Interviews with Japanese in Utah: Grace Oshita

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OHI Grace Oshita 5-30-85 s2:34 LK How were the Caucasians who came into camp, like Wanda Robertson. How were they treated by the Japanese people in the amp. What did ~u think of these people? GO Well, let's see. We appreciated their~ing here to begin with. Ah. Many of the administrative staff and - the people like Mrs. Robertson. Was - ah - affiliated with the University. Whetherthey were - theycame into research or to work on their doctorates, I don't know. But someone as educated as they were to come and ~lp us was realy a boost in our morale. Morale, I'm sure. Ahuh. LK So you felt that it really helped ~u better yourselves. GO Yes, and thenof course, we became friends, immediately. The teachers- I remember one party - the teachers gave us - at their living quarters. It was rightoutside the barbed wire fence. It was like an ttficer's family living quarter--you know, army officers - ahd- Theyhad regular apartments. Youknow what I mean. with bathroom facilties in their apartment. We - missed thingslike waffle. For instance. And the teachers got together and gaveus a waffle party. And we felt that was so great. Itwas fun to go to an apartment, a housing that looked like a house, an apartment that looked like an apartment. You know, and to spend a short time - felt like a human being again, really. Not ~ing in barracks or going --------, go out to a latrine or out to a mess hall. LK One step back into the real world. GO That's right. Into the real world! LK At that time, your father was already in Ogden preparing tomove the factory to Salt Lake, right?