Visualizations

Takahashi19440622

takahashi19440622-1	Box 76,	1
takahashi19440622-2	Magrath Alta.,
takahashi19440622-3	June 22 /44
takahashi19440622-4	Dear Joan,
takahashi19440622-5	I sent a letter to you on the 28th of Dec. but it came back to me for I put the wrong address on -- must of been day-dreaming	Communications
takahashi19440622-6	Well how’s everything? Good as ever I hope. Not much change here -- never is.
takahashi19440622-7	Talk about school. I’m sick of school. Sick of going 3 miles to learn nothing. All I learnt so far is a little math and french. Hardly learnt anything in the three subjects.	Education
takahashi19440622-8	School is a little bit livelier now that they play badminton during noon hours. We are making a ping pong table in shop so we’ll be able to play ping pong soon. The tumbling club isn’t getting	Recreation
takahashi19440622-9	ahead very fast. Yesterday we had club period so I went down to tumblr and I was doing these forward rolls and things again I don’t think I’ll go down to tumble again till they get a little better.	2 Recreation
takahashi19440622-10	Last night we (the B team) went to Cardstone to play basketball and lost by one point. Two weeks from now we play them again on our own floor. On the 7th we beat Raymond by about 6 points.	Recreation
takahashi19440622-11	Last night going and coming back from Cardstone we were like sardines in a can. Twenty-one of us crowded in a little van about 8ft x 5ft. Four sat in the front and 17 of us were in the back crowded so much we could hardly move. There was 10 boy and 7 girls in the back. After the game last night we all were invited to a dance in an [???] Church. I was just a wall flower. They	Recreation
takahashi19440622-12	sure have a nice dancing hall there.	3 Recreation
takahashi19440622-13	I read your [sic] having nice weather on the coast. Well we haven’t anything to kick about for we are having swell weather too. We haven’t seen snow since Christmas when we had a little snow. The days are really warm but the last few days the darn wind has been blowing terribly. Most of the ice have [sic] melted now so we can’t go skating.
takahashi19440622-14	I’ve got to go [???] now so I’ll close here. Oh yes I got a few souvenir hankies so I thought I should send one to you.
takahashi19440622-15	Well So-Long now
takahashi19440622-16	Yours sincerely
takahashi19440622-17	Jack T.

Takahashi19450508

takahashi19450508-1	Box 76,	1
takahashi19450508-2	Magrath Alta.,
takahashi19450508-3	May 8, 1945
takahashi19450508-4	Dear Joan --
takahashi19450508-5	Just finished putting in my day and taking it easy. We never did much to-day for it has been snowing most of the day.	Living-conditions
takahashi19450508-6	Sorry for not writing sooner. I got your letter while I was still in the northern woods so it must be over a month now. I did write a letter two weeks ago but I forgot to mail it the following Saturday so I never sent it.	Communications
takahashi19450508-7	Since I came home from the woods I’ve been on the farm. Although I’ve been here about a month now I’ve only worked in the field about eight days at the most. The weather has been so bad most of the time we just couldn’t work. The first week in April the wind blew every day. On the second week it started with a white morning on Sunday and wind most of the other days. One day that week it was nice. The third week it started out pretty nice. Then on Wednesday it started to blow again. On Friday I started in the field and it sure was an awful day to start. The wind blew so hard some times I just couldn’t see in front of the tractor on account of the sand. The next day it was worse. The last week of the month started a little white on Sunday	Labour-conditions
takahashi19450508-8	but it cleared up Sunday and was nice all Monday.	2 Labour-conditions
takahashi19450508-9	For the rest of the week we had snow, rain, and wind. May started really nice. We thought spring was really here at last for it was really nice and hot for a few days. Since Saturday night we changed our mind about Spring. Saturday night about ten o’clock we were struck by a wind going at a rate of 45 miles per hour. It just came with a bang from due north. Just north of the house we just cultivated the land and Sunday most of the soil was in the house.	2
takahashi19450508-10	I sleep upstairs and I had my window on the east side open but my room was covered with sand.	Living-conditions
takahashi19450508-11	The boss got the most sand in his room, I believe he had his north window open.	Living-conditions
takahashi19450508-12	Sunday went to town to see clothe and beding [sic] hanging on lines everywhere. I heard some fellows even got lost and others were black with dust. I read an article in the paper about 4 fellows about 14 or 15 who had to spend the night behind rocks for they couldn’t get home on account of the sand. The wind died down about two in the morning. Sunday and Monday night it blew a little but not very bad. Today it started to snow about 7 this morning and has been snowing all day. It’s supposed to be the 8th of May but it sure doesn’t feel or look like it outside. Although the grass is a little green you wouldn’t know it was spring otherwise.	Living-conditions
takahashi19450508-13	Yesterday was VE day and every place must have been celebrating. Magrath had a little celebrating hanging and burning Hitler. Lethbridge done the same too and they were shooting rockets by the dozens. The farm here is fairly high up on the hills so I seen some of the rockets exploding in the air.	3 WWII
takahashi19450508-14	Those boys sure must be glad it’s over over there. I sure hope the rest will quit soon so we can live in a peaceful world again.	Optimism WWII
takahashi19450508-15	Next month some time we will be starting to thin beets again.We should start in May but I believe we won’t on account they couldn’t put the seeds in early due to the bad weather.	Labour-conditions
takahashi19450508-16	It’s only Tuesday to-day and I don’t get in to town till Saturday so I can’t mail it right away. That’s why I forgot about the other one. I’m only 4 1/2 miles from town but just get in Saturday night and get Sunday off.	Mail
takahashi19450508-17	Saturday nights I usually go to see a show. Two Saturdays ago the Japanese young fellows put on a social or dance but I didn’t go. Five of us boys scrammed to Raymond. We really got cussed the next day from the others for been [sic] poor sports but I didn’t care. I still don't’ dance and never care much about it.	Recreation
takahashi19450508-18	I guess Q.E. must have mixers once in a while too. While I was going to school we had one but I stayed home. Even at Q.E. I only went to one mixer and that was enough for me. Two more months and schools are	Recreation
takahashi19450508-19	are finished and you’ll be out of high school. I myself should be out too but I guess I’ll never see the day I graduate from a high school. The twins will finish grade 8 in June and I believe Harry will be out of 6.	4 Education
takahashi19450508-20	When they started in Magrath they had to repeat one year so they are back on year.	Forced-dispersal Education
takahashi19450508-21	Now it’s started to snow like heck again so I believe I won’t be in the field this week again. We broke the truck engine yesterday so we removed the engine to-day and to-morrow intend to replace it with another engine.	Labour-conditions
takahashi19450508-22	Well time is flying and I’ve still got another letter to write and hit the hay so I‘ll close here by saying so-long	Communications
takahashi19450508-23	Yours Sincerely
takahashi19450508-24	Jackie
takahashi19450508-25	May 11, 1945
takahashi19450508-26	Spring seems be [sic] coming again but I believe the wind will blow it by again. On Wednesday it turned warm again and the fields dried enough for us to work again. Yesterday and to-day I worked in the field but the wind keeps on blowing the sand away darn near as fast as I can work it. It seems like the wind just can’t stop blowing. To-day it didn’t blow quite as bad but to-night its started again. The weather otherwise is fine.	Labour-conditions
takahashi19450508-27	To-morrrow is Saturday, the day I look forward to each week and Sunday the day I can sleep till laze[?] o’clock. Good-bye again.

