<Begin Segment 21>

AL: So we were talking before the tape stopped, I believe, about the, the publicity that came.

AS: Uh-huh.

AL: From you doing the interview. How has opening up about your story changed your life?

AS: It hasn't changed that much because the coworkers I have not, I have not told one soul about my background. Where I previously worked, the only reason that they found out was that they saw the newspaper. So, my supervisor asked me about it. But other than that I don't tell my coworkers anything about my background.

AL: And why is that?

AS: Well, I don't want sympathy from them. "Oh, you poor orphan," they think I'm a normal nurse. I mean, you know, with a family.

AL: When, the first reunion of Children's Village that you talked about a little earlier was nineteen...

AS: I think it was in '97.

AL: Was it? Okay. What, what was that like for you? You said the other kids remembered you, but what were your emotions in going back and seeing people from the, those years?

AS: Well, I mean, we would talk about the, the families. Like Dennis and Tak and yeah. And they, well, they remembered and they were more vocal in their stories.

AL: Had you been in contact with any of them besides Celeste?

AS: Yes, uh-huh.

AL: Who were you in contact with before that?

AS: Tak. I would send, we would exchange Christmas cards.

AL: And could you give us his full name?

AS: Tak Matsu... Matsuno?

AL: Matsuno?

AS: Yeah. Tak, T-A-K. I think they call it Takato, T-A-K-A-T-O and then Matsuno, M-A-T-S-U-N-O.

AL: Had you kept in touch with him through the years or just...

AS: Yeah, uh-huh. I call him up once in a while. I just called him up several months ago. And we exchange Christmas cards, tell about what's happening with the family and...

AL: And are these connections that came from the reunion?

AS: Yes.

AL: Or had you been in touch with him in the '50s and'60s?

AS: No, it only came as a result of the reunion.

AL: Uh-huh. And did you meet Lillian Matsumoto at the reunion?

AS: Yes, at the one that was at the museum.

AL: Uh-huh.

AS: Uh-huh.

AL: Who, were there other people that you remembered from camp that you saw there? Or was it all like a bunch of new faces, completely new faces?

AS: New faces.

AL: Uh-huh. Have you kept in touch with other people besides Tak and Celeste?

AS: Tak is... oh, Lillian Bonner.

AL: Uh-huh.

AS: Yeah we, we e-mail each other.

<End Segment 21> - Copyright © 2009 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.