<Begin Segment 2>

TI: So let's talk about your father. Can you tell me your father's name?

AO: My father's name is Eiichi Suzuki. Eiichi Kuhara, I'm sorry, Eiichi Kuhara.

TI: Okay. And tell me, your father, where he was from in Japan.

AO: My father was from Saga-ken, Kyushu.

TI: And so do you know how old he was when he came to Peru?

AO: Nineteen years old.

TI: And now let's talk about your mother. What was your mother's name?

AO: My mother's name is Kin Suzuki, K-I-N.

TI: And do you know how old she was when she came?

AO: I think she must have been nineteen because she finished high school in Japan, and she went to Peru to reunite with (her parents).

TI: Okay. So she came from Japan after high school, your grandparents were already in Peru.

AO: Yes.

TI: And what did your grandparents do in Peru?

AO: I don't know when they just got there, I don't know what, but I remember at the end, my grandmother used to own a restaurant.

TI: And you told me earlier, but tell me again, what kind of food did she serve at the restaurant?

AO: Peruvian food.

TI: And what would that be? What are some examples?

AO: Like stew and noodles and a lot of soups. She used to make a lot of soup, I remember. And then desserts, Peruvian dessert. [Laughs]

TI: And so describe that dessert.

AO: Okay, one of the dessert, she used to buy that dried corn, the purple one, and she used to boil that and she used to put some pineapple and cinnamon and probably lemon or something and sugar, and then cornstarch to... well, she drained that, and then strain it, and then put cornstarch to make it like a pudding.

TI: Okay, that sounds delicious.

AO: Yeah, she used to put some dried fruit, too.

TI: When you were born, so your given name was Atsumi Angelica, but then the last thing you used was Suzuki. And so that's your mother's last name, 'cause your father's last name was Kuhara.

AO: That's right.

TI: So why Suzuki and not Kuhara.

AO: Because my dad went to yoshi, and my mom was the only daughter and they didn't want to lose their last name, so she kind of like adopted my dad. [Laughs]

TI: So the family adopted your dad so that he could carry on the family name?

AO: My mother's name.

TI: And so your mother and father had many children, and so let's talk about all the children. And can you tell me, from the oldest to the youngest, all the children.

AO: Okay. The oldest one, Aiko, Hiroko, myself, Atsumi, Suzuko, Manabu, Masumi, Chieko.

TI: Good. So six girls and one boy. Now, did your parents treat your brother differently because he was the only boy versus...

AO: I think so. [Laughs]

TI: So how did they do that?

AO: Oh, I think he used to take him all over, wherever he goes he used to take my brother, and he used to even bought a special outfit, cowboy outfit. I think he was very special.

TI: So he got special treatment because he was the boy.

AO: Yes, uh-huh. I don't think he was spoiled or anything, but I'm sure my dad must have been very happy to have a son. [Laughs]

TI: So what did you think? You were older, did you ever think that's not fair, that your younger brother maybe got special clothes or got to go with your father?

AO: No, I didn't feel that.

<End Segment 2> - Copyright © 2011 Densho. All Rights Reserved.