Mototsune19430424

mototsune19430424-1	Box 167,
mototsune19430424-2	Raymond, Alta.,
mototsune19430424-3	April 24,/43.
mototsune19430424-4	Dearest Joan;
mototsune19430424-5	“Happy Easter” to you, Joan. “Best Wishes” to you from all of us. How are you and everybody? Well, I hope, as we all are also. I am very very sorry for not writing to you sooner …. for some … ah … unfavorable circumstance! I hope I didn’t keep you waiting very long. Ahem!!!	Communications
mototsune19430424-6	Well, Joan, how is school? Fine? Well, I hope so, as I’m getting used to this “hostility.” You know, about two weeks ago snakes started to appear & some boys thought that they were smart and put a live snake into a girl’s zipper loose-leaf. She didn’t know anything about it, and when she unzipped it during the period (study period.) the snake just sprung at her & was she frightened! Poor girl, & she just can’t stand snakes. This isn’t the only incident that has happened. I saw a snake coiled on the banister and several times live snakes wandering in the rooms. Especially the Grade X room because its [sic] only the Grade X boys who would think of doing it. Well, I’m glad as the principle gave a lecture on such a behavior. Baseball game has opened up once again. We play baseball every gym period. Outdoors if the day is fine or indoors when it isn’t.	Education Recreation
mototsune19430424-7	In the first French test I had 85%. Then the next test I had 88% and then the one I took the other, I had 94%! Would you believe it? (I was the highest, and the rest came in with 10%, 20%, 32%. Gee! what a bunch! Even our French teacher said that we’re the worst French I class that she ever taught.) Well, this is our Raymond High School as they call it. Just now, we’re having a four day Easter holiday. 23rd, 24th, 25th & 26th. This is only for the High School; the public school got off from 23rd to May 3rd, lucky things. The school van is still running, thank goodness. We were going to get a 2 ½ hour Easter exam (for each subject I mean) before the holiday but the teachers decided not to give it this year as we’re fairly behind in our school work. We’re all looking forward to the June Exam!!	2 Education
mototsune19430424-8	On April 21st we saw an Air Force Picture, brought by the Air Force Company from Ont. They are showing the picture all over the Prairie Provinces encouraging the girls to join the Women’s Air Force. It shows mainly what the girls do when they join up. It lasted for about two hours and it wasn’t bad at all. You haven’t by some chance seen it, have you?	WWII Recreation
mototsune19430424-9	On April 3rd, all of our family went to see some a plays, dances, singing, etc. which lasted from 3:00 P.M. to 11:30 P.M. We had to take our lunches and had ½ hour off from 6:00-6:30 P.M. to eat it.	Recreation
mototsune19430424-10	The hall was just packed full; there were trucks from Picture Butte, Cardston, Coaldale, Stirling, etc. We had ride [sic] all the way home. Next morning I didn’t wake up till 11:00 A.M. Then on April 11th, we all went to a two feature Japanese show which lasted from 7:30 P.M. – 12:00 P.M. We had a ride home again all the way free. On April 14th, I went to the “Iceland” matinee after school with Teruko Ikeda. We got in for 15 ȼ. Did you see this picture? I thought it wasn’t as good as “Sun Valley Serenade” although “Iceland” had more skating in it.	3 Recreation
mototsune19430424-11	On April 17, the whole family went to Lethbridge C.P.R. station to meet our uncle & his family from Kaslo en route to Ontario. We last saw them on April 20th, 1942 when we left N.W. & we didn’t see them till almost a year. I was disgusted with them because they wouldn’t stay in Raymond. We had only 15 minutes to chat and bid farewell. Good thing it was on Sunday.	Forced-dispersal
mototsune19430424-12	We’re all looking forward to the day when we sight the New Westminster station again.	Homesickness
mototsune19430424-13	Tomorrow, April 25th (Easter Sunday) the United Church decided to take a trip to some kind of a lake, about 36 miles from Raymond to pass the Easter Sunday. Well, they discovered that they couldn’t take us all as there won’t be enough room so only 2 from each family could go. Sad thing, we were waiting for this day. Only father and mother are	Recreation
mototsune19430424-14	going from our family. There’s only one chance out of ten when you find us all at home now a days [sic]. We’re nearing to our beet work again this year so we decided to go out when the weather is fine and before we get busy again. There are several places where beet seeds have been planted already. We haven’t got our seeds planted yet, but are expecting it in a short while. The field has been ploughed & ready to be planted.	4 Labour-conditions
mototsune19430424-15	This year it seems as though its [sic] going to be very hot. For the past few weeks, I’ve worn no overcoat but a ¾ jacket every day. We can’t compare it with the weather when we first came here. This year I think we’re going to have 25-27 acres of beets. Last year we had only 21 acres although we came for 25. Dad doesn’t want to do so much. We tell him that we could do at least 30 acres, but he won’t say “okay.” He keeps on saying that 25 acres is enough. Oh, well, its [sic] up to him,	Living-conditions Labour-conditions
mototsune19430424-16	& so much the better I am sending you some pictures with this letter. Don’t you think its about time to do so? The’re [sic] not very good pictures, but when we do take some better ones, I will send you some even if its a year after.	Photographs
mototsune19430424-17	Well, I think this is all I have to say for now, and I’ll try to write sooner next time. In the meantime, I’ll be waiting for your sweet hand-writing to come. Very	Communications Communications
mototsune19430424-18	best regards to your father and mother and wish you the best of luck in future [sic].	5
mototsune19430424-19	Love from a pal, Sumi.
mototsune19430424-20	P.S.1. I just finished looking over your February 21st letter and you wanted to know how we were making out on ration cards. Well, as for sugar, we’re going swell. For butter, we get so far behind that many tickets have been thrown away. We use around two lbs. a week. We don’t buy any coffee at all. As for tea, we just can’t buy all the tickets worth. Only ones who drinks [sic] it are my mom, dad, Kay & myself very seldom. The rest drinks milk or cocoa.	WWII
mototsune19430424-21	P.S.2. Mother would be very glad if you could send some plants. She’s planning to have a flower garden this year & have already planted some poppy seeds. She doesn’t mind what kind of plants you send unless it won’t be such a bother to you. I’m sure she’d appreciate anything you can send. When we do go back to S.W. she said she’d take all the presents back, so if you want anything special, just say so in the letters. This is about the only way in which I can ever repay you. S.M.	Homesickness
mototsune19430424-22	P.S. 3. Please overlook my errors and scribbling (AND HOW!!).	Communications
mototsune19430424-23	P.S. 4. I forgot all about the “Sadie Hawkin’s Day.” We had it last month for a month week. Some boys were dressed up as ladies and what beautiful ladies they seemed! (especially the legs.) Three of the tallest boys were on stilts which made them appear as a giant. The got a good kick of it. Almost every girls wore pigtails. This was the first time I’ve ever worn pigtails to school. Some sights!!!!! Enough said, I think!!!!! S.M.	Recreation Education
mototsune19430424-24	Raymond Hi-School.	Enclosed postcard Education
mototsune19430424-25	The trees at the front of the school has [sic] been cut down. There are three cement walks leading into the front of the building. This picture shows only one in the centre. More rooms has [sic] been added at the farther side of the building. My home room is at the corner where the girl is standing all alone.	Education

Takahashi19421117

takahashi19421117-1	Magrath Alberta,	1
takahashi19421117-2	Nov. 17, 1942
takahashi19421117-3	Dear Joan,
takahashi19421117-4	It’s been a couple of weeks since I received your letter so I thought I better write while I got the time.
takahashi19421117-5	How’s the weather out there. Near the end of October and the beginning of Nov it started to get cold and began freezing. We had about 3 snow falls in the beginning of Nov. We had about 4 to five inches of ice (enough to skate on anyways). All of a sudden the weather changed. It began to get warm again for a week or so. Now it changed again this Sunday night. We had snow Sunday night and yesterday which amounted to about 12 to 14” of snow in different places. Today it seems to be clearing up again but no body knows what will happen	Living-conditions
takahashi19421117-6	I’ve been out working for a couple of weeks now after we had finished our beets for my school days our [sic] over for this term or for ever. Before I stopped school for topping I didn’t know whether I should go to school or go out to work but now they say that we have to pay $5.50 a month to go to school so I stopped going and I didn’t go after we finished topped [sic]. Instead of school now I have to work. I bought a few books so I can still keep on studying at home in spare time. I’ve been out to other farms topping beets and for the past three days I was out with my brother pitching bundles onto	Labour-conditions
takahashi19421117-7	wagons and into the thresher but the snow fall stopped us for a while I hope.	2 Labour-conditions
takahashi19421117-8	These schools in Alberta won’t let you take some subject if you aren’t the smartest ones. I got B for grade 9. So I was able to take only 2 out of French Physic and Algebra. I dropped Physic and took typing. The typing book is the only book that I know which is the same as your grade 10 books. The Social Studies seems to be the same as out here. I believe most of the subjects are as same as yours but they say that Alberta schooling is ahead of B.C. schooling. I guess I can send you a school newspaper if they have one now. Yosh is still attending school so maybe you can ask him.	Education
takahashi19421117-9	I’m sorry I can’t tell you where Tori or Mitsuo are. I was going to ask you in the last letter but I didn’t.	Communications Homesickness Forced-dispersal
takahashi19421117-10	No, Joe and John are still in grade six they should be in seven but they won’t put them up. Harry is only in 4 but should be in five. Our boss made a covered wagon so they don't’ have to walk to school.	Education Forced-dispersal
takahashi19421117-11	This letter is only a big jumble but I hope you can read it. I’m signing off here so Good-bye till the next letter.
takahashi19421117-12	Jack Takahashi
takahashi19421117-13	P.S. Tell Don and the others to write because I don’t know there [sic] address	Homesickness Communications

Mototsune19431228

mototsune19431228-1	Box 167,
mototsune19431228-2	Raymond, Alta.
mototsune19431228-3	Dec. 28/43.
mototsune19431228-4	My dearest Joan,
mototsune19431228-5	I am just writing few lines to tell you how glad I was to receive your package. Thanks a million, Joan. Honestly, I never dreamed of receiving such a lovely gift. Thanks ever so much, again, Joan. The package arrived in good condition after all the careful work you put into it.	Communications
mototsune19431228-6	After I received your gift, I’m really ashamed of how I sent mine and the content inside it. I m [sic] very sorry, but I was rushing and just got what was at hand, and I didn’t get pretty wrapping paper, nor stickers nor anything. I’m really ashamed of myself and next year I’ll know better what & how to send presents.	Communications Joan
mototsune19431228-7	Did you have a good Christmas Day? Did you have a White Xmas? We didn’t, but I hope you did. Honestly, Christmas day [sic] seemed just as if it were an ordinary day and an autumn weather [sic] – no snow.	Living-conditions
mototsune19431228-8	As a matter of fact, we didn’t have much snow so far this winter as we did last winter; and it seems as if it is warmer too.	2 Living-conditions
mototsune19431228-9	I came home on the morning of the 25th. On Christmas Eve, those folks (The Roddicks) went out from 8:30 P.M. and came back around 11:30 P.M. with a bunch of friends & they didn’t go home till 3:00 in the morning. I had to stay home and put the baby to bed. She slept well until the bunch came and she was up till they went home. Poor kid, I don’t blame her for staying up so late with the radio going on full blast, piano playing, singing carols and talking so loud. On Christmas morning, I slept in till 8:30 A.M. and they slept in till 9:30 A.M. We had breakfast and I finished dishes around 11:00 A.M. Mr. Roddick helped dry the dishes. This was	Labour-conditions
mototsune19431228-10	his first time to help me with the dishes and he hopes that it will be his last. I don’t blame him as there was a whole stack from the night before.	3 Labour-conditions
mototsune19431228-11	I reached home around 12:30 and we had our Christmas dinner around 6:00 P.M. This year we got two turkeys for Christmas present so we had one for Xmas and the other is to be fore [sic] New Year’s. Honestly, I had the most worst stomach ache I had for ages. I think I ate too much turkey and cranberries. Christmas is dull out here. I wish we had the same Christmas as we did back there. Out here, we don’t have a Christmas tree, nor Church Services nor a picture show. We could have a Christmas tree, but we didn’t bring our tree ornaments with us. Xmas isn’t fun out here, and on radio	Homesickness Living-conditions Belonging
mototsune19431228-12	programmes they don’t sing many Christmas carols nor have a [sic] good Christmas stories on the air. It doesn’t seem a bit like a [sic] Christmas.	4 Homesickness Living-conditions Belonging
mototsune19431228-13	The other day, my father won a quilt from a ticket which he bought for 25ȼ. Oh, it’s pretty and nicely finished. (I don’t mean to brag or boast about it). It’s a wine taffeta comforter with a pretty design on it. The drawing took place in the 2nd Ward Morman [sic] Church. I was certainly surprised when his name was drawn, only he wasn’t there, so Kay went and received it.
mototsune19431228-14	Well, I really think I must close now. Thanks again, Joan, for the lovely present and I hope you had a very merry Christmas and hope to have a “Happy and Prosperous New Year.”
mototsune19431228-15	With lots of love,
mototsune19431228-16	Sumi M.

