Densho Digital Archive - Lois Yuki Interview (denshovh-ylois-01-0015)

<Begin Segment 15>

RP: You started the new year in the United States. Did you want to come back?

LY: Sure, because, yes, because when we're in Japan, we didn't have any relatives. All my mother's side are here, cousins are here, grandparents are here. So whenever we have Christmas or, you know, holidays, New Year, we have no one to really go, go to. So we felt, we were very happy when we heard oh yes, we're going back and then at that time no one had television in Japan, really, you know, place where we lived. Then we heard, oh yeah, if you go to Japan, I mean, back to U.S., we have television, black and white. [Laughs] But we were very happy about that. But, nothing was really, you know, extra ordinary. Just took us where it comes.

RP: Uh-huh. You just kind of dribbled back.

LY: Uh-huh. Just kind of fit into whatever the situation.

RP: Uh-huh. Do you remember much about your trip back from Japan on the, on the boat?

LY: Oh yes. It was quite experience, scary one. Because on the ocean we had a storms. So my mother... and then our room was a very special room. Normally they put all the luggages. So they put a temporary beds and it was two levels. And then when weather was so bad the ship shifted and the bed collapsed. But, you know, we didn't get hurt. But it was scary. And then I think we were on the bottom. And so my mother took us to the deck and then they have a nice, what do you call it, I don't know what you call that. Where you can lay and rest? But made out of wood. So when we have a storm, very strong storm, it goes from one end to the next. That was a experience. But, you know, when we, before we rode the ship, we all had a cold. But when we stay in the ship we overcame the cold that we had. But Japan was so cold those days I had a frost burn here. So when I got on the boat it healed. But now it's almost fading away. I had a, you know, big mark from the infection. But when we arrived after seven days to Honolulu, we had like a half day to go sightseeing. Oh, that was a joy. It was so nice to be off the boat and then go sightseeing and beautiful weather in Honolulu. So, that, that's very good memory. But food wise, because you get seasick. They had plenty of food to eat, but it wasn't so exciting on the, traveling on the ship on the bad weather, especially winter. So I never thought of going to cruise. Nowadays people say, "Oh, let's go to cruise. We'll have such a time," you know, good time they have. But I said, "No, I don't want to go." But more I hear now after oh, how many years later? Fifty-two years later, I said, "Oh, maybe I should go." But my husband says he likes to go to Alaska.

RP: You could take a cruise there.

LY: And my mother-in-law says she likes to go Alaska too so I'm thinking maybe we should take her.

RP: So tell us, you, did you come in to San Francisco or which port did you enter?

LY: We arrived in San Francisco.

RP: Uh-huh. So you're, you're...

LY: On President Wilson.

RP: The Wilson. And so you're coming into San Francisco Bay there and you're going under the Golden Gate, and you see the United States for the first time in, well what, eleven years or so. So, what was your feeling about that?

LY: Feeling about that? Tell you the truth, I don't remember that much that part. But I was so excited to see cousins and uncles and aunties. And then finally we arrive in... and of course my father and my brothers and sister. So that was the most exciting thing about I remember. Not so much Golden Gate or the port. But we had trunks that we have to wait on it. And my brothers have to load them to the truck and take them home.