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AÇORES 
This is what I looked like when I left São Miguel. 12 years old We left São Miguel in June of 1958.
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AÇORES
This is what I looked like when I left São Miguel. 12 years old We left São Miguel in June of 1958.
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Maria da Conceição Gouveia Borges de Sousa (my mother)
Married on December 19, 1923 |
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When I think of my mother, the word that always comes to mind to describe her is "loving". She was always happy so long as she was surrounded by people, especially her family. She was the one who always needed a kiss, a hug, and that was enough to make her feel good. She lived for her family. When she was sad, her tears would flow very easily. My father, on the other hand, may have seemed not as expressive as her, but he was a man who also felt a very strong love for all his family. When I think of him, a few words come to my mind very easily to describe him. All his life he was a man who placed integrity and honesty above everything else. He was a very hard working man, someone who felt fulfilled at work. He started working at the age of 14. His father passed away when he was very young, and he became the man of the house. It is a great feeling to think of your parents and come up with nothing but warm feelings. They were great parents, and I am what I am because they always loved me and raised me well. |
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Enjoying a few days in Lisbon. 1954 |
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in S. Pedro, Ponta Delgada, S. Miguel, Açores. I was born in the house where I lived for 12 years in S. Miguel. Rua da Boa Nova 33 - Ponta Delgada My life there was indeed very nice. Life was simple, but happy. I remember a lot about my years in S. Miguel. Pictures, though, help a lot and I am very fortunate to have a lot of them. The following things, however, are very clear in my mind. I loved our house. 
Rua da Boa Nova 33 - Ponta Delgada - São Miguel - Açores Telephone # 1016 Our house was big and confortable. (picture taken in 2023) 
The house attic was an added attraction because many good things took place there. It was the entire lenght of the house with a skylight that opened at each end, allowing me to go to the roof ... something I used to do a lot. Among many different activities that took place in this large attic, my friends and I sometimes created and acted in many skits, which we would then perform to other friends and family. During the warm months, the house patio used to be covered with evergreens, like a canopy, and our dinning room table used to be moved there. 
Seated from the left: My cousin João (Natividade's youngest brother), my Grandmother, Maria Estrêla, my brother Luis, my Mother, Maria da Conceição and my cousin Natividade Renato is holding a crab. To his right, it's my godparents Rodils visiting from USA, my grandmother Estrêla, Avô Leite, my father Antero, Mary Alice and Stella. The other kids belong to Mr. and Mrs Valerio, in the picture below. (family friends) 
Picture below From the left: Me, in the front center, my brother Jorge (eyes closed), the two young ones are the childre of the couple on the right side. Behind my father is Iolanda, Mr & Mrs Nalerio and Avô Leite 
We used to eat there often during the warm weather. It became the main gathering point to receive friends, to play cards, to spend time with family and friends. It smelled great of freshly cut evergreens covering the canopy frame. Who could ever forget the games of "king", canasta, many meals with friends and family, and so many other happy moments. Christmas was also very special. Our "presépio" used to be beautiful. My father used to buy rolls of grass, which, with sawdust, little rocks and many other things, we used to build our beautiful "presépio" (manger). 
The smell of incense, the evergreens, ... oh what a time! And we were happy with very simple presents. We always had friends over the house. My mother loved being surrounded by her family and friends. Fun times. However, the one thing that stayed in my blood forever was the ocean. Across the street from us, there was another row of houses and behind them, ... that gorgeous ocean. The hours we spent in the "calhau", the rocky coast! I'm amazed to this day how much time we used to spend there... and we had no adults supervising us !!! The "poça das lagosta" was our natural pool. The crazy things we used to do! But somehow we never had any serious accident. A few close calls,...but nothing major. Summer ... Summer Vacation! 
"Poça
das Lagostas"
... a natural pool which filled daily with ocean water during high tide and it would empty during low tide. It was not very deep but deep enough to dive in. 
I used to swim here also in the public pool ... 5 minutes from my house. The Holy Ghost festivities, the streets all decorated, the precessions, 
... and of course the Corpus Christi, "Festas do Sr. Santo Cristo", the annual festivities. Hearing that hymn to this day brings tears to my eyes. 
