<Begin Segment 5>

KL: How else did you help out at home? What was, so when you, when did you start school?

MU: When I was six.

KL: You started with first grade?

MU: My birthday's January. By the time school started in September, we, I was, what, over six and a half. And so there was, we had another family living right behind us; her birthday was just one month later, and so when we got into sixth grade the principal had us take sixth and seventh grade work together, and so -- one, two, three -- three of us were passed onto eighth grade. So actually, we were in elementary just seven years, instead of eight.

KL: What was her name, your friend behind you?

MU: Noriko Hoshiko.

KL: And what school did you attend?

MU: Alvina. Alvina Elementary.

KL: What do you remember about Alvina Elementary?

MU: What do I remember? We had good times with our friends, during recesses, but I enjoyed the study.

KL: You did?

MU: Yeah.

KL: What did you like to study?

MU: I enjoyed geography especially.

KL: Why did you like it?

MU: Learned about different parts of the world.

KL: How many students were in your elementary school?

MU: In the elementary school as a whole, I don't remember, but I think each class had about, between ten and fifteen. So classes were very small.

KL: And you said recess was good. What did you do during recess?

MU: Recess, we played baseball. [Laughs]

KL: What did you play?

MU: I don't remember, different, different positions on the team.

KL: Are there any teachers who stick out in your memory?

MU: Yes, Mrs. Fike. She was the principal, but she was always sixth, seventh, eighth grade teacher.

KL: She was busy. What do you remember about her?

MU: She was very kind. Very stern also, as a teacher. And her son was also in my class.

KL: Were they neighbors?

MU: No, she lived in Raisin City and we lived in Alvina area.

<End Segment 5> - Copyright © 2014 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.