Nancy Nunes Cardoso Interview
Item
Title
Nancy Nunes Cardoso Interview
Creator
Cardoso, Nancy Nunes
Contributor
Calixtro, Alisha
Language
ENG
Relation
Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute
Date
4/18/2023
Identifier
SCUAD_pbbi_00057
extracted text
Alisha Calixtro: So, what is your full birth name?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: My full birth name is Nancy Marie Nunes.
Alisha Calixtro: Were you named after anyone? And if so, is there a
story behind your name?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Uh not really. Umm, according to my mom, um she
just worked with a lady named Nancy and really liked the name. Um, and
that's how she chose it. So, nothing fun. No fun. Back story on that
one.
Alisha Calixtro: Um, when were you born?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Uh, I was born in June of 1985.
Alisha Calixtro: Where were you born?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: I was born in Artesia, California which is a
southern Cali southern town in um southern California, a small little
Portuguese community.
Alisha Calixtro: What early memory memories do you have of a child as
a child in the Portuguese American community or in Portugal? But for
you, it's the Portuguese American community.
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Yes. So, um as um a child, I just always remember
my parents being very involved with the Portuguese community and the
Hall. Um, so I pretty much grew up playing at the Hall, um running
around at the Hall. Um, just I knew what every room was. I like toured
it. Um, and so my dad was president for the Hall and just very
involved. Um, and so that's kind of where I spent my um my childhood
was involved with the community. Um, it's kind of what I always knew.
Alisha Calixtro: That's cool. Can you describe exactly what the Hall
is?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um, the Hall is just a Portuguese organization.
It's a building basically um ran by a Portuguese, Portuguese
organization. Um, and we hold different celebrations um different
Portuguese traditions. Um uh from early childhood, we've always were
involved with, which is Portuguese Mardi Gras. Um And so we spend a
lot of time at the Hall for that. Um and then the Portuguese Holy
Ghost and the um so a lot of community Portuguese community events
take place at all, which is the building.
Alisha Calixtro: That's cool. Um When did your family migrate to the
United States?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: So, my parents actually came here single. Um they
were not married yet. So, my mom came at the age of 14 and my dad came
at the age of 16 in the believe they were both uh and during the
sixties and the sixties.
Alisha Calixtro: Why did your family leave there and why was their
tra- trajectory?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: California. Um, so my mom um from what I can
understand from what she has told me, told me um she came at the age
of 14 and they actually already had family here. Um, a lot of my moms,
aunts and uncles on my grandma's side was already in California. And
so, they helped them come to California as well, just for a better
life for them. Um, and they knew that they could succeed here. So,
they helped them come here um, when she was 14. Um, and she actually
went straight to high school, um, and did get in high school, um high
school diploma. Um, so she did some schooling here. My dad and then
she stayed in, um, Larry, um worked at the dairies, uh, until she got
married. My dad came at the age of 16. Um, and I believe from for my
dad, it was more of, at that time, all 18-year-olds had to go to the
army. Um, and so at that time, a lot of Portuguese families were
coming to California to kind of get away from that. Um, and so I think
that was part of what my dad's family came. Um, because my dad, uh my
grandparents were pretty much the only ones that came to California.
Um, a lot of my dad's family is still there as far as like his aunts
and uncles. Um, and some went to the back, uh in like Boston,
Massachusetts. Um, so I think that was a major part of it. Um, my dad
came here at 16 and went straight to work, never did any schooling
here. Um, so it was more of just a better life as well. Um, and trying
to get away from, I think from um, the draft of the army and whatnot.
Alisha Calixtro: Ok. Where did your family settle while there?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um, so again, my mom went straight to Tulare
because that's where their family was. My dad actually went straight
to Larry as well. Um, but soon after they went to Artesia, um they had
the little family they had here in California was in Artesia. Um, and
they helped with jobs for my dad and his siblings. So, my dad went to
Artesia. Um, and then eventually my parents got married and my mom
went to Artesia with my dad.
