Beatrice andJoel
May 18th 2008 14:59
I hadn’t seen them since I was six, and there I was standing on their doorstep a much taller and grown-up woman. Joel and Beatrice are my step grandparents and live in Eastbourne, a small area of England. The last time I saw them, which was the first time I had met them, I was at the young age of 4. My memory doesn’t quite stretch that far so here I was meeting family for the first time.
Both Beatrice and Joel, originally from Portugal, migrated to England when their children were young. They both felt that England would give their children more opportunities in life.
On top of this for two years Beatrice’s boys were away from her being brought up by another person. Eventually they too made the move to Eastbourne and finally their family started to settle.
Obviously one of their boys ended up being my stepfather and his name is Jose. Jose was one of the youngest and he does not remember his time in Portugal. Still to this day he has never been back to his country of origin, as he would have to do service in the army.
From the young age of seven Jose and his brothers and sisters had to learn English and start new schooling while keeping their native tongue, Portuguese. Even now when I sat in their lounge room looking at old photographs and watching TV, Joel and Beatrice speak Portuguese to each other and to visitors. They almost forget I am in the room as it is so normal to them all these years later.
I drove through Portugal for the first time and I saw my step dad everywhere we went. The Portuguese blood just seems to be within him without him even realising it. There is so much history that I was unaware of before I asked some simple questions.
People surprise you with their stories. Sometimes so much so that you’re thinking can change. You see people for what they have experienced and therefore not just what you see in front of your eyes.
I hope to see Joel and Beatrice again. They tell me over and over again that I am family to them and always will be. I am welcome anytime and I smile knowing that. I see Jose’s face within them smiling back at me and I can’t help but remember childhood with him. He is my father that was not my father but will always hold that right for the rest of my life.
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