<Begin Segment 10>

AI: Well, now at that time then, then it sounds like they were counseling you and giving you this good advice that stayed with you. And at the same time, then school must have started up again in camp, and can you tell me what -- then in your senior year -- and how that was?

AK: Then we were given a graduation. We didn't have to complete that senior year. And so...

AI: When was that? Do you remember?

AK: That was in, so that was in the spring in camp, in Puyallup. Before we went on to Idaho.

AI: So, before camp?

AK: So the seniors were given an opportunity to just get our diplomas.

AI: I see, so in 1942, by the time you got to Minidoka you had already gotten your diploma at Puyallup. And when you were in Minidoka, then you were no longer in high school.

AK: No, no I wasn't.

AI: What were you thinking of as far as the future? Did you have any...

AK: Well, I thought I was going to go to college. That was just a given, I thought. And then, after I got to camp, I was still looking at catalogues and... and then Floyd Schmoe had this student relocation program going on, and so he started recruiting people. And... so I...

AI: How did you first hear about that program? Do you remember?

AK: They just came into camp and started talking to different people. And then the Niseis that were already students at the U, kinda helped.

AI: And did you meet Floyd at that time? Was he actually coming around to recruit?

AK: Yes, and I applied to go to school, and I applied to Salt Lake City. And my folks had left for, left camp to work in Salt Lake City, because my -- oh, in Ogden, Utah because my sister was so sick with asthma.

[Interruption]

AI: Or what year that was...

AK: It was after I had left. Because my sister, my older sister and I left...

AI: In what year was that, that you left?

AK: Not too long after we were in Idaho.

AI: So maybe 1943?

AK: Uh-huh.

AI: It might have been the very next year.

AK: Right.

AI: Because you arrived in fall of '42, you weren't there very long, and you applied to go to Salt Lake.

AK: Uh-huh, yes.

AI: And it was through the Student Relocation Program then? Then I think, in the other interview you told about some of your experience there, so I won't ask you to repeat that. It sounded like it was very trying and difficult.

AK: Yes. [Laughs]

AI: But then you told about how your brother was very concerned for you about the situation, that he didn't want you to stay. Can you tell about that time then?

AK: So he said, "You don't have to take this nonsense. You don't have to stay there." He said, "We'll move you out, we'll find you someplace else." So I did move out of the home to another house.

AI: But you stayed in Salt Lake City.

AK: In Salt Lake City, yes.

AI: And then were you able to continue going to school?

AK: [Nods] So I finished business college instead. And then the, and we had applied to return to Seattle because of my sister's health... and at that time many people were starting to apply. And we were given the release to return to Seattle, we were the first family to return to Seattle.

<End Segment 10> - Copyright © 1997 Densho. All Rights Reserved.