Alisha Calixtro: Did your parents 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?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um, a good question. Uh, I would say that like my
mom me being a high school teacher and talking about education and
teaching kids, my mom used to always remind me that she went to high
school to learn English. Um, and if it wasn't for her teachers that
she would not know the English language, but she went to high school
to learn English. So, she did not learn what we are teaching these
days. She literally was trying to learn the language. Um, so she talks
a lot about that. Um, and how hard it was to work because I mean, not
knowing the language you have very limited resources and jobs that you
could work at. Um, so I just talked about how hard it was that they
worked to get by and to survive. Um, she talked, she used to tell me a
lot of stories about a, and, you know, like, um, little money they
had, and they would take eggs from their chickens just to go get some
flour from the, from the store or, um, you know, they would use their
eggs as their, uh, money basically. Um, so there's lots of those
little stories that you think about now and you can't even imagine how
they could live like that because, you know, we here in America, we
don't even imagine that. Um, so they did talk a lot about that. Uh,
same with my dad. My dad did not go to school here, so it was a little
bit more difficult for him to adjust. Um, and he just went straight to
work not knowing any English. Um, he eventually started his own
business with his limited English that he knew and that's how he
started to um survive and just have his own business. So, he actually
did a lot for not knowing any English here in America. Um, and just
starting off a new life at the age of 16. Um, so I guess their
experiences, uh we have learned from them. Um, and we know that, you
know, things could definitely be harder. Um I guess proud from what we
came from knowing how hard my parents were to get to where they are
today. Um, so yeah, there was definitely a lot of adjustments to make
when they come to a new country and not know the language. I mean,
that's the, that's the hardest part.
Alisha Calixtro: I think that, ok, um you are a member of the first
generation of your family to be born in the United States. How
important was it to your parents that you be raised with a strong
Portuguese identity?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: I would say extremely important. Um uh and at an
early age, I didn't know any different than the Portuguese community.
And I thought that's just how everybody lived was their busy lifestyle
and all the Portuguese community events and everything. Um, we were
always, always very, very involved. Um, and our parents um from when I
was like five or six, they had a, they have a little Portuguese school
in Tulare and that's where we went, you know, even though we learned
Portuguese at home, we still went to that because that was part of our
Portuguese community. Um, so anything that was Portuguese and at that
age appropriate, our, our parents were putting us in that, you know,
like they want to make sure our Portuguese heritage stayed within our
blood, and we carried it on. Um I could say they did a good job
because now that's kind of what I do with my kids, right? Keep my kids
involved the Portuguese community as well. So, um it was very, very
important that even though we're now in America that we are still
Portuguese, and our roots are still strong. Um, and they still carry
on.
Alisha Calixtro: That's good. How was this identity expressed through
language, food traditions and festivals?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um, so I kind of touched on a little bit but um
again, language, we spoke a lot of Portuguese at home. Um, as I got
older, it was more of I replied, in English, my parents did not like
that. Um, but they were always speaking Portuguese at home, making
sure we knew the language, putting us in language classes to carry
that on. Um, food would say we pretty much own port food at home. Um,
and even to this day, I enjoy making port food. Um, I am glad that my,
you know, my mom carried that on because that is something that I
enjoy doing. Um, and again, the traditions and the festivals and the,
the uh we are very involved as a uh not just my family as like my
siblings, but also my husband and my kids. We are very involved in the
Portuguese community and the um and I, you know I, I think it's
important that we keep these, these traditions alive. Um I believe
that's because my parents instilled that in me. Um, they showed me how
important it was and so um it was definitely expressed, it was
definitely shown to us and taught us at a, at a young age um and still
carried on today.