Nakamura19420515

nakamura19420515-1	c/o A. O. Peterson,	1
nakamura19420515-2	Box 173, Magrath, Alberta
nakamura19420515-3	Dear Joan,
nakamura19420515-4	Here I am again. I hope that I am not bothering you too much; "You know Final Exams and all that." I'm awfully sorry I did not answer yours of the 1st of this month, any to quick. You know me "The lazy good-for nothing I guess." Well to start off with I enjoyed your letter very very much. I really did.	Communications
nakamura19420515-5	The real reason I could not write any sooner was because I hurt my right hand. I was helping my boss pile up some scrap iron he had around his big farm when an old iron plow fell across the back of my ooh! knuckles?? (how do you spell it?) metacarpals and carpals. The Boss thought it was broken but I said it didn't hurt much (not much oh yes!) You know how it is when a person is around when you get hurt. Well, we finished in about 1 1/2 hrs. I got off from work so I had my hand plastered and bandaged for a couple of days. I took it off on 14th "yesterday", and boy was it swollen up.	Labour-conditions
nakamura19420515-6	It's still a bit swollen but I can write now. I'm always writing about my own sorrows etc so don't mind me.	Communications
nakamura19420515-7	We had snow last night. Imagine! 3 inches of snow in the middle of May. And icicles and ice... Gosh! I was surprised enough when we had snow twice in April. And talk about mud. Oh! It's just mud anyway. Even on the No. 5 Alberta Highway it's just about 6 inches mud. Then when you get in the side roads its a foot thick. (I mean it's very muddy). Cars cannot run on the roads when it rains.	2 Living-conditions
nakamura19420515-8	How's B.C.? To-day as I was listening to CBC about 8.30 to 9 P.M. (7:30-8:00 PM your way) I heard the announcer say "As I look across the Inlet from the " " Hotel (I forgot the hotel I could see the colorful Hillsides, the spring or was it early summer, atmosphere is in our surroundings in Western B.C." Something to that effect anyway. It sure reminded me of Surrey. Gee! I was hoping that he would go on but he started on some talk about the Blind being trained for defense work such as serving on Canteen trucks etc. I sure miss the funnies! We take the Lethbridge Herald a corny paper that comes whenever it feels like coming. It's supposed to be a daily paper.	Homesickness Living-conditions
nakamura19420515-9	It has no news of B.C. so we are arranging to have the Sun or Province paper sent to us from an Agent in Raymond or Magrath. Oh! yes. Thanks for that paper clipping. It sure was thoughtful of you to do so.
nakamura19420515-10	Say if you ever hear from Yoshiyuki or Albert or any of those boys who went to a different place from myself, will you please send me their addresses? I sent a letter to Mr. Matheson and Miss Nordberg, but I didn't hear from them since. Gosh! I'm just about going to be disappointed. I'll wait a few more days to get an answer, and if I don't, then I really will be disappointed. I've been waiting since May 1st.	3 Communications
nakamura19420515-11	I spent my birthday in Alberta (at home). It was the 11th day of May. I never dreamt that I would be spending or rather have my birthday celebration in Alberta, of all places. Oh! the weather was awful. The road muddy. Then when it cleared a bit, my brother and his friend and I decided to go to Lethbridge 25-30 miles away, but oh! darn the rain, no car could go because of the mud, so I stayed home and read a book, I mean some Saturday Evening Posts.	Recreation Living-conditions
nakamura19420515-12	There's lots of gophers here. Hundreds of them.	Living-conditions
nakamura19420515-13	The boss' son (6 ft?) and I went to shoot some to-day. We shot quite a number. Cruel aren't we.	Recreation
nakamura19420515-14	I must close now, my hand still aches a bit. I'll write some more of nothing, but please ask Anne, Betty, Margaret and [...?] to write to me so I can get their addresses and answer them. Please!	Communications
nakamura19420515-15	So long.
nakamura19420515-16	Yours Sincerely,
nakamura19420515-17	Yosh Nakamura
nakamura19420515-18	P.S. If you can't make heads or tales of this scrawl, just burn it.	Communications

Mototsune19420731

mototsune19420731-1	c/o Mr. J. Maudsley
mototsune19420731-2	Raymond, Alta.
mototsune19420731-3	July 31/42
mototsune19420731-4	Dearest Joan,-
mototsune19420731-5	Hello Joan! I’m sorry but honestly I meant to answer your lovely letter the night I received it, but somehow or rather its [sic] almost over a month now. (my head is hung in shame. ahem!!) I just love long, long letters and yours just hit the spot – swell! but I can’t write long letters for anything. Also, your letter’s the most interesting and I drop whatever I’m doing and read it immediately.	Communications
mototsune19420731-6	I bet you were proud when you received your first pay from berry-picking. I certainly wish I was in your boots! Were you able to find another job? I hope so, but not a strenuous one.
mototsune19420731-7	Did we have some heat last week and now do you know that it just poured like cats & dogs and it even hailed. We started running home but by the time we were half through the field, it even poured harder and we reached home just drenched. There was no fire and did we ever feel comfortable! Gosh, it’s a crazy weather out here. It certainly know [sic] how to change suddenly. Almost every night, there is a thunderstorm following with	Living-conditions
mototsune19420731-8	heavy rain, and is it ever pleasant working in a wet field, let me tell you.	2 Labour-conditions
mototsune19420731-9	The only reason why I didn’t write to you earlier was that I couldn’t find time, Joan. (touch of laziness may be included too.) Every time when I start to write I can’t seem to get it finished. You know, I tried at least six times and every time, I had to start newly again; but this time I’m going to finish it for sure. Mind you, I couldn’t get it off my mind.	Communications
mototsune19420731-10	And oh, Joan! Am I ever glad!! We finished our first hoeing yesterday but after this we’ve got to hoe Maudsley’s corn. (I thought we get a rest; but oh, no!) Hoeing isn’t so bad as how thinning was. Usually, every year by this time people say that they should be on their second hoeing by now, and fighting for water. We needn’t fight for water this year, no sireeee! You see, Dad had to haul hay in for about a week and a half so we had to do the best without him. We didn’t want to get behind the others so we worked longer hours than most people. And now, Dad is building another room approximately the	Labour-conditions
mototsune19420731-11	same size in which we are living in now. (12’x14’) Then, it’ll be a decent house to live in; don’t you think?	3 Living-conditions
mototsune19420731-12	Many of our beets got drowned on account of too much rain, poor things. The ones which were planted on a higher land is [sic] coming just dandy, but I’m afraid the ones planted on a lower land isn’t [sic] coming along so good as we thought. Certainly, I’m going to bring home some “Raymond Sugar” to you. I don’t know if they’re the finest and sweetest sugar in the world, but at least, they taste like sugar. Every sugar we buy in bags or sacks, it has “Raymond, Alberta” written on it. Imagine, a small country-like town of Raymond written on sugar bags! Someday, it’s going to make a history of the largest sugar producing factory in Canada. Day after day, you do the same work and it seems like ages until you get accustomed to the long monotony of working in the beet-fields.	Labour-conditions
mototsune19420731-13	I haven’t been to town for ages, so I just can’t tell you what fruits they sell. I Know they sell oranges because we buy it ever so often. Sometimes my brother goes to town and he says that they sell oranges, apples, cherries, raspberries, and strawberries. He also said that the berries look half rotten, or I mean stale, and not so large and juicy and red as back in B.C. We’re all going to miss our fruits & berries this year.	Living-conditions Homesickness
mototsune19420731-14	Our garden is coming along good and	Labour-conditions Living-conditions
mototsune19420731-15	bad – I don’t know which. Cabbages, carrots, corns, lettuces, and potatoes are coming along swell. Mellons [sic], cucumbers, squash & canteloupes [sic] didn’t come up at all. I think they probably got drowned. And do you know what? The tomato plants have started bearing fruits now. I hope the rain won’t ruin them after they’re nice and ripe. Honestly, the rain & wind just ruined our peas & beans. They weren’t good at all this year. Altogether we have five hundred fifty plants of cabbages & is it growing dandy. I think I’ll go on a “Cabbage Diet” this year winter – but don’t say anything about diet just now, because I’m eating like a hog. How’s my waistline did you ask? Well – ahem, I think I look more like a sack of potato than I looked before. I don’t know how much I weigh ‘cause I haven’t weighed myself since – heaven knows when!!	4 Labour-conditions Living-conditions
mototsune19420731-16	Has the carpenter finished fixing your house yet? If he did, surely your house must be pretty now; even though it was from the beginning. Have you, by any chance, strolled down about our vicinity? If you have, that is if, will you please tell us what condition it is in? Even though we barred all our windows & doors, we don’t feel safe ‘cause many of our things are still left in the house. (especially the attic.)	Homesickness Forced-dispersal
mototsune19420731-17	Mind you, we even forgot to bring our photo album. Mother was sure she put it in the suitcase, but I guess it	Photographs Forced-dispersal
mototsune19420731-18	must have gotten misplaced with other things & taken up to the attic. And oh! we left behind so many things that we just don’t want to think of it. Now, Joan, you don’t have to walk all the way down there purposely, - but I just said if by any chance.	5 Homesickness Forced-dispersal
mototsune19420731-19	It’s so peaceful & quiet and nothing happens here, so I haven’t anything much to write to you. Ah, yes! There was a Stampede on the 1st & 2nd of July. On the morning of the 1st there was a parade with fire-crackers going off. Imagine, fire-crackers on Dominion Day!! It seems funny to us, but I guess its [sic] their custom. We went on the 2nd, because it was said that too many people always attend on the 1st that you couldn’t hardly see the performances. Lucky for us that we did! and it was a wonder that both days were fine. There were many different performances such as bucking, steer decorating, calf roping, horses, etc.. . A cowboy was sent to the Lethbridge hospital because he got kicked or stepped on or something by the horse. (P.S. there is no hospital in Raymond.)	Recreation
mototsune19420731-20	It was fun, but I would have enjoyed it more if you were with me, Joan. And I certainly wish you did see it too. Mother was the only one that didn’t go because she didn’t want to see them get bucked off. Raymond is noted for having its first stampede in the whole Dominion of Canada, thirty-nine years ago this July 1st, 1942.	Recreation Joan Homesickness
mototsune19420731-21	I have lot [sic] more to write about the Stampede, but I guess I had better stop or they’ll charge me double.	6 Communications Communications
mototsune19420731-22	I don’t know how much to thank you for those plants & seeds, Joan. You know, I only asked for the seeds, and here, you sent the plants so you could just imagine how surprised I was. Mom told me to thank you very very thank much. It’s just coming along swell.	Homesickness
mototsune19420731-23	And – thank you very very much for those lovely pictures you have sent. Were [sic] still allowed to have a camera yet, but since we haven’t one, we’ll have to borrow someones. We’re intending to take pictures before our cameras get banned, if they ever do. I promise that I am going to send you some, but I don’t know when, only that its in the near future.	Photographs Communications
mototsune19420731-24	Well, I must say that this letter certainly got long, but I hope you don’t mind, do you Joan? Even though we’re far apart, I know we’ll meet again – and I hope it’ll be soon. I’ll always remember you and think of you, no matter when & where. I’m just itching for the time to come, when we’re all together and happy once more. Convey my best regards to your parents.	Joan Optimism Homesickness
mototsune19420731-25	Heres [sic] hoping you’re all well & happing.
mototsune19420731-26	Your loving friend,
mototsune19420731-27	Sumi

