<Begin Segment 13>
MN: So the train gets to Arkansas. Did it go right up to Rohwer?
AS: You know, I can't recall. All I know is we stayed in a little town (called) McGehee.
MN: What was your first impression of Rohwer?
AS: It's adventuresome for me.
MN: How old were you when you entered Rohwer?
AS: Ten, probably.
MN: Do you remember your address there?
AS: Block 7, Barrack 12-A, 7-12-A.
MN: So you're ten years old, I imagine the barracks all looked alike. Did you ever get lost out there?
AS: No. You get acclimatized to it. The only thing that disturbed me was we did have a central washroom area, and we'd have to go... it gets muddy during the rainy season, so they made planks, I guess, out of wood, walkways.
MN: Let me ask you about your school situation at Rohwer. Did school start soon after you entered camp?
AS: I think so. That was one thing they kept up our education (...).
MN: What was the school called?
AS: I don't remember.
MN: Rohwer...
AS: Rohwer, I guess Rohwer, it was a grammar school.
MN: How far was it from your barrack?
AS: We walked, but it wasn't a big deal, but I can't recall.
MN: Share with us what the classroom situation was like.
AS: It was cold, and we did have desks made out of logs, tree logs. That was sort of interesting. The first time I saw so many Japanese, couldn't believe it, all at once, and classmates were all Japanese.
MN: Now your sister Masako was an assistant teacher at the grammar school. Were you ever in her class?
AS: Yes.
MN: What was that like?
AS: Didn't mean anything... it wasn't a big deal, 'cause our teacher was Mrs. Hatchett. I still remember how beautiful that lady was and very, very nice.
MN: So even if your sister was an assistant teacher, she didn't, like, be more strict with you?
AS: No, just go with the flow, I guess.
MN: Did your teachers have like a real strong southern drawl?
AS: No, not that I recall.
<End Segment 13> - Copyright © 2012 Densho. All Rights Reserved.