Alisha Calixtro: What cultural traditions have you maintained? Why has
it been important to you to maintain them?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um so, man, where did I start? Um I was actually
a little queen for many, many years ago, over 20 years ago. Um, so
that kind of started a little bit of like the understanding behind it
and the behind, behind the traditions and the culture. Um, and then it
just grew from there. Um I've been involved with um the Portuguese
Folklore Group in Talaria was director for that. Um, we are very
involved with the um we help and support the Tule Portuguese band. Um,
we stay very involved through many different organizations. Um, also
very involved with um Luo American Life Insurance um where we keep a
lot of those Portuguese traditions alive as well through dance um and
skits. Um, Oh man, what else? There's been so much I can even like,
think of. Um, I feel like my life revolves around the Portuguese
community. Um, and I enjoy that, that's what I like. I like to keep it
alive, like I said with my kids now, that's what they're experiencing.
Um, I feel like my son is now raised in the Hall as well and it kind
of brings back my old memories of this is what it was like for me as a
kid. Um, and it's important to me to keep those traditions going. Um,
but as far as I can think of, that's kind of what I've been very
involved with recently is more of the, um, the Portuguese Hall.
Alisha Calixtro: Um, and the age have you been to, um, what was your
experience like for you?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um, I have, I've been to probably about 10 times
in my lifetime, um, as a child. When I went with my parents it was
more of the going and seeing all your cousins and meeting all these
people. Um, and I, I just, I don't know if I had much of a um uh I
don't know if I realized how important it was for me to be there at
that age. I was so young at that time, but as I got older, um I start
to go a little bit more by myself with some cousins. And then that's
when I kind of realized what I guess the difference, the difference is
in versus here. Um, those stories that my mom told me about living,
there came to life a little bit more. I understood where she was
coming from. I understood them a little bit more. Um, and the
importance of c and these words in Portugal just became more and more
important to me. Um, and learning those stories. Um, so I think now as
I go, I haven't gone for like 10 years now. Um, but as I went as an
adult, um the experience was different than as a child. Uh, it was
definitely more humble, more. Um uh I don't even know what the word
I'm looking for. Um, more emotional, I guess. Um, you see it in a
different eye as you get older. Um, and I, I can't wait to go back to
show my kids even though I wasn't born there just to show like this is
where your grandparents are from. This is what our port community
comes from. This is what we're trying to keep alive in California. Um,
so I think the, it is important to keep, keep it alive here in
California as well.
Alisha Calixtro: That's good. Um, trace if you will, some of your
experiences growing up in the Portuguese American community. Um and
Artesia California throughout your life.
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um OK, so I think I touched base about this a
little bit. So, um I was born in Artesia. Um and in Artesia my dad was
very involved community there as well. Um, I have older brothers that
were also involved in community, but I actually moved to Tulare when I
was three. So, I don't specifically remember living in Artis or um
much about what we were doing there. Um, but I do know that when we
came to Tulare, um it grew from there my dad became very involved with
both the Visalia and Larry communities. Um, and again, that's where I
was just raised at the Hall and always there. Um, again I was queen.
So as a child, uh we were just always there like that's where we live
that's what I knew.
Alisha Calixtro: Um, when you talk to your school friends and they're
not going to the Hall, you don't understand why they're not going to
the Hall. Um, because in your mind you think that's what everybody
does?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um, so, uh, I think that it was more than just an
experience for me. It was like a lifestyle. That's what my life was
about was the Portuguese community, keeping those traditions alive.
Alisha Calixtro: It down of all you have accomplished. What are, are
you most proud of? What proud moments do you remember in the
Portuguese American community?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Oh OK. That's a hard one. I would say I have a
couple. Um, uh I would say my first one being queen, being little
queen for Elias was um a huge highlight of my life and I'm still very
proud of that. Um, another one I would say would be part of the Luo
American. Um, I was state 2030 president for Lucio American. I got to
travel to California with that um very proud of that moment. Um, and
what we did for that that year. Um, and then just, I mean, watching my
kids be involved, the Portuguese community is proud moments for me.