Mototsune

mototsune-1	c/o Mr. J. Maudsley	Letter 1
mototsune-2	Raymond, Alta.
mototsune-3	May 16/42
mototsune-4	Dear Joan;-
mototsune-5	Hi Joan!! Was I surprised to hear from you so soon!
mototsune-6	It’s so lonely and quiet here I keep thinking about you all the time and what you’re doing.	Joan Homesickness
mototsune-7	Gosh, was I pleased to hear from you. I received your first letter on May 12, [&] then two days later, while I was in the garden, my sister brought home another one! I recognized your writing on the envelope and ripped it open & read it immediately. The way how I threw down my hoe to read it, my mother knew who the letter was from. I read your letters, I don’t know how many times. Next day, I happened to look in the envelope and the first letter was dated (or stamped) May 1, while the second, May 8. I don’t know how it happened, but I suppose it was because we haven’t been to town for ages.	Joan Mail
mototsune-8	You’re wondering, no doubt, why you haven’t got word from me, but I’m writing to-night, which is the only night I could find spare time.	Communications
mototsune-9	How is your father, mother, Donalda and yourself? I hope you are all well. We are all feeling fine and gradually getting used to this Alberta surroundings. It’s not quite as bad as we first came out here to Raymond.
mototsune-10	We’ve had a very bad weather all this week. It has been raining, windy, rain and sleet, snowing & freezing. Yesterday and this morning I found a thick ice covering the surface of our water pail. Especially this morning, we were all shivering because we couldn’t start the fire. It certainly has been a very bad week, and we hope next week would be better. I hope you had a nice weather back in British Columbia.	Living-conditions
mototsune-11	I am sorry to hear that you have not been feeling well, but staying home and getting rested up and relaxed would make you better, I hope. Well anyways, please take care of yourself.
mototsune-12	I hope your Social Studies test wasn’t too hard as you said it was. Boy am I lucky I didn’t have to write it!! But a “proffessional [sic] student” like you always say [sic] it’s hard and then the result – the highest mark in “Grade 9.” How are you getting along in French, English, Math, Science, etc?
mototsune-13	Gosh, but I wish I was together with you back in school. Do I wish to see the faithful “Queen Elizabeth High School” again, but it won’t be for quite a while.	Education Homesickness
mototsune-14	Yesterday and the day before, we have been in the garden planting some seeds. We planted some water mellons [sic], canteloupes [sic], potatoes, carrots, cabbages, beans, …. etc. It’s a pity you can’t come down & eat some of the things we have grown (if they growe well).	Labour-conditions
mototsune-15	The roads around here are terrible after it rains. No cars nor bycicles [sic] can ride on it. The earth gets soft and sticks onto the tires; therefore just skidding and slipping in one place. We can’t even walk on it ourselves, or else the mud sticks on to our shoes so much it gets too heavy to walk.	Living-conditions
mototsune-16	There isn’t such a road in British Columbia even if you searched fore one. That’s true!	Homesickness
mototsune-17	Yesterday, while I was riding on a bike going to buy some eggs, I took a bad spill. My slack’s leg got caught on a hook or something that was sticking out and [there], I didn’t know it and was going full speed ahead. Bang!! we both fell, and a piece of my slacks got torn. I got several bruises, but not as bad as what yours was. I tried to get up, but I couldn’t for a minute. Then a car comes along towards heading my way, and somehow I managed to get up and drag the bike to one side of the road. A young man was in the car and he asked if I hurt myself badly. I just said I only got a few bruises which was nothing at all. I haven’t seen him since.
mototsune-18	Many cars pass in front of our house, and every one of them honks their horns. I don’t know why, but I guess it’s just a friendly way of passing instead of not honking.
mototsune-19	I heard there was a “May Day” this year. Did you go to it? We wanted to go to it, but was impossible. All that day, I was thinking about the school. — only have [sic] of the pupils present.	Education Homesickness
mototsune-20	It is a common sight to see the clothes-line only about the height of myself, while the clothes-line back in B.C. was higher than the roofs of our houses. I suppose it’s because the wind is too strong.
mototsune-21	There are no trees here in Alberta. Everywhere you look, just level plains of farming lands can be seen, while back in B.C: everywhere you look are trees and nothing but trees. Not one speck of the beautiful mountains can be seen either. We all miss our beautiful B.C. trees and mts.	Living-conditions Homesickness
mototsune-22	We left our cat and dog at home and are always wondering if they are still alive. We all think our dog would be dead because he always used to bark at many people and get stones thrown at. This is none of your affairs to look after, but I just wrote it in to fill up space.	Homesickness
mototsune-23	You must have had a good time riding home with Kirkbride. Afterall, any body would like to ride home with a companion who says funny things rather than a companion who isn’t interesting to talk with very much. He hasn’t got anybody to ride home with him now and you haven’t either, so what’s the matter riding home together? I think that’s swell.
mototsune-24	That was a tricky thing Betty did of taking pictures of you & Kirkbride. If you ever get hold that picture, will you please send one? (if you don’t mind.) We haven’t a camera yet, so are unable to take pictures, but if we do, I promise I’ll send it to you.	Photographs
mototsune-25	The letter is getting long and boring you, no doubt, so I had better close now. Give my best regards to your mother, father, and sister. I think I’ve said everything what I have to say, so good-bye Joan, I am thinking of you all the time.	Joan Homesickness
mototsune-26	With love,
mototsune-27	Your friend as ever,
mototsune-28	Sumi Mototsune
mototsune-29	P.S. You’re lucky to be decreasing in weight. I think I’m increasing.
mototsune-30	c/o Mr. J. Maudsley	Letter 2
mototsune-31	Raymond, Alta.
mototsune-32	May 30/42
mototsune-33	Dear Joan,
mototsune-34	Thank you ever so much for the letter I received today. You could have imagined how surprised I was to hear from you so soon! I am not wasting a minute in writing to you. But, oh! fat, large letters every time! That’s what I like. I don’t know how you do it, but gosh, it’s so interesting, that I read it over I don’t know how many times. There isn’t any interesting things to write around here, so you can write all the news back home.	Communications Homesickness
mototsune-35	I feel sorry for you and Donalda about being
mototsune-36	missing a week of school, especially you, when you missed two final exams! I don’t blame you for not getting mad. I know I will.
mototsune-37	Where did Setsuko Fujii go? And where did Sonny & Albert go to? We don’t get any newspaper so we don’t know anything. Whenever Dad goes to town, he buys a “Lethbridge Herald News” paper. It has only the half of the pages from that of Sun or Province, and there is no news of Vancouver or New Westminster. The other day, I sent a letter to “The Vancouver Daily Provinces” asking them if they can send a newspaper over here to Raymond. Do you think they will?	Communications Forced-dispersal Homesickness
mototsune-38	As for the pictures, you don’t have to send them to me, but I am asking for only the spare ones you have. I will be very	Photographs
mototsune-39	grateful to you if you can spare some few to me.	Photographs
mototsune-40	Yesterday (May 29th) was Sports Day, and my sister & I certainly hope the “White House” would win. The way you write about the “Whites,” it sounds as if we are in an awful position. I hope the White House will improve. Good going for 2 E. [ill.]!! Three times in succession now. I hope they defeat the Langley High School this time. Were the same persons on again? I wish I had listen to it, but it was impossible as we have no radio. Maudsleys’ got a bycicle radio, but we can’t hear Vancouver, tough luck.	Communications Homesickness
mototsune-41	We don’t get blackout practice over here. Even if we do, we don’t hardly put our lamp lights on, so it’ll be simple, I think.	Living-conditions
mototsune-42	The time is now 9:05 P.M. and it is still light outside.	Living-conditions
mototsune-43	The weather here is very peculiar. For few days before, it was so hot that we went barefooted in an irrigation ditch (even though we aren’t supposed to.) and we couldn’t eat our meals heartily. Then the next day (cold) it would be cold. This week, it was so cold! and it rained too much!	Living-conditions Labour-conditions
mototsune-44	The peas, beans, cabbages, & corns have started to grow, but the others haven’t. Dad says maybe it may be rotten, because the ground is too wet and form large puddles in low places.	Labour-conditions
mototsune-45	Today, I have gone out killing gophers. Only one in one hour.	Labour-conditions
mototsune-46	That’s bad! One afternoon, Teruko and I got twelve in five hours. We’ve altogether killed approximately fifty by now. We were told to kill as many as we can because they do damage to sugar-beets or vegetables.	Labour-conditions
mototsune-47	We still haven’t started on our sugar-beets yet. It has only two large & two small leaves, while it has to have at least six leaves. I don’t think I’m going to like the job of thinning. Some people have started working on them already, but was held in because of the bad weather.	Labour-conditions
mototsune-48	When we go back to school in September, we will have to repeat the same grade. Even	Education
