I was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1979. Born and raised in the Ironbound section of Newark, the Portuguese area, where restaurants, shops, banks, even the language on the street, was Portuguese. I was raised by my parents, both of whom immigrated to the US from Portugal in the late 60's and early 70's, although they only met in Newark.  I was also raised by my grandparents who immigrated along with my parents, from the area of Cadaval in Portugal. In the mid eighties my grandparents immigrated back to Portugal where I've been visiting them regularly since I was a child.