Um, seeing that it's still going strong and that I'm married, I'm able
to carry on those traditions. All those moments are proud moments for
me. Um, and knowing that they are going to um take these experiences
and make it their own lifestyle as well. Um, so I would say all those
moments are, are proud moments. Um, uh It's hard to pick a moment
because I think just the fact that what we are doing here in
California to keep these traditions alive um just makes me proud that
knowing that here in our community and not just you know, me and our
family, but just everybody in our port community, how much they are
keeping everything alive here in California makes me very proud to see
that.
Alisha Calixtro: To what extent do you believe being Portuguese
American has shaped the way you have moved through life, both
professionally and personally?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um, so like I said, it's a, it's a lifestyle, you
know like you, you are constantly busy with Portuguese events. Um, and
I would say that professionally, it has definitely helped me to stay
on my toes. So, I'm a high school teacher. Um, I also do your book, I
teach math and I do yearbook and so professionally. I think it just
kept me um very well rounded. I think it um like I said, I stay on my
toes. I'm used to being busy. I'm used to being on the go and I think
that it has kind of shaped my personality a little bit. Um, and I
think my, my students also see that also see that my personality is a
little bit different. Like I like to have a good time. Like I said, I
was, you know I was raised in the Hall, so we always were having a
good time. So, I think I bring that into my classroom. Um, and it
helps me professionally just with um everything going on around me.
Um, there's always so much going on and so same as in the classroom
and I think that kind of brought uh my Portuguese community, my
Portuguese lifestyle and Portuguese background. Um I think shines
within my classroom as well professionally. Um, I think that speaks
for personally as well a little bit about who I am and what kind of
person I am in the classroom and out, you know, I just like to have a
good time. And um I think that because of the Portuguese community. Um
and, and like I said, my lifestyle, that's how I was shaped.
Alisha Calixtro: What does being Portuguese American mean to you?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um everything. Um uh first off uh to me, I, you
know, like, yes, I was born here in California, and I am an American,
but most importantly, I believe I'm, I'm Portuguese. Um, and that's
what shines first is the fact that I'm Portuguese. And if, uh you
know, that's, that's what's important to me, that's where I come from.
Um, even though I wasn't born there, that's where I come from, that's
where my um culture comes from. Um, and so I guess, I mean, it's kind
of hard to say what does it mean to me because it means everything to
me. Um it, it's just important to how do I explain that it's important
to, um to let, I don't know how to explain that. It's important to let
that shine to others. Like, you know, let others know that I, I'm not
just American, I'm Portuguese American. Um, and it's important to keep
that going. Uh, again, I know I talked about my kids a lot but even
with them, even though they're just um you know like, I hope that they
will always know that they are Portuguese American. Um even though
they were born here, and I hope that's just as important to them as it
is to, to me and to my family.
Alisha Calixtro: How do you see the Portuguese American community
today?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um well, I see it blooming actually. Um, you
know, I, I um nowadays you see growing up, you saw a lot of immigrants
um carrying on the Portuguese community in our um towns and our um
cities, it was a lot of the immigrants carrying stuff on. But
nowadays, you actually see a lot of the first generation born here in
America taking on those roles and it's awesome to see that. Um, I love
that it's no longer people that were born in Ceta and Portugal
carrying on these traditions but the ones that were born here um, and
how proud we are of our culture and our traditions that we are now
taking it and moving forward with it. So, um I see our Portuguese
community blooming. I see it growing. Um, and I see it actually
getting very strong with the next generation. Um, and that's, that
makes me super proud. Um, and it's just something that I enjoy seeing.
Um, and I hope that I see for many, many years to come is that these
next generations continue to carry on our traditions um in our
community.
Alisha Calixtro: Is there anything we didn't cover that you'd like to
share?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: And then I don't think so. Um I mean, that's
pretty much my story in a nutshell. Um, and just the fact that, you
know, our, our Portuguese community means so much to not just me but
to many of us here in California. Um, and it is very humbling to see
things grow and to see things carry on. Um, like I said, I hope it
stays here for many years. Um, yeah, I think that pretty much covers.
