<Begin Segment 48>

MH: And then after that the Japanese newspaper told me to come and work, and then Japanese bank also wants me to come and work so I went to the North American Post. And then later, University of Washington library people came and three times came. And the third time, head of library came, East Asia Library and then took me to lunch. And then she said, "Please come and see the library." So a week later I went there, library. And she says, "I take where the office is," so I went there. And then she said, "We going to test you." I was wondering what are you doing. I'm visitors. And then she said, "This is a civil service test," and then I didn't know what is the civil service. Nani mo shiranai.

DG: You didn't know anything, right.

MH: So I says -- I went in and then another lady was wanted to be a secretary of civil service test, too got a test. And then I just couldn't understand what is it for, and then I heard that the secretary was a 90 percent right so she was a hired. And then I don't know even what I wrote, but, "You pass." I said, "Oh, I see." "You better go back to East Asia Library. They want you to work there." I said, "I never heard about it." So anyway go back. So I went there. [Laughs] And then officers say that probably she's going to test to you and I don't know, but I went back library. And then she said, "Please work from any time." I said, "I didn't say anything about the newspaper so I will go back and tell the newspaper." And then, "Officer said that you going to test me." Said, "I already done. That's why I took you to the lunch." So I went back to the newspaper, "I'm going to work at the University of Washington." People were surprised. [Laughs]

DG: This was in 1950...

MH: '6 maybe, '55, '56. After my father passed away or mother passed away. Right after, so...

DG: Was Kumi still in high school?

MH: No, Kumi graduate.

DG: Had graduated.

MH: Kumi, children are laughing. Kumi, I mean, all children graduate the college. Poor momma, still nursery school. [Laughs]

<End Segment 48> - Copyright © 1997 Densho. All Rights Reserved.