<Begin Segment 14>

JS: Can you describe what home means to you?

HS: In Clarksburg?

JS: Like what does that mean?

HS: Well, typical home where the family is together and do things together.

DG: Did your family have New Year's together?

HS: Yes.

DG: Did you do mochitsuki?

HS: We used to celebrate New Year's with my cousin's family and our friend, close friends.

DG: Did you do mochitsuki?

HS: Oh yes. In fact, I think my father used to buy a hundred pound sack of mochigome, and pound it. And then we'd have to spread it on the floor. And to keep from getting molded -- you know, with a hundred pounds of mochi -- what they did to preserve it was to place it in the buckets of water. Otherwise it'd get molded.

DG: Somebody's phone's...

JS: I think that's yours.

DG: I turned it off. Sorry, we were hearing another noise. I can't think of any other questions. Can you, David? Heidi, thank you so much.

HS: You're welcome.

DG: You have had a very interesting life.

JS: Yes.

DG: Very unusual.

HS: I'm busier than ever now. [Laughs]

DG: Really? You're studying Japanese. What else are you doing?

HS: Well, I just came back from meeting ITC. I don't know whether you've heard of that or not? It's International Training in Communication.

DG: And what do you...

HS: Well, they teach communication skills and leadership skills.

DG: Wow. To, and then what would you do with that? International work?

HS: Well, they have an international convention every other year, and then... 'cause next year is going to be in Hawaii. But I don't think I'll go because I hate to fly.

DG: Yeah. Wow.

JS: So people from all over the world come?

HS: Oh yes. They have the most attendance from Japan.

JS: Do you --

HS: I think Japan has the most clubs.

JS: Do you help with interpreting? Or do you --

HS: Pardon?

JS: Do you help as an interpreter? With the Japanese, do you work with the Japanese that come or host?

HS: They speak English, better English than we do. [Laughs]

DG: And your brother, what's he doing now?

HS: He's retired. After farming, he worked for the school.

DG: Clarksburg?

HS: In Clarksburg.

DG: What did he do?

HS: He was the groundskeeper. And he, even though he was the groundskeeper, I think he did everything else. Middle of the night, he'd get a phone call if the alarm would go off accidentally.

DG: And what's his name?

HS: Shoya. S-H-O-Y-A.

DG: So he might be good to talk to. Would he be interested in talking to us, if we were to come back, do you think?

HS: I don't know, because he has a little dementia now.

DG: I'm sorry to hear that.

HS: Yeah.

DG: Well, thank you so much.

HS: You're welcome.

DG: That was really enjoyable.

HS: Thank you for having me.

<End Segment 14> - Copyright © 2012 Densho and Preserving California's Japantowns. All Rights Reserved.