I don't remember much about those times as a
teenager when I went, I just remember it was a little difficult to
adapt to because there wasn't the foods and the things that I was
accustomed to already in the United States.
Nicole Bettencourt: Um trace if you will some of your experiences
growing up in the Portuguese American community in the Central Valley
throughout your life.
Fatima Bettencourt: Growing up on the dairy and working um every day,
day and night on the dairy. Um going to church every Sunday, um
celebrating festas when those times came around, going to dances,
going to the bullfights, those were very fun. Um yeah.
Nicole Bettencourt: Of all you have accomplished, what are
you most proud of and what proud moments do you remember in
the Portuguese American community?
Fatima Bettencourt: Of all that I've accomplished, I have to say I'm
pretty proud of my family, my kids, where we've gotten today. I owe
it to my parents who sacrificed quite a bit for us. Um, they worked
very hard to get to where they are and to provide for us and to
provide an education for me and my brothers.
Nicole Bettencourt: To what extent do you believe being Portuguese
American has shaped the way you have moved through life, both
professionally and personally?
Fatima Bettencourt: Um I think it's helped me with integrity as far
as hard work um ethics, I always, I often think back to what my
family and I have accomplished and what they've been through and what
we've been through and what I want for myself in the future.
Nicole Bettencourt: What does being Portuguese American mean to you?
Fatima Bettencourt: There are no words to explain. I'm so happy and
proud to be Portuguese American. I couldn't imagine it being any
other way.
Nicole Bettencourt: How do you see the Portuguese American community
today?
Fatima Bettencourt: Um I've noticed that the Portuguese American
community is, it seems like it's getting smaller and um as far as
festas and um other religious events um there aren't as many
Portuguese people attending those. Um there aren't as many people
helping out with the festas and unfortunately those seem to be dying
a little bit and it's, it's sad to see.
Nicole Bettencourt: Is there anything we didn't cover that you'd like
to share?
Fatima Bettencourt: Not that I can think of.
Nicole Bettencourt: Thank you.