I'm sorry.
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: My full birth name is Nancy Marie Nunes.
Alisha Calixtro: Were you named after anyone? And if so, is there a
story behind your name?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Uh not really. Umm, according to my mom, um she
just worked with a lady named Nancy and really liked the name. Um, and
that's how she chose it. So, nothing fun. No fun. Back story on that
one.
Alisha Calixtro: Um, when were you born?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Uh, I was born in June of 1985.
Alisha Calixtro: Where were you born?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: I was born in Artesia, California which is a
southern Cali southern town in um southern California, a small little
Portuguese community.
Alisha Calixtro: What early memory memories do you have of a child as
a child in the Portuguese American community or in Portugal? But for
you, it's the Portuguese American community.
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Yes. So, um as um a child, I just always remember
my parents being very involved with the Portuguese community and the
Hall. Um, so I pretty much grew up playing at the Hall, um running
around at the Hall. Um, just I knew what every room was. I like toured
it. Um, and so my dad was president for the Hall and just very
involved. Um, and so that's kind of where I spent my um my childhood
was involved with the community. Um, it's kind of what I always knew.
Alisha Calixtro: That's cool. Can you describe exactly what the Hall
is?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um, the Hall is just a Portuguese organization.
It's a building basically um ran by a Portuguese, Portuguese
organization. Um, and we hold different celebrations um different
Portuguese traditions. Um uh from early childhood, we've always were
involved with, which is Portuguese Mardi Gras. Um And so we spend a
lot of time at the Hall for that. Um and then the Portuguese Holy
Ghost and the um so a lot of community Portuguese community events
take place at all, which is the building.
Alisha Calixtro: That's cool. Um When did your family migrate to the
United States?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: So, my parents actually came here single. Um they
were not married yet. So, my mom came at the age of 14 and my dad came
at the age of 16 in the believe they were both uh and during the
sixties and the sixties.
Alisha Calixtro: Why did your family leave there and why was their
tra- trajectory?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: California. Um, so my mom um from what I can
understand from what she has told me, told me um she came at the age
of 14 and they actually already had family here. Um, a lot of my moms,
aunts and uncles on my grandma's side was already in California. And
so, they helped them come to California as well, just for a better
life for them. Um, and they knew that they could succeed here. So,
they helped them come here um, when she was 14. Um, and she actually
went straight to high school, um, and did get in high school, um high
school diploma. Um, so she did some schooling here. My dad and then
she stayed in, um, Larry, um worked at the dairies, uh, until she got
married. My dad came at the age of 16. Um, and I believe from for my
dad, it was more of, at that time, all 18-year-olds had to go to the
army. Um, and so at that time, a lot of Portuguese families were
coming to California to kind of get away from that. Um, and so I think
that was part of what my dad's family came. Um, because my dad, uh my
grandparents were pretty much the only ones that came to California.
Um, a lot of my dad's family is still there as far as like his aunts
and uncles. Um, and some went to the back, uh in like Boston,
Massachusetts. Um, so I think that was a major part of it. Um, my dad
came here at 16 and went straight to work, never did any schooling
here. Um, so it was more of just a better life as well. Um, and trying
to get away from, I think from um, the draft of the army and whatnot.
Alisha Calixtro: Ok. Where did your family settle while there?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um, so again, my mom went straight to Tulare
because that's where their family was. My dad actually went straight
to Larry as well. Um, but soon after they went to Artesia, um they had
the little family they had here in California was in Artesia. Um, and
they helped with jobs for my dad and his siblings. So, my dad went to
Artesia. Um, and then eventually my parents got married and my mom
went to Artesia with my dad.
