<Begin Segment 19>

AI: Well, now, some people have said that for some of the Issei, being in camp was one of the first times that they didn't have to struggle so hard every day just for survival to make a living, and that it was a time of recreation, and kind of a time...

PB: Time of ease, right.

AI: ...to take it easy. What was your view on that?

PB: Well, it may be, because at that particular time I remember that, or recall that a lot of the Isseis including my dad too, went into hobbies, recreational activities that they were never able to do when they were outside, because they were seven days a week maybe working like blazes to earn a living. And here they were able to say, "We can do what we want to." So they were able to do things. And that's why artwork and creation of different things took place in Manzanar that I know of. And so I think that from the standpoint of that part of it that it was good. But what else could you do? There was nothing else you could do. So they used their time at the, to an advantage and things they couldn't do when they were working for a living and trying to eke out enough money to make a living. So there were some, you might say good side, if that's what you want to call it.

AI: Now, did your mother or father make any comment to you at this time while you were all in camp about their situation or their prospects for...?

PB: No, they never did. In fact, before I went overseas, I went to see them, and they were very happy at my situation. And they never told me that they wished that everything would end or they could go out. I think they were accepting things on the basis that they're more Japanese. Whereas with us, we, we're on the other end of the fence. We're Americans. We're not Japanese. We, we feel it wrong to be in camp. We feel it wrong. So I think the attitude of the Isseis and the Niseis might have varied to that extent.

AI: Uh-huh.

<End Segment 19> - Copyright © 2000 Densho. All Rights Reserved.