Since September, our Portuguese language class has been preparing for an exciting trip to Hilmar, California, a small town four hours north of Los Angeles, to learn about Portuguese-American communities.
The original plan for our trip was to take a four-hour drive to Hilmar to listen to a Portuguese author speak on Oct. 14. During this trip, we planned to go to the town’s bakery, church, high school, a dairy farm and eat at the community hall. Students from the language class, including myself, researched topics surrounding these locations and prepared to interview townspeople for our own documentary. Helping us were six students from the advanced video production class who also attended the trip, combined with eight from our Portuguese class and one ex-student. Two alumni from the school also chose to attend to help chaperone.
I left my house at 6:25 a.m. and there was no light to be seen in the sky. With the frigid air and what seemed like the biggest storm I had ever seen, I wondered if the trip was even going to happen. When I got to school, I saw the white charter bus in the front as people headed inside. I got out of my grandma’s car and immediately hopped on. If that storm could not stop the trip, nothing could.
The bus departed at 7:02 a.m. and we were on our way for the four-hour commute to our destination. The ride seemed pretty calm, but within one hour of driving, the bus driver pulled into a gas station. I was confused but I just assumed we needed gas. I went inside the gas station market and when I came out, math and Portuguese teacher Gonçalo Sousa informed students that the bus had a flat tire.
While I stood outside in the rain watching the bus driver and Sousa talk about the flat tire, I realized this trip was way more than I bargained for.
It started as a small delay until the tow-truck got delayed too. We were stranded at the gas station for a little over two hours, during which senior Mateo Zazueta filmed parts for our documentary while others brought snacks and items from the gas station.
The tow truck finally arrived at 10:05 a.m. and we were soon back on the road again. Although this was good news, our plans were completely changed. We would not make it in time to see the author present, or go to the high school or fully tour the church. Despite this, Sousa reworked plans and ensured that we would at least have lunch and see the dairy farm.
We arrived at Hilmar at 2:15 p.m. and immediately went to Casa De Azores, the community hall. Inside the community hall, we ate pork, fries, eggs and bread. The walls were decorated with cases of trophies from the community’s soccer team and Portuguese books. Some students conducted interviews with people who worked at the hall about topics like Portuguese food, while Sousa also spoke with one of the employees about the history of the community hall.
After we ate, Sousa walked with us to the two Holy Rosary St. Mary’s Catholic Church buildings and did a small roundabout. Sadly, we could not enter inside due to the churches being closed and once we made our full round, we hopped back into the bus to the dairy farm.
Students were given a tour of the family-owned dairy farm by high school student Luana Gomez and her father. We got to see the milking process, the cows themselves and also had the opportunity to learn about the dairy industry in Hilmar. We also had the chance to interview Gomez and ask her about life in Hilmar, as well as ask questions about the Portuguese program at Hilmar High School.
We boarded the bus at around 5 p.m. for the ride home. The whole day had taken a toll on me at this point. I slept for a small amount of time on the ride but after I woke up at some point, students began to sing “99 bottles of beer on the wall.” A grand cheer erupted once we finished the whole song.
Despite the setback of plans due to the flat tire, students learned, spirits stayed high and I don’t regret going on this trip and being further exposed to a culture I didn’t know much about.