Alisha Calixtro: Did your parents 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?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um, a good question. Uh, I would say that like my
mom me being a high school teacher and talking about education and
teaching kids, my mom used to always remind me that she went to high
school to learn English. Um, and if it wasn't for her teachers that
she would not know the English language, but she went to high school
to learn English. So, she did not learn what we are teaching these
days. She literally was trying to learn the language. Um, so she talks
a lot about that. Um, and how hard it was to work because I mean, not
knowing the language you have very limited resources and jobs that you
could work at. Um, so I just talked about how hard it was that they
worked to get by and to survive. Um, she talked, she used to tell me a
lot of stories about a, and, you know, like, um, little money they
had, and they would take eggs from their chickens just to go get some
flour from the, from the store or, um, you know, they would use their
eggs as their, uh, money basically. Um, so there's lots of those
little stories that you think about now and you can't even imagine how
they could live like that because, you know, we here in America, we
don't even imagine that. Um, so they did talk a lot about that. Uh,
same with my dad. My dad did not go to school here, so it was a little
bit more difficult for him to adjust. Um, and he just went straight to
work not knowing any English. Um, he eventually started his own
business with his limited English that he knew and that's how he
started to um survive and just have his own business. So, he actually
did a lot for not knowing any English here in America. Um, and just
starting off a new life at the age of 16. Um, so I guess their
experiences, uh we have learned from them. Um, and we know that, you
know, things could definitely be harder. Um I guess proud from what we
came from knowing how hard my parents were to get to where they are
today. Um, so yeah, there was definitely a lot of adjustments to make
when they come to a new country and not know the language. I mean,
that's the, that's the hardest part.
Alisha Calixtro: I think that, ok, um you are a member of the first
generation of your family to be born in the United States. How
important was it to your parents that you be raised with a strong
Portuguese identity?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: I would say extremely important. Um uh and at an
early age, I didn't know any different than the Portuguese community.
And I thought that's just how everybody lived was their busy lifestyle
and all the Portuguese community events and everything. Um, we were
always, always very, very involved. Um, and our parents um from when I
was like five or six, they had a, they have a little Portuguese school
in Tulare and that's where we went, you know, even though we learned
Portuguese at home, we still went to that because that was part of our
Portuguese community. Um, so anything that was Portuguese and at that
age appropriate, our, our parents were putting us in that, you know,
like they want to make sure our Portuguese heritage stayed within our
blood, and we carried it on. Um I could say they did a good job
because now that's kind of what I do with my kids, right? Keep my kids
involved the Portuguese community as well. So, um it was very, very
important that even though we're now in America that we are still
Portuguese, and our roots are still strong. Um, and they still carry
on.
Alisha Calixtro: That's good. How was this identity expressed through
language, food traditions and festivals?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um, so I kind of touched on a little bit but um
again, language, we spoke a lot of Portuguese at home. Um, as I got
older, it was more of I replied, in English, my parents did not like
that. Um, but they were always speaking Portuguese at home, making
sure we knew the language, putting us in language classes to carry
that on. Um, food would say we pretty much own port food at home. Um,
and even to this day, I enjoy making port food. Um, I am glad that my,
you know, my mom carried that on because that is something that I
enjoy doing. Um, and again, the traditions and the festivals and the,
the uh we are very involved as a uh not just my family as like my
siblings, but also my husband and my kids. We are very involved in the
Portuguese community and the um and I, you know I, I think it's
important that we keep these, these traditions alive. Um I believe
that's because my parents instilled that in me. Um, they showed me how
important it was and so um it was definitely expressed, it was
definitely shown to us and taught us at a, at a young age um and still
carried on today.
