Rural Origins — Ary Marques da Silva

This project is about my family’s roots in northern Portugal.

My family comes from small villages in northern Portugal. Life there was simple but hard. People lived close to the land, farming and taking care of animals. Villages were quiet and isolated, and the community was very important. Neighbors and families helped each other, and traditions were passed down through generations.

In the 1970s, my parents moved to Switzerland to find work and a better life. Like many others, they left their homes hoping for more opportunities. When my brother and I were born, Switzerland became our home. My parents faced many challenges and made sacrifices so we could have a better future.

Even though we grew up in Switzerland, the values and traditions of our family’s villages are still important to us. Life in northern Portugal taught my family the importance of hard work, resilience, and community.

I often imagine what life would have been like if my parents had stayed. I would have grown up close to nature, learning from the land and from older generations. Life would have been hard, but full of shared moments, traditions, and a strong sense of connection to family and community.

Life by the Water

Uma Casa Portuguesa