First, we had an appointment at the Consulate. I thought it was to apply for a Portuguese Passport, but it was to register for a Card (like a Green Card).
Seriously. I've been ASKING for the steps of the process for forever. I have all the paperwork. I brought a translator (Mom). But the bureaucracy is not transparent.
They told me I that I couldn't do anything. They asked if I was Portuguese. But I could not tell what they meant.
"My Mom was born there and I was born here"
Yes, but are you PORTUGUESE?", they asked again.
After finding a nice Brazilian lady to help translate for the younger bilingual kid, I've started on my process of "Applying" for the Citizenship card. Now I wait 4 months, and then bug them again. To make sure I get the Card. And then, I still don't understand what the requirements are to get a Passport.
Then we went to Fernandes Fish Market on Cambridge St in Cambridge, MA. A real treat. It reminds me of old timey grocery stores with products on dark wooden shelves against the wall. All kinds of herbal teas in plain white cardboard boxes, sold not for the fragrances, but for the illnesses they cure. Popciques (which I still don't know how to spell!) fresh from the oven, simple rolls to be served with cheese. Ready made pasteis de bacalau & cebolada de peixe, for those of you who do not cook at home. And Quiejo Sao Jorge, cheese-very piquante and heavy. My Mom indulged and bought the last slice off the wheel. $20 of pure cheese gold.
Finally, we went to Filomena's Hair Salon. She is from Flores (!!) and all we talked about was the scary boat to Corvo. And how beautiful the islands are. The American customers started feeling left out, so we showed them pictures of Pico on our Facebook pages. Sigh. It's not this cold over there ("ova dere"!)
And so, we came home. Opened our packages of food and ate them. Like cold leftovers, they can only give a hint of the original flavor.
Muito saudades!!
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