Alisha Calixtro: What cultural traditions have you maintained? Why has
it been important to you to maintain them?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um so, man, where did I start? Um I was actually
a little queen for many, many years ago, over 20 years ago. Um, so
that kind of started a little bit of like the understanding behind it
and the behind, behind the traditions and the culture. Um, and then it
just grew from there. Um I've been involved with um the Portuguese
Folklore Group in Talaria was director for that. Um, we are very
involved with the um we help and support the Tule Portuguese band. Um,
we stay very involved through many different organizations. Um, also
very involved with um Luo American Life Insurance um where we keep a
lot of those Portuguese traditions alive as well through dance um and
skits. Um, Oh man, what else? There's been so much I can even like,
think of. Um, I feel like my life revolves around the Portuguese
community. Um, and I enjoy that, that's what I like. I like to keep it
alive, like I said with my kids now, that's what they're experiencing.
Um, I feel like my son is now raised in the Hall as well and it kind
of brings back my old memories of this is what it was like for me as a
kid. Um, and it's important to me to keep those traditions going. Um,
but as far as I can think of, that's kind of what I've been very
involved with recently is more of the, um, the Portuguese Hall.
Alisha Calixtro: Um, and the age have you been to, um, what was your
experience like for you?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um, I have, I've been to probably about 10 times
in my lifetime, um, as a child. When I went with my parents it was
more of the going and seeing all your cousins and meeting all these
people. Um, and I, I just, I don't know if I had much of a um uh I
don't know if I realized how important it was for me to be there at
that age. I was so young at that time, but as I got older, um I start
to go a little bit more by myself with some cousins. And then that's
when I kind of realized what I guess the difference, the difference is
in versus here. Um, those stories that my mom told me about living,
there came to life a little bit more. I understood where she was
coming from. I understood them a little bit more. Um, and the
importance of c and these words in Portugal just became more and more
important to me. Um, and learning those stories. Um, so I think now as
I go, I haven't gone for like 10 years now. Um, but as I went as an
adult, um the experience was different than as a child. Uh, it was
definitely more humble, more. Um uh I don't even know what the word
I'm looking for. Um, more emotional, I guess. Um, you see it in a
different eye as you get older. Um, and I, I can't wait to go back to
show my kids even though I wasn't born there just to show like this is
where your grandparents are from. This is what our port community
comes from. This is what we're trying to keep alive in California. Um,
so I think the, it is important to keep, keep it alive here in
California as well.
Alisha Calixtro: That's good. Um, trace if you will, some of your
experiences growing up in the Portuguese American community. Um and
Artesia California throughout your life.
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um OK, so I think I touched base about this a
little bit. So, um I was born in Artesia. Um and in Artesia my dad was
very involved community there as well. Um, I have older brothers that
were also involved in community, but I actually moved to Tulare when I
was three. So, I don't specifically remember living in Artis or um
much about what we were doing there. Um, but I do know that when we
came to Tulare, um it grew from there my dad became very involved with
both the Visalia and Larry communities. Um, and again, that's where I
was just raised at the Hall and always there. Um, again I was queen.
So as a child, uh we were just always there like that's where we live
that's what I knew.
Alisha Calixtro: Um, when you talk to your school friends and they're
not going to the Hall, you don't understand why they're not going to
the Hall. Um, because in your mind you think that's what everybody
does?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um, so, uh, I think that it was more than just an
experience for me. It was like a lifestyle. That's what my life was
about was the Portuguese community, keeping those traditions alive.
Alisha Calixtro: It down of all you have accomplished. What are, are
you most proud of? What proud moments do you remember in the
Portuguese American community?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Oh OK. That's a hard one. I would say I have a
couple. Um, uh I would say my first one being queen, being little
queen for Elias was um a huge highlight of my life and I'm still very
proud of that. Um, another one I would say would be part of the Luo
American. Um, I was state 2030 president for Lucio American. I got to
travel to California with that um very proud of that moment. Um, and
what we did for that that year. Um, and then just, I mean, watching my
kids be involved, the Portuguese community is proud moments for me.