mototsune-49	if I go back to QEHS, I won’t be in the same grade as you and the pupils in the present Grade 9. I don’t know if I will be able to go back to school. It all depends on how our sugar-beets turn out. I really want to go back to school though.	Education Labour-conditions
mototsune-50	We are still living in our one-room house, if you can call it a house! Only mice can have the pleasure of living in here. Every night, they come in and eat everything they can find. Last night, it chewed my Dad & Mom’s socks, and made beautiful decorative holes in it. Still worse, it made a large hole (about 2 inches in diameter) on the back of my best summer coat. Was I	Living-conditions
mototsune-51	mad! I lost my temper then. Mom isn’t going to mend it because she said it’ll look funny. Instead, she’s going to take it to the tailor’s to get it mended, but the trouble is, there is no tailor in Raymond, so it is still how it is. My Dad can’t fix or improve the house because there is no material yet. We all hope it will arrive soon.	Living-conditions
mototsune-52	Listen, Joan, your letter isn’t a scrawl, no more than my scribbling. (and how) I rather want to read your handwritten letter than anything else I can think of. It doesn’t seem right if its [sic] typed or pressed. And I certainly like reading long letters	Communications
mototsune-53	, and if you don’t mind, you can write everything what has happened.	Homesickness Communications
mototsune-54	Thank you very very much for sending those pink roses. There is no bush of them growing here, and it certainly looks dull, without them. It reminded all of us back home in B.C. “You are very thoughtful,” mum says, “to send them to us.” Same here.	Homesickness
mototsune-55	Do “purple violets” & “forget-me-nots” have seeds? If they have seeds, will you please send a teeny weeny bit? Mrs. Maudsley wants some of those seeds & she can’t get them here in Raymond.	Farm-owners
mototsune-56	Mom wants a little bit if she can. Oh, gosh!! I forgot to ask if you have any at first; and if you have, will
mototsune-57	your mother mind giving away just a few?
mototsune-58	Was I surprised when you wrote to me that Mr. Sanford is going to join the Air Force. I didn’t even dream of him joining it!	WWII
mototsune-59	The letter is getting too long now and I had better close it. Your eyes must be sore trying to read and make out my scribbling. I am sorry to write such a long letter, but I hope you don’t mind. We all wish to be back home as soon as possible, & I’ll remember you always. Well, I guess I had better stop for final, as I am getting to the end of the page so good-bye & good health till	Communications Joan Homesickness
mototsune-60	we meet again.
mototsune-61	Best regards to all from us. Your friend as ever, Sumi M.
mototsune-62	P.S. I have been jabbering & forgot how to inquire how you all are. I hope you are fine. We are all very fine, and getting along well.
mototsune-63	c/o Mr. J. Maudsley	Letter 3
mototsune-64	Raymond, Alta.
mototsune-65	July 31/42
mototsune-66	Dearest Joan,-
mototsune-67	Hello Joan! I’m sorry but honestly I meant to answer your lovely letter the night I received it, but somehow or rather its [sic] almost over a month now. (my head is hung in shame. ahem!!) I just love long, long letters and yours just hit the spot – swell! but I can’t write long letters for anything. Also, your letter’s the most interesting and I drop whatever I’m doing and read it immediately.	Communications
mototsune-68	I bet you were proud when you received your first pay from berry-picking. I certainly wish I was in your boots! Were you able to find another job? I hope so, but not a strenuous one.
mototsune-69	Did we have some heat last week and now do you know that it just poured like cats & dogs and it even hailed. We started running home but by the time we were half through the field, it even poured harder and we reached home just drenched. There was no fire and did we ever feel comfortable! Gosh, it’s a crazy weather out here. It certainly know [sic] how to change suddenly. Almost every night, there is a thunderstorm following with	Living-conditions
mototsune-70	heavy rain, and is it ever pleasant working in a wet field, let me tell you.	Labour-conditions
mototsune-71	The only reason why I didn’t write to you earlier was that I couldn’t find time, Joan. (touch of laziness may be included too.) Every time when I start to write I can’t seem to get it finished. You know, I tried at least six times and every time, I had to start newly again; but this time I’m going to finish it for sure. Mind you, I couldn’t get it off my mind.	Communications
mototsune-72	And oh, Joan! Am I ever glad!! We finished our first hoeing yesterday but after this we’ve got to hoe Maudsley’s corn. (I thought we get a rest; but oh, no!) Hoeing isn’t so bad as how thinning was. Usually, every year by this time people say that they should be on their second hoeing by now, and fighting for water. We needn’t fight for water this year, no sireeee! You see, Dad had to haul hay in for about a week and a half so we had to do the best without him. We didn’t want to get behind the others so we worked longer hours than most people. And now, Dad is building another room approximately the	Labour-conditions
mototsune-73	same size in which we are living in now. (12’x14’) Then, it’ll be a decent house to live in; don’t you think?	Living-conditions
mototsune-74	Many of our beets got drowned on account of too much rain, poor things. The ones which were planted on a higher land is [sic] coming just dandy, but I’m afraid the ones planted on a lower land isn’t [sic] coming along so good as we thought. Certainly, I’m going to bring home some “Raymond Sugar” to you. I don’t know if they’re the finest and sweetest sugar in the world, but at least, they taste like sugar. Every sugar we buy in bags or sacks, it has “Raymond, Alberta” written on it. Imagine, a small country-like town of Raymond written on sugar bags! Someday, it’s going to make a history of the largest sugar producing factory in Canada. Day after day, you do the same work and it seems like ages until you get accustomed to the long monotony of working in the beet-fields.	Labour-conditions
mototsune-75	I haven’t been to town for ages, so I just can’t tell you what fruits they sell. I Know they sell oranges because we buy it ever so often. Sometimes my brother goes to town and he says that they sell oranges, apples, cherries, raspberries, and strawberries. He also said that the berries look half rotten, or I mean stale, and not so large and juicy and red as back in B.C. We’re all going to miss our fruits & berries this year.	Living-conditions Homesickness
mototsune-76	Our garden is coming along good and	Labour-conditions Living-conditions
mototsune-77	bad – I don’t know which. Cabbages, carrots, corns, lettuces, and potatoes are coming along swell. Mellons [sic], cucumbers, squash & canteloupes [sic] didn’t come up at all. I think they probably got drowned. And do you know what? The tomato plants have started bearing fruits now. I hope the rain won’t ruin them after they’re nice and ripe. Honestly, the rain & wind just ruined our peas & beans. They weren’t good at all this year. Altogether we have five hundred fifty plants of cabbages & is it growing dandy. I think I’ll go on a “Cabbage Diet” this year winter – but don’t say anything about diet just now, because I’m eating like a hog. How’s my waistline did you ask? Well – ahem, I think I look more like a sack of potato than I looked before. I don’t know how much I weigh ‘cause I haven’t weighed myself since – heaven knows when!!	Labour-conditions Living-conditions
mototsune-78	Has the carpenter finished fixing your house yet? If he did, surely your house must be pretty now; even though it was from the beginning. Have you, by any chance, strolled down about our vicinity? If you have, that is if, will you please tell us what condition it is in? Even though we barred all our windows & doors, we don’t feel safe ‘cause many of our things are still left in the house. (especially the attic.)	Homesickness Forced-dispersal
mototsune-79	Mind you, we even forgot to bring our photo album. Mother was sure she put it in the suitcase, but I guess it	Photographs Forced-dispersal
mototsune-80	must have gotten misplaced with other things & taken up to the attic. And oh! we left behind so many things that we just don’t want to think of it. Now, Joan, you don’t have to walk all the way down there purposely, - but I just said if by any chance.	Homesickness Forced-dispersal
mototsune-81	It’s so peaceful & quiet and nothing happens here, so I haven’t anything much to write to you. Ah, yes! There was a Stampede on the 1st & 2nd of July. On the morning of the 1st there was a parade with fire-crackers going off. Imagine, fire-crackers on Dominion Day!! It seems funny to us, but I guess its [sic] their custom. We went on the 2nd, because it was said that too many people always attend on the 1st that you couldn’t hardly see the performances. Lucky for us that we did! and it was a wonder that both days were fine. There were many different performances such as bucking, steer decorating, calf roping, horses, etc.. . A cowboy was sent to the Lethbridge hospital because he got kicked or stepped on or something by the horse. (P.S. there is no hospital in Raymond.)	Recreation
mototsune-82	It was fun, but I would have enjoyed it more if you were with me, Joan. And I certainly wish you did see it too. Mother was the only one that didn’t go because she didn’t want to see them get bucked off. Raymond is noted for having its first stampede in the whole Dominion of Canada, thirty-nine years ago this July 1st, 1942.	Recreation Joan Homesickness
mototsune-83	I have lot [sic] more to write about the Stampede, but I guess I had better stop or they’ll charge me double.	Communications Communications
mototsune-84	I don’t know how much to thank you for those plants & seeds, Joan. You know, I only asked for the seeds, and here, you sent the plants so you could just imagine how surprised I was. Mom told me to thank you very very thank much. It’s just coming along swell.	Homesickness
