Massachussets Four - Text
Subject is female, born in Portugal in 1965. She moved with her parents to East Cambridge at the age of one and has not spent any significant time outside of Massachusetts since this move. She attended school through the 9th grade and works as a receptionist. She talks about growing up in East Cambridge, the Internet, and her job as a receptionist. She speaks with a "middle a" and (like Massachusetts #3) uses little "r coloring" in combination with certain vowels. Recorded by Rebekah Maggor, August 2005. Running time: 05:20.
TRANSCRIPTION
I was born in (uh) St. Michael, Azores, and (um) I lived there for about a year. It’s in Portugal. Azores is-- Portugal has seven-- is it seven or nine little islands, that actually is away from Portugal, but it belongs to Portugal. So I was born, like I said, St. Michael, Azores. And then (um) a year after, we just came to America, and I was-- America. Actually we came to East Cambridge, Massachusetts. And then, basically I was just raised in East Cambridge, and (laughs) guess I’ve still been here.
When we moved here, there was very little Portuguese people here. It was just-- I don’t-- I wouldn’t even know, maybe like five per cent. Now I’d say there’s-- it’s gotta be like about 70 per cent Portuguese, if not more. Even like if you notice down Cambridge Street: all the little Portuguese shops, little Portuguese clubs that the guys hang out at. (Laughs) It’s just so funny.
I know I turn to my internet because there’s certain-- even though if you try to block certain programs, you can still-- Well, TV, I think we were talking about MTV, and how it’s-- there’re programs on there that are not suitable for children. And what they show, you know, certain things like that, I strongly believe they shouldn’t show at all, but that’s my opinion. And (um) you know when we were talking about… Google? Wasn’t it Google? How that even though if you have the parental block on it, if you type in a certain word, it will still pop up a certain image that you don’t want to see?
Yeah, and (uh) I basically just sit at the reception desk, answer the phone. If someone comes in, and they have a general question, if I can answer it, I do. Shippin’/receiving, I’m also in charge of that. There’s just so much that-- Half of the stuff I-- I automatically do, but I don’t remember what I was describin’. There is so much to do, and it’s so hard to-- If I were to list it down, it would take me a whole full day to really list every little detail.