Um, seeing that it's still going strong and that I'm married, I'm able
to carry on those traditions. All those moments are proud moments for
me. Um, and knowing that they are going to um take these experiences
and make it their own lifestyle as well. Um, so I would say all those
moments are, are proud moments. Um, uh It's hard to pick a moment
because I think just the fact that what we are doing here in
California to keep these traditions alive um just makes me proud that
knowing that here in our community and not just you know, me and our
family, but just everybody in our port community, how much they are
keeping everything alive here in California makes me very proud to see
that.
Alisha Calixtro: To what extent do you believe being Portuguese
American has shaped the way you have moved through life, both
professionally and personally?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um, so like I said, it's a, it's a lifestyle, you
know like you, you are constantly busy with Portuguese events. Um, and
I would say that professionally, it has definitely helped me to stay
on my toes. So, I'm a high school teacher. Um, I also do your book, I
teach math and I do yearbook and so professionally. I think it just
kept me um very well rounded. I think it um like I said, I stay on my
toes. I'm used to being busy. I'm used to being on the go and I think
that it has kind of shaped my personality a little bit. Um, and I
think my, my students also see that also see that my personality is a
little bit different. Like I like to have a good time. Like I said, I
was, you know I was raised in the Hall, so we always were having a
good time. So, I think I bring that into my classroom. Um, and it
helps me professionally just with um everything going on around me.
Um, there's always so much going on and so same as in the classroom
and I think that kind of brought uh my Portuguese community, my
Portuguese lifestyle and Portuguese background. Um I think shines
within my classroom as well professionally. Um, I think that speaks
for personally as well a little bit about who I am and what kind of
person I am in the classroom and out, you know, I just like to have a
good time. And um I think that because of the Portuguese community. Um
and, and like I said, my lifestyle, that's how I was shaped.
Alisha Calixtro: What does being Portuguese American mean to you?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um everything. Um uh first off uh to me, I, you
know, like, yes, I was born here in California, and I am an American,
but most importantly, I believe I'm, I'm Portuguese. Um, and that's
what shines first is the fact that I'm Portuguese. And if, uh you
know, that's, that's what's important to me, that's where I come from.
Um, even though I wasn't born there, that's where I come from, that's
where my um culture comes from. Um, and so I guess, I mean, it's kind
of hard to say what does it mean to me because it means everything to
me. Um it, it's just important to how do I explain that it's important
to, um to let, I don't know how to explain that. It's important to let
that shine to others. Like, you know, let others know that I, I'm not
just American, I'm Portuguese American. Um, and it's important to keep
that going. Uh, again, I know I talked about my kids a lot but even
with them, even though they're just um you know like, I hope that they
will always know that they are Portuguese American. Um even though
they were born here, and I hope that's just as important to them as it
is to, to me and to my family.
Alisha Calixtro: How do you see the Portuguese American community
today?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: Um well, I see it blooming actually. Um, you
know, I, I um nowadays you see growing up, you saw a lot of immigrants
um carrying on the Portuguese community in our um towns and our um
cities, it was a lot of the immigrants carrying stuff on. But
nowadays, you actually see a lot of the first generation born here in
America taking on those roles and it's awesome to see that. Um, I love
that it's no longer people that were born in Ceta and Portugal
carrying on these traditions but the ones that were born here um, and
how proud we are of our culture and our traditions that we are now
taking it and moving forward with it. So, um I see our Portuguese
community blooming. I see it growing. Um, and I see it actually
getting very strong with the next generation. Um, and that's, that
makes me super proud. Um, and it's just something that I enjoy seeing.
Um, and I hope that I see for many, many years to come is that these
next generations continue to carry on our traditions um in our
community.
Alisha Calixtro: Is there anything we didn't cover that you'd like to
share?
Nancy Nunes Cardoso: And then I don't think so. Um I mean, that's
pretty much my story in a nutshell. Um, and just the fact that, you
know, our, our Portuguese community means so much to not just me but
to many of us here in California. Um, and it is very humbling to see
things grow and to see things carry on. Um, like I said, I hope it
stays here for many years. Um, yeah, I think that pretty much covers.
I'm sorry.