mototsune-85	And – thank you very very much for those lovely pictures you have sent. Were [sic] still allowed to have a camera yet, but since we haven’t one, we’ll have to borrow someones. We’re intending to take pictures before our cameras get banned, if they ever do. I promise that I am going to send you some, but I don’t know when, only that its in the near future.	Photographs Communications
mototsune-86	Well, I must say that this letter certainly got long, but I hope you don’t mind, do you Joan? Even though we’re far apart, I know we’ll meet again – and I hope it’ll be soon. I’ll always remember you and think of you, no matter when & where. I’m just itching for the time to come, when we’re all together and happy once more. Convey my best regards to your parents.	Joan Optimism Homesickness
mototsune-87	Heres [sic] hoping you’re all well & happing.
mototsune-88	Your loving friend,
mototsune-89	Sumi
mototsune-90	Box 167,	Letter 4
mototsune-91	Raymond, Alberta,
mototsune-92	January 9, 1943.
mototsune-93	Dear Joan,
mototsune-94	Honestly, I’m so ashamed of myself I just can’t find the right words to tell you how sorry I am for being so long at writing you. But I hope you understand, I and forgive me, please???? To start out with “Hello to you all” and I hope you all had a nice “Xmas” & “A Happy New Year”. (Though I never wrote a letter wishing you so, but I took granted [sic] that you meant it from me anyways.) However, here’s hoping that this letter finds the Gillis’ family in best of health.	Communications
mototsune-95	Thanks ever so much Joan for your lovely present which you sent; it’s just perfect & the thing I needed most. Honestly, I never dreamed of receiving such present as this under the present condition; I never expected to receive anything from you this year so you can just imagine how pleased I was!!! You know, we can’t seem to break the “tie” between us & I hope that we never do. (not on earth, I won’t.)	Joan
mototsune-96	Well, here’s me going back to school for another year. – Really??? but I doubt if I’ll go back again next year (I mean if I am still in Raymond then.) Boyohboy!! I’d give anything to be back at good ol’ Queen Elizabeth. I’m suffering enough as I am now & I don’t think I could stand for another year! After two whole month’s work to catch up, it was impossible for me to	Education Homesickness
mototsune-97	write to you. (I started school on Nov. 2nd, same day as Teruko Ikeda.) I think I really could have written to you if I had tried harder. I don’t know how it happened, but I’m sitting in the Grade X room anyways. French I, Soc. St., English, Health, General maths, Biology I, Home Economics are the subjects I’m taking this year, making a total amount of 30 credits for Grade X. If I go through school in Raymond, I’ll have to come 2 years of Gr. 12 to get all my credits. Credits start from Gr. 10 over here, and by the time you get out of high, you’ll have to have a hundred credits. Only Typing I is given & Bookkeeping I and no shorthand writing. Home Economics & health ends in Gr. 10. Grades 11 and 12 will not have to take health unless they wish to get some credits and take it with some lower grades. It certainly is a crazy way, don’t you think, Joan? I get 11 study periods a week and that’s monotenous [sic] so I wanted to take more credits, but the principle (Mr. Jacobs.) said 30 credits is enough for a late-commer [sic] so I’m still carrying 30 credits. You can’t take more than 35 credits a year. Every Thursday, last period we get a 20min seminary. Mostly everybody out here are Mormans [sic]. I never heard of this religion back in B.C. The
mototsune-98	religions are divided into 3 groups; the Mormans, United, and Budhists [sic]. I go to the United, & Mrs. Rolfson’s our lecturer. Did you read an article in the school-paper about Miss Gottenburg being married to Mr. Rolfson? Well, this is our teacher while Mr. Rolfson is a Morman and he teaches the Morman pupils.
mototsune-99	There are no lockers in this school, and you just hang the coats up as we used to do in S.W. Public School, except that the coat hangers are way higher. The class-room doors doesn’t [sic] open until a teacher comes along & opens it for us. Do you know why the doors are kept locked? Out here, it seems as if the kids can’t be trusted, & I think this is true! I had a brand new ruler an [sic] pencil and after one week it disappeared right off my desk! Was I mad. After that, I brought another new pencil & this one disappeared also. Now I don’t carry a ruler or a pencil except for my new fountain-pen which I keep it in my jacket pocket and take it around with me wherever I go. On the whole, work is fairly easy and not as much homework as we used to get back in B.C.	Education
mototsune-100	Tests out here seems [sic] just like those oral questions we used to have nearly every day. In June, they have the final examination. $1.50 or $1.70 per test. If I take every one of these examinations, believe me I’ll be broke! They also take a Government examination in Grade 9. Kids say that Government exams are easier than teacher’s exams, but I wouldn’t know	Education
mototsune-101	unless I took one myself.	Education
mototsune-102	Oh, goodness gracious!! but are the boys noisy! They (the boys) run in the hall-ways, run up or down the stairs, shout, fight, etc. in the school building and whenever the teacher comes, the teacher passes on without saying anything about behaving! If you’re caught throwing chalks, the penalty is one new box of chalks for the school. The kids are allowed to wear slacks, ‘kerchiefs, skii-pants [sic] or skiis suit [sic], coats, etc. during classes. When they answer the teachers, their reply may be no, yes, sure, etc. And not. — “no, sir”, “yes, sir,” and in cases of a lady teacher, “yes, so & so” or “no, so & so.”	Education
mototsune-103	The kids thought it was funny when Teruko Ikeda or I said “yes, sir” or “no, sir” to a teacher. This shows how much they are mistacken [sic], & not us. Pupils aren’t so co-operative as the ones back in B.C. schools and they think that their school is of a high standard, but not to me. Our building has only two floors, while the Public building has four floors. You see, Joan, High School & Public School are separate buildings. On the whole, public building is larger. Both buildings are made of brick.	Education Homesickness
mototsune-104	For 3 months school starts at 9:30 A.M. because it is so dark in the morning around 9:00 A.M. Lunch is from 12:15 P.M to 1:30 P.M. School begins again in the afternoon at 1:30 P.M. until 4:00 P.M. but there is a ten minute afternoon recess.	Education
mototsune-105	For a month, since we started, we walked to school until December 1, the van from the cheese factory began to run. In the mornings, the van isn’t so crowded as in night because the driver makes 2 trips; but at nights, he takes us all in one trip so you can just imagine how crowded it is inside! The Raymond Highway kids gets [sic] on the first trip (this is us.) and the Stirling Highway gets on the second trip. We reach school around 8:30 A.M. so we asked the principle for permission to play basketball in the mornings. The principle said “yes” so we play in the gym, which is only about 1/3 of 2.E.’s gymnasium. For P.T., girls may wear skirts, dresses, shorts, slacks, or even leather sole shoes because I do. In Lethbridge or Raymond, I went all over the shoe stores asking for girls’ white running shoes, but they don’t have anymore in stock. After P.T. everyone’s supposed to take a shower, but no one ever does, besides there isn’t any time. Well, Joan, I think I’ve talked enough about school, so I think I’d better leave the rest for the next letter.	Education Recreation
mototsune-106	The weather certainly changes quick out here. Just last week it was so cold, but now, the temp. is up to 40 degrees. The coldest has been around 20 degrees below. Out here, even if it is 30 degrees or 20 degrees below, you can’t feel it, but just to make people say “Gee, it’s cold today.” Once we walked 5 miles to school in 17 degrees below zero. It was kinda colder than most mornings we	Living-conditions
mototsune-107	thought, but I didn’t imagine it would be 17 degrees below. The van didn’t run at this time yet. When we rush and walk without resting, our body is warm but our cheeks, nose, and chin are just about frozen. There are quite a number of families living at least 5 miles out of town, but I don’t there there [sic] is any family living more than six five miles.	Living-conditions
mototsune-108	Almost every farmer has started threshing again since the weather is excellent. My Dad has gone threshing also, except that our owner’s thresher machine is old & gets broken easily; then my Dad has to stay around the machine & fix it everytime. He’s more of a mechanist than a wheat hauler, but he doesn’t mind as he likes the job as a mechanist better. You know, he’s so small & short, he’s able to go under the machine & fix it.	Labour-conditions
mototsune-109	Our beet crop on the whole was satisfactory. It averaged around 11 ½ tons per acre, while most of the other crops yielded 9-9 ½ tons per acre. We harvested ours quite early so we did 5 acres of anothers man’s crop. If we had just finished harvesting our own crop and then went to school, I won’t be so far behind in my school-work. However, I’m getting caught up on it soon.	Labour-conditions Education
mototsune-110	Joan, do you know what I got for my birthday? Guess, — first. I got a pair of black skates!! Just what I had been wishing for the last three years, and now I got my chance to get them.	Recreation
