In the summer issue of UC Davis Magazine, we asked you to share your most embarrassing Aggie moment. Mr. Dutra was the only one who would let us print his name.
In February 1947, I arrived in Davis after a 15day trip from the Azores islands to New York and another week crossing the United States by bus. In most depots where we stopped people would ask me, "Are you French?" or "Do you come from France?" or "Are you a Frenchman?" My answer would always be, "No, I am Portuguese."
The fact that I spoke faltering English with a strong accent and was wearing a beret no doubt led people to think I was French.
A few days after my arrival I was standing in line at the cafeteria, which at that time stood behind North and South Halls. I noticed two girls, one with some carrots and the other with red peppers dangling from their necks. Each was holding a clipboard and was apparently asking a question to everyone in line. When my turn came, they asked me if I was a freshman. I promptly gave my standard answer, loud and clear: "No, I am Portuguese."
An explosion of laughter went up all around me. Absolutely puzzled, I waited for the laughter and stares to subside and asked my roommate, "What's so funny?" And he explained to me the difference between a freshman and a Frenchman.
Jesse C. Dutra '52, M.S. '68, Davis