What else do I remember clearly? Sundays, ... our small allowance would buy a pocket full of pumpkin seeds and a ticket to go to the movies, the "Cinema Maritimo" near my house. Jorge and I used to go to the movies almost every Sunday. Renting bikes from the store right across our house. The many times that the family organized excursions to Furnas, Sete Cidades, etc. Before coming to the USA, avô Leite, Iolanda, Stella and Mary went several times with my family in these picnics. (Avó was already in America) 
How did we all fit in my father's Volkswagen business wagon? 15 of us? The memories just keep on streaming through my mind. The days I spent in Lagoa and Ribeira Grande with family, ...always family, the most precious thing in life. However, one thing stands out above all others, ... the "saudades" (longing) for my two older brothers who were studying in Coimbra. Oh yes, that feeling still is very strong in my heart. My two older brothers Renato and Luis were the center my life, and I missed them a lot. When they used to come home for the Summer, life was beautiful again. The family was complete again! And, of course, my brother Jorge. We grew up together and we were inseparable. In 1958 my father decided to move to Lisbon. He got a nice job as the treasurer of a big ship building company, and he left. We stayed behind to sell the furniture and other belongings. A couple of months later my mother and Jorge left. I had to stay with family for a few days to complete my 7th grade national exams. I then joined them with a full smile in my face because I had passed those miserable exams! The trip in that old ship ... was also a miserable experience, Seven days, but I got to Lisbon safely! I arrived in Lisbon in early July 1958. |
| Going back to my father ... As I already mentioned, his father died very young, so he started working at age 14. He first worked in a large department store. After a few years, he began studying at the Commercial School in Ponta Delgada where he lived. Sometime later he and two other partners puchased a chicory coffee business. They purchased a factory which was very successful for many years. During this time he also started a bookkeeping office. He also became the local representative of various imported products, such as, Kelly Tires, Ross Vermouth, Penn Motor Oil and several other products. That too was successful for several years. In 1958, one of the chicory factory partners died. Someone else from the continent was added to the business but ... things were never again the same. Disillusioned, he then sold everything and found a great job in Lisbon. He became the treasurer of a ship building company where he worked until he retired. While in Lisbon, he also created a small bookking company which became his joy and pride until he died. |
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A bit of my family history. |
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José Cândido Borges and Maria Estrêla Gouveia |
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My father's mother - Maria da Conceição das Neves His Maternal Grandmother: Maria Guilherme das Neves His mother's sister: Teresa Emilia das Neves |
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my maternal grandmother. She lived with us in Ponta Delgada. She was the only grandparent that I ever knew. She still remains as one of the greatest loves of my life. I was frequently her companion, especially during the Summer, when she used to go to Ribeira Grande to visit her brother, as well as Lagoa to visit her son, João Pedro, and her other daughter, Mariana. |
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This man had a profound influence in my young life. He was a man of the church, a true man of God! |
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That's my mother's brother, João Pedro and his wife (Tia Amaral). These people were like "our second parents". We always felt at home in their home because they were very loving people. Their five children were like our siblings: Jorge, Francisco (Chico), Natividade (Titaia), Margarida (Guida), and João (de Sales). I have great memories with them to last a lifetime, both in Lagoa and in my house in Ponta Delgada. What great times! |
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João Pedro Borges de Sousa. (alias, John Pedro Sousa) |
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born on September 7, 1935. |
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My mother was pregnant for me ... João Pedro. From the left: My brother Luis, my mother, Conceição, my brother Jorge, my father Antero and my brother Renato. (1944) |
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My brother Renato wearing his white tuxedo, and Mr.& Mrs. Leite, good friends of my parents, who ... turned out to be my father and mother in law. (1956) |
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That's right, that's me (left), Stella, Iolanda, Mary Alice, and my brother Jorge. |
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(Campo de S. Francisco - 1956) |
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Back row: (left) My brother, Luis, John Leite (avô Leite) Laura Leite (avó Leite), my mother, Conceição, Mr. & Mrs Valero (family friends), my grandmother, Estrêla, my father Antero, my brother, Renato and Vicente, the company driver. Front row: (left) Iolanda, me, John, Stella (my future wife) and my brother Jorge Did Mary Alice take the picture? |
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My brother Jorge, our friend Rui, and me. (in front of my house) My mother refused to buy black suits ... Jorge and I were the only ones wearing gray suits. Needless to say that we were not pleased with her decison, but she figured that gray suits would be more useful for other occasions. |
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(the only ones wearing gray!) |
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Who would say? That's my Stelinha! |
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Finally, ...that's me on the way to Lisbon.