mototsune-111	When I return home again, you & I would go skating to the arena or wherever there is a skating pond. (if you want me as a company.) I think that would be fun. There is a rink in Raymond town which anybody can go in free & stay, as long as they want to skate. I believe it’s open every afternoon until 10:00 P.M. and 12:00 midnight, only on Saturday nights. There is also some music playing from the girl’s changing room. There is also another rink for boy’s hockey square next to the larger skating rink. I practiced skating on Teruko’s skates on the frozen pig lake. Here’s where we go mostly afterschools [sic] because it takes just about 8 minutes’ walk, any anyways [sic] it’s Maudsleys’, so he won’t chase us out.	Recreation Joan Optimism
mototsune-112	Well, I’ve written enough for now so I guess I had better close. It’s such a long boring letter that it’ll take at least 2 days to read it, and what a scribble! If you can’t make it out, Joan, send it right back & I’ll rewrite it over again. Perhaps that’ll teach me to be more careful.	Communications
mototsune-113	Hoping to hear from from you sooner than I wrote to you —
mototsune-114	Your pal as ever, Sumi.
mototsune-115	Box 167, Raymond Alta	Letter 5
mototsune-116	January 31/43
mototsune-117	Dearest Joan, —
mototsune-118	Hi – Joan! How are you and all the rest? Well, I hope, as we all are fine in spite of the cold weather we’re having.
mototsune-119	This isn’t going to [sic] such a long letter as I believe I haven’t much to write. I admit I don’t like writing letters but somehow or rather I get it done anyways – thoughs its [sic] nothing compared to yours.	Communications
mototsune-120	Thank you ever so much for your beautiful card & hankies. Honestly I’ve never dreamed of receiving such presents. And look at me, I tried to send your present in time, but lazy me, I never do get things done right away. Everybody in the house was just about practically driving me crazy saying – “When are you going to buy Joan’s present? When are you going to send it?” That’s all what I’ve been hearing in the house until last Friday I went to Lethbridge to get a picture taken for registration. (I’ll send you one if its OK.) It’s nothing much & I’m really very sorry its going to be	Joan
mototsune-121	awfully late but still wishing you a “Happy Birthday, Joan, and Many Happy returns of the day!” Enclosed is also a Valentine Card. I was just wondering who the “two brides” are? Could it be “Joan & Lionel?” Please tell!!
mototsune-122	Yesterday I went to the skating rink with my sisters for a bit of fun. Really, I don’t think it was much fun. There was one particular guy who kept on pushing me & another girl who was skating with me, & every time he pushed us, well, we’ll fall! You see, Joan, I’ve been on the ice only four times and I’m nowhere an expert. If I was, well, I wouldn’t g let him get away with it. After all, he’s a way better skater than both of us. I figure it would be better if I skated on our own ice pond, but heavens! it’ll take ages to shovel all the snow off. Raymond is the only place where you can go in and skate for free. Other places charges [sic] you so much for so long, so I guess were [sic] quite fortunate.	Recreation
mototsune-123	We’ve had a very cold [spell] for over a week. The coldest was 50 degrees below.	Living-conditions
mototsune-124	Other days were below 30 degrees below and it never went above anymore than 30 degrees below. At noon, it’ll be around 35 degrees below while at night it suddenly drops down to 45 degrees below. Our window glass was covered at least an inch with ice inside & not outside. We could’nt [sic] see anything until the ice melted, and it makes such a mess when it does melt. Nobody sits near the window as it is cold, but all crowds around the poor old stove who’s trying so hard to give off heat in spite of all its efforts. When it gets to be so cold, you can’t feel the coldness but it stings your nose and cheeks.	Living-conditions
mototsune-125	We’ve had only one blizzard this year so far. And what a blizzard! You couldn’t see an inch ahead of you. We didn’t go to school that day. Quite a lot never went also. The van driver said that he started out the same time as every morning, but was at least an hour and half off the schedule.	Living-conditions
mototsune-126	The thermometer is up to 30 degrees above right now. It’s quite a change after those cold days. People say that this coldness is
mototsune-127	the same as the year 1935. Usually, they say that it isn’t this cold every winter. How are the things at school? Are you very busy with your homework? We hardly get homework except S.S. & French almost every night. Every gym period we play basketball. Most of the girls take P.T. in their dresses and so do I. Rules over here aren’t so very strict. Teruko’s class went ice-skating for 3 periods one afternoon twice. We planned on going last Fri. but it snowed the day before so we couldn’t skate because the snow wasn’t scraped off yet.	Education Recreation
mototsune-128	Gee, I wish you were over here or I over there, well it doesn’t make any difference as to where it is as long as were [sic] together.	Joan Homesickness
mototsune-129	This writing pad is the first one I used on your letter which you gave me for Xmas. I haven’t used any envelopes yet.
mototsune-130	Mother just handed me out the bunch of lavenders which was in my Xmas present from you & she wants to know if you can get hold of any more of them. She just loves the scent of it & she’ll be very grateful if you can send anymore if you can get some more.	Homesickness
mototsune-131	Well I think I’ve said all I wanted to say. Best regards to you all – yours as ever,
mototsune-132	Sumi M.
mototsune-133	Box 167,	Letter 6
mototsune-134	Raymond, Alta.,
mototsune-135	April 24,/43.
mototsune-136	Dearest Joan;
mototsune-137	“Happy Easter” to you, Joan. “Best Wishes” to you from all of us. How are you and everybody? Well, I hope, as we all are also. I am very very sorry for not writing to you sooner …. for some … ah … unfavorable circumstance! I hope I didn’t keep you waiting very long. Ahem!!!	Communications
mototsune-138	Well, Joan, how is school? Fine? Well, I hope so, as I’m getting used to this “hostility.” You know, about two weeks ago snakes started to appear & some boys thought that they were smart and put a live snake into a girl’s zipper loose-leaf. She didn’t know anything about it, and when she unzipped it during the period (study period.) the snake just sprung at her & was she frightened! Poor girl, & she just can’t stand snakes. This isn’t the only incident that has happened. I saw a snake coiled on the banister and several times live snakes wandering in the rooms. Especially the Grade X room because its [sic] only the Grade X boys who would think of doing it. Well, I’m glad as the principle gave a lecture on such a behavior. Baseball game has opened up once again. We play baseball every gym period. Outdoors if the day is fine or indoors when it isn’t.	Education Recreation
mototsune-139	In the first French test I had 85%. Then the next test I had 88% and then the one I took the other, I had 94%! Would you believe it? (I was the highest, and the rest came in with 10%, 20%, 32%. Gee! what a bunch! Even our French teacher said that we’re the worst French I class that she ever taught.) Well, this is our Raymond High School as they call it. Just now, we’re having a four day Easter holiday. 23rd, 24th, 25th & 26th. This is only for the High School; the public school got off from 23rd to May 3rd, lucky things. The school van is still running, thank goodness. We were going to get a 2 ½ hour Easter exam (for each subject I mean) before the holiday but the teachers decided not to give it this year as we’re fairly behind in our school work. We’re all looking forward to the June Exam!!	Education
mototsune-140	On April 21st we saw an Air Force Picture, brought by the Air Force Company from Ont. They are showing the picture all over the Prairie Provinces encouraging the girls to join the Women’s Air Force. It shows mainly what the girls do when they join up. It lasted for about two hours and it wasn’t bad at all. You haven’t by some chance seen it, have you?	WWII Recreation
mototsune-141	On April 3rd, all of our family went to see some a plays, dances, singing, etc. which lasted from 3:00 P.M. to 11:30 P.M. We had to take our lunches and had ½ hour off from 6:00-6:30 P.M. to eat it.	Recreation
mototsune-142	The hall was just packed full; there were trucks from Picture Butte, Cardston, Coaldale, Stirling, etc. We had ride [sic] all the way home. Next morning I didn’t wake up till 11:00 A.M. Then on April 11th, we all went to a two feature Japanese show which lasted from 7:30 P.M. – 12:00 P.M. We had a ride home again all the way free. On April 14th, I went to the “Iceland” matinee after school with Teruko Ikeda. We got in for 15 ȼ. Did you see this picture? I thought it wasn’t as good as “Sun Valley Serenade” although “Iceland” had more skating in it.	Recreation
mototsune-143	On April 17, the whole family went to Lethbridge C.P.R. station to meet our uncle & his family from Kaslo en route to Ontario. We last saw them on April 20th, 1942 when we left N.W. & we didn’t see them till almost a year. I was disgusted with them because they wouldn’t stay in Raymond. We had only 15 minutes to chat and bid farewell. Good thing it was on Sunday.	Forced-dispersal
mototsune-144	We’re all looking forward to the day when we sight the New Westminster station again.	Homesickness
mototsune-145	Tomorrow, April 25th (Easter Sunday) the United Church decided to take a trip to some kind of a lake, about 36 miles from Raymond to pass the Easter Sunday. Well, they discovered that they couldn’t take us all as there won’t be enough room so only 2 from each family could go. Sad thing, we were waiting for this day. Only father and mother are	Recreation
