<Begin Segment 12>

KL: Did your father or mother or your brothers find work?

MS: Yeah.

KL: What did they do?

MS: They did... what in the world they did? Was it some kind of, like carpenter or something, I think it was, the same job they had in South America, just helping them. Because they were so... hard to find a job yet. So I don't think they found a permanent job, whatever they had. So it wasn't easy. I don't think anybody had an easy job after the war, especially when you come from different countries.

KL: Where did your... you said you ate a lot of sweet potatoes and some rice?

MS: Yeah.

KL: Did you grow them?

MS: I think we... no, we bought potatoes and I think the sweet... they used a lot of sweet potatoes, I didn't like that. I didn't like the rice, sweet rice. [Laughs] But you got to eat it. When you're hungry, you got to eat anything. So you find those vegetables, whatever you have, just mixed together. But I didn't like sweet potato with the rice. I still remember that. I'd rather have sweet potato separate. It was amazing.

KL: What did you and Teresa and your younger brothers do with your time? How did you spend your days?

MS: I think they went to school. They didn't want to school, but Father said you have to go to school, you have to have education, so they did.

KL: Did he find a Catholic school for them?

MS: Oh, no. I think most of them were Buddhist. The next door, the neighbor was a Buddhist lady, but then they didn't have no school, just a church. She was real nice. No, I don't think you found Catholic these days over there. Most of them were Buddhist. So, see, because we were born in South America, we become Catholic. But like you go different country like Japan, I don't think you would be able to find a Catholic school. I don't know now.

KL: Did you go to, who was still in school? Was Teresa still in school in Japan?

MS: Regular, I think she went to... what kind of school was she in? I know I went to a regular school and I learned how to sew, and so I think it was regular school.

KL: You went to a regular school?

MS: No, I think it was a different school, but I forgot which one. They have different, for age, you know.

KL: Did Francisco and Julio go to your school?

MS: Oh, yeah, they have to. So you know, they didn't want to go, but they have to go to school. Then after they got a job and they married, they got married and all of that, they stayed, same place.

KL: Did they marry Japanese women?

MS: Yes. Julio just lost his wife a few years ago. And Francisco, he's still had his wife, so they're farmers, too.

KL: Still in Japan?

MS: Japan, yeah.

KL: What about Teresa and Antonio?

MS: Teresa passed away in Dallas, and not too long ago. And Antonio... oh, Luis passed away, and Antonio passed away. The only one alive is me and Francisco and Julio.

KL: Did Luis and Antonio remain in Japan?

MS: Yes.

KL: When did Teresa come back to the United States?

MS: Teresa, she passed away.

KL: When did she come back to the United States?

MS: Oh, same time we came back.

<End Segment 12> - Copyright © 2012 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.