How it is today on the Azores and how it was in the 1800s, are two very different stories. I think the poverty and hunger was very bad. Portugal taxed the Azores highly, conscripted the young men into the military, and did not really support the Islands--just used them
It was, I imagine, more of a nightmare than a good dream. Plus with the huge families crowded into small homes, wanderlust was big (I would have felt like, "Get me out of here!"). I bet cabin fever hit the young hard. Being on a small island can feel very claustropobic, no matter how beautiful the place--'let's go see the world and find more opportunity!' That's my 2.5 cents worth, at least... Guida --- On Mon, 2/9/09, Mary Bordi <[email protected]> wrote: From: Mary Bordi <[email protected]> Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: The book, AZores, Nine Islands, One History To: [email protected] Date: Monday, February 9, 2009, 9:01 PM On Feb 9, 2009, at 3:37 PM, celeste perry wrote: Maybe it is just seeing what has happened here in the US that makes me think a young person might entertain the notion that living somewhere else might be the way to go. Older people that have lost their retirement might also be thinking the same thing. My daughter moved to Australia (from California). She has been able to purchase a home, has always had work. She did not see how she could purchase a home in California and figured if she was going to move far enough away that she'd need to get on a plane to come home she might as well go to Australia. At least they speak English. She is very happy there. (She is in Queensland, not Victoria where the devastating fires are.) I can see why our ancestors moved if the opportunity arose. Mary Bordi --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
