Não falo português! - Part I

Lisbon, 28 August 2008

In my original research plan, written optimistically in faraway Berkeley, CA, I proposed interviewing users of riverside parks and spaces in various cities in Portugal. I thought it would complement well the research of two other Berkeley students, Kristen and Nadine. Kristen observed and described riverside parks and different types of users. Nadine’s approach was from the urban design standpoint, studying the configuration of space at and within the 0.25-mile radius of the waterfront. I wanted to talk to people and ask them for their stories with their waterfront. A little like how I had presented the Clarks’ story in Portsmouth, NH.

I knew that not speaking Portuguese was going to be a problem, but not THAT big of an issue. In my mind, I would be greeted by enthusiastic participants speaking animatedly in English with a Portuguese accent. After all, the students I met at a hydrology workshop last April spoke English at very high levels. I also was introduced to a student collecting the data for a related project, asking for people’s perception of the waterfront. I thought I could help with recruiting participants for her surveys.

After a couple of days in Lisbon, where the hotel reception staff barely spoke English, I began to have doubts. Then, I spoke to two environmental planning professors at the Instituco Superior Tecnico (IST) in Lisbon. And the doubt deepened. They recommended I spoke instead to local stakeholders and conduct more in-depth interviews. These local stakeholders would represent highly informed and engaged citizenry, some more directly involved with the rehabilitation program than others. They were also more likely to speak English. Following their advice, I swallowed my pride and proceeded with contacting some of the stakeholder they recommended.