All my family had already left to Lisbon. I had to stay behind because I had to take the National Exams for the 1st part of High School based on the first 2 years. A cute "geek" holding on to his "academic briefcase"! I guess I earned the right to start wearing long pants! I was the last Sousa to leave S. Miguel. Here I am with my neighbor and good friend, Rui Pacheco, ready to travel in the "great" Carvalho Araujo. What a trip!!! (a nightmare) 1958 Never visited São Miguel until 1994. ********************************************** Talking about school and exams ... I had to stay behind alone with family in São Miguel because I had to take the
6th Grade National Exams required to enter the Academic High School. These exams were based on EVERYTHING we had learned during the 6 first years of school. Memorization ...memorization ... no games ...no fun! (I think my anxiety began at that time!) It took one week to complete the Written
Exams,
5 subjects (all essay style), wait for the results, (praying a lot) and if successful, proceed with the ORAL EXAMS in the same 5 subjects (another week). Anyway, I survived those "hateful" exams, and in September I entered Pedro Nunes High School in Lisbon, where I completed Grades 7, 8 and 9. Then, National Exams again, written & oral. No True or False or Multiple choices. All recall and essay answers. These were very difficult. All of the following subjects were mandatory - no electives! Each of these 3 years were comprised of 2 parts: Liberal Arts: Portuguese (Language & Literature), History (Portuguese & World), French and English (all 4 skills) Science: Various branches of Math, Biology, Botany, Mineralogy, and other ..."gys"! Physics and Chemistry Geography (Portuguese and World) Art/Graphic Design 9 mandatory subjects with grades (0 through 20 - always had to have a minimum
average of 10)
Plus: Religion, Physical Education, Music and Civics (mandatory but no grades - met 1 time a week only) Most classes only met twice a week. No teacher ever helped you. Most students (like me) needed a tutor in their weakest subjects. My CROSS was always MATH. But I always got the minimum grade to continue! But ... I LOVED geometry! High School was "open campus". If you did not attend a class ... no one cared, because all students were allowed to miss any class the number of times the class met a week, times 3. At any point in the year if you exceeded that maximum number (6 times for the ones with grades, but only 3 for music, religion, etc), if you exceeded the maximum allowed number in any subject ... you flunked for the year in every subject. They would send you home no matter when and you had to repeat the grade again ... all 12 subjects! We grew up fast! The 9th Grade National Exams were based on the entire content of each subject for the 7th, 8th and 9th grades. Again, Written and Oral Exams ... I was not finished until mid Summer. I then continued in the 3rd phase of High School (10th and 11th) which was Pre-College.
Students would have to opt for Pre-Med, Pre Engeneering, Languages, etc. I did not have the "pleasure" to undergo the last National Exams which, if successful, provided you Free College. When I came to America I was in the last last year of High School. I left Portugal legally on December 1st of 1964, way before Christmas vacation (school was still in session) to spend Christmas with the Leites who had invited me. What "connections" can do! In all honesty I did not enjoy school in Portugal. There was nothing to enjoy. You were treated like a number. It was hard, discipline, no real "free expression" at all. You produced results or you were out of luck. Which was why Portugal had the highest rate of illiteracy in Europe at that time. It was a convenient way for a tyrannical government to control the masses. Anyway, it was very hard, but it payed off later as I came to America. I was no brilliant student but I worked hard and succeeded. I did much better in Liberal Arts than Sciences. However, I am still very grateful for my
education in Portugal
because it helped a lot with my education in the USA. PS: I almost forgot to tell you I flunked the 8th grade. Not good enough grades. Didn't study enough!!! I had to repeat all 12 subjects all over again. Other than school ... life was good and enjoyable in São Miguel and in Lisbon, especially the "Summer of 1964". Pictures of our life in São Miguel
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