New Bedford was a key stop on the Underground Railroad and a big abolitionist community where Frederick Douglas took his name. A major whaling center, inspiring Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, it used to source salt fish for Caribbean islands. There, in New Bedford, a great many Cape Verdean immigrants settled, and the community is still thriving today. This Massachusetts town was the site of my very first craft market. The two-day Cabo Verde Festival to celebrate the Fourth, America’s independence, and the Fifth, Cape Verde’s independence, included a beach-side market on the Fourth and a market bazaar in a park in the heart of the town on the Fifth.
The drive, though long, was nostalgic: many a time I made that journey through I-95 to college or to Boston after visiting my family in NY. We started early but arrived much later than expected, making stops for food at Fred’s Shanty for clam bellies and to rest while we waited out the traffic. The food at Fred’s was amazing, the ambience impeccable, the weather oppressively hot! My spouse and I chose to enjoy our meal in the luxury of AC in the pickup truck instead of the promenade.
Day one of the craft fair was equally scorching, but the breeze from the beach made being outside a bit more palatable but not by much, so I asked my husband to purchase a canopy from a nearby Walmart. We got the last one! It made a significant difference in our comfort and in the aesthetics of our setup. Relaxing in the shade, absorbing the view, listening to the music, and taking in the experience seemed almost as therapeutic as sewing.
Day two I made my first sale using the Tap & Go Reader! At first, during my preparations, the reader would not automatically connect, but with a bit of troubleshooting, I figured out how to operate the reader and maintain connectivity. So, when I was ready for my sales, I knew exactly how to operate the reader, my phone, and the app, and everything ran smoothly.
The oppressive heat was replaced with rain and humidity, but the sun still peeked out for most of the event. The music was in Cape Verdean Creole, so this version of Portuguese was not completely foreign since I do understand a little Spanish, and some words were similar.
The event ended after 6PM, and my husband and I headed home to NY while his sisters headed back to Boston. Not only was this a great learning experience for me as I crafter, it was extremely educational and a wonderful family affair. My sister-in-law invited me to the event, and she and my husband both ensured that everything was perfect. The event also could not have been possible without Carleen, my sister’s friend, who is both a proud Cape Verdean and a phenomenal activist.
Eduspiration 