mototsune-146	going from our family. There’s only one chance out of ten when you find us all at home now a days [sic]. We’re nearing to our beet work again this year so we decided to go out when the weather is fine and before we get busy again. There are several places where beet seeds have been planted already. We haven’t got our seeds planted yet, but are expecting it in a short while. The field has been ploughed & ready to be planted.	Labour-conditions
mototsune-147	This year it seems as though its [sic] going to be very hot. For the past few weeks, I’ve worn no overcoat but a ¾ jacket every day. We can’t compare it with the weather when we first came here. This year I think we’re going to have 25-27 acres of beets. Last year we had only 21 acres although we came for 25. Dad doesn’t want to do so much. We tell him that we could do at least 30 acres, but he won’t say “okay.” He keeps on saying that 25 acres is enough. Oh, well, its [sic] up to him,	Living-conditions Labour-conditions
mototsune-148	& so much the better I am sending you some pictures with this letter. Don’t you think its about time to do so? The’re [sic] not very good pictures, but when we do take some better ones, I will send you some even if its a year after.	Photographs
mototsune-149	Well, I think this is all I have to say for now, and I’ll try to write sooner next time. In the meantime, I’ll be waiting for your sweet hand-writing to come. Very	Communications Communications
mototsune-150	best regards to your father and mother and wish you the best of luck in future [sic].
mototsune-151	Love from a pal, Sumi.
mototsune-152	P.S.1. I just finished looking over your February 21st letter and you wanted to know how we were making out on ration cards. Well, as for sugar, we’re going swell. For butter, we get so far behind that many tickets have been thrown away. We use around two lbs. a week. We don’t buy any coffee at all. As for tea, we just can’t buy all the tickets worth. Only ones who drinks [sic] it are my mom, dad, Kay & myself very seldom. The rest drinks milk or cocoa.	WWII
mototsune-153	P.S.2. Mother would be very glad if you could send some plants. She’s planning to have a flower garden this year & have already planted some poppy seeds. She doesn’t mind what kind of plants you send unless it won’t be such a bother to you. I’m sure she’d appreciate anything you can send. When we do go back to S.W. she said she’d take all the presents back, so if you want anything special, just say so in the letters. This is about the only way in which I can ever repay you. S.M.	Homesickness
mototsune-154	P.S. 3. Please overlook my errors and scribbling (AND HOW!!).	Communications
mototsune-155	P.S. 4. I forgot all about the “Sadie Hawkin’s Day.” We had it last month for a month week. Some boys were dressed up as ladies and what beautiful ladies they seemed! (especially the legs.) Three of the tallest boys were on stilts which made them appear as a giant. The got a good kick of it. Almost every girls wore pigtails. This was the first time I’ve ever worn pigtails to school. Some sights!!!!! Enough said, I think!!!!! S.M.	Recreation Education
mototsune-156	Raymond Hi-School.	Education
mototsune-157	The trees at the front of the school has [sic] been cut down. There are three cement walks leading into the front of the building. This picture shows only one in the centre. More rooms has [sic] been added at the farther side of the building. My home room is at the corner where the girl is standing all alone.	Education
mototsune-158	Box 167,	Letter 7
mototsune-159	Raymond,
mototsune-160	Alberta.
mototsune-161	July 18/43.
mototsune-162	My dearest Joan,
mototsune-163	It was a pleasure hearing from you after a long time. I was terribly worried if you had stopped corresponding with me, but I knew it couldn’t be true because you’re not the type of a girl who would so such things. Well, anyways, thanks a million for your ever-welcomed letter and I was certainly glad to hear from you again.	Joan Communications
mototsune-164	How is everybody in your family back home? Well, I hope, as we all are also.
mototsune-165	School’s over, and here I am at home. I stayed out almost three weeks from school on account of beet work and went back on the day before our June exams. That was June 18th, and the following week from Monday to Thursday I went to take my tests. So I got out of school on June 24th.	Education
mototsune-166	Teruko (Yr. 8) got out on June 21st and went back on the 22nd to get her report card. My smallest sister, Marion, passed with honour, so she got out from school on June 16th. Lucky thing, she gets out the earliest and doesn’t have to do a bit of work in the beets. She’s just a spoiled kid in our family who never “grows up.” Gee, I was boiling mad the day I went back to school our health teacher gave us our Health Exam and I didn’t even glance over my notes. I still think it was her fault because Health Exam was scheduled on June 25th and I was expecting it on that date. I don’t know whether I passed or flunked in it (most likely flunked!) because we get our results mailed to us around middle of August from the Department of Education. On the same day we also got Home Ec. Exam and a little Soc. St. test. I don’t think I have to say much	Education
mototsune-167	about that! All I have to say is that I fail my grade, I intend to quit school and go out working. Probably house-working in winter and farming in summer. That’s about all the work there is for girls out here. Well, I hope I passed (because I prayed to God about it) because I still want to continue with my schooling.	Education Gender-dynamics Labour-conditions
mototsune-168	All in all, we did thirty-four acres of thinning beets this year, (we have only twenty-six acres of our own.) and about forty acres of hoeing beets. Dad helped us hoe about half of our beets and then he went to work for our boss. So the rest of the family – Kay, Teruko, Sam & myself finished our beets and did fourteen acres of a man’s down at Stirling. Mom did washings and cooking for the family, making lunches and caring for the house. Marion would stay all day at our boss’s and just come out to the field when its [sic] time to eat. She wouldn’t miss her share of the lunch for	Labour-conditions
mototsune-169	anything. This year, we worked shorter hours; from 6:00 A.M – 8:00 P.M. We were all really surprised to find ourselves working faster this year. Last year, we worked longer hours and did only around 1 ½ acres, while this year, we worked approximately three hours shorter and do almost three acres a day. It rained quite a bit this year, but not as much as last year.	Labour-conditions
mototsune-170	Whenever it rained, I stayed home and rested. Heck, who wants to go to school when they’re tired? If I did go to school, I’ll be sleeping during the classes.	Education
mototsune-171	We finished our hoeing thinning on Friday, June 25th, one day after I finished my exams. We started on our hoeing on June 28, rested on 30th because it rained, & also on July 1st, (Stampede Day) and finished on July 8th. Last year, on July 8th we just finished our thinning beets. The weather plays a large part in our work, I’ll say.	Labour-conditions
mototsune-172	Gee, Joan, I wish you were with me or I with you. It’s a shame war can endure in this civilized	Homesickness Joan WWII
mototsune-173	world, isn’t it? I hope we can meet all over again just once more in the near future.	Optimism
mototsune-174	Dad has gone to the Church Service to-day [sic]. Since we came out here, I haven’t gone to a service but once. Back at the coast, we used to go to Sunday-School every week, but out here, it’s so inconvenient – no bus, or no tram to take. Walking nine miles (both ways) every Sunday over a gravel road is too far, so we stay at home and tune in a service over the radio. Sam takes his bike and goes to the Sunday-School in the morning and Dad takes the bike for the afternoon service. The could take turns between them, but the girls can’t, so we ordered another bike among us.	Recreation communications
mototsune-175	Dad is looking for a car which he wants to buy, ‘cause it’s too inconvenient from town and we don’t want to walk half mile [sic] to our beet field (one way) every day.	Labour-conditions
mototsune-176	Everybody in our family went to the Stampede so I tagged along	Recreation
mototsune-177	with them. This year we went on the 1st instead of 2nd, so we saw the parade. For such a small town as Raymond the parade was really quite good. The stampede programme was same as every year and I didn’t enjoy the programme part, but otherwise I did. After the stampede we went to a Buck Jones’ picture. The theatre was so full they had to close the wicket for a while. I never saw such a crowd of people in Raymond since I came here. Streets were crowded and cafes were just packed full. To get an ice-cream cone, I had to wait approximately twenty to thirty minutes. There was [sic] at least 18,000 at the stampede. (so it says in the “Raymond Recorder.”) Lucky for us, we had a good chance and got a ride home it was around 10:00 P.M. when we arrived home. Next day we worked Fiddle-sticks! It seems to me that I get more tired when I	Recreation
mototsune-178	rest instead of working steadily day after day. I believe it was on June 22nd, I wasn’t intending to go to Shirley Temple’s “Miss Annie Rooney” show, but I went anyways, in spite of the tests the day after. I had to refresh my memory by going to a show. Oh! my! I forgot! ……	Recreation
mototsune-179	Congratulations, to you, Joan & I hope you find your next grade as simple as you did this term. Don’t worry, you’ll always pass your grade with the highest honour, and if you don’t, nobody will. But that’ll be the day! You’ve always did and always will! To me, you’re the brightest student in the whole school.	Joan
mototsune-180	Father will be starting on [sic] Mr. Jensen’s chicken-house tomorrow. Mr. Jensen is the manager of the Social Credit Bank in Raymond. Chicken-houses are a nuisance to him.	Farm-owners
mototsune-181	He wants to build boats, the ones he was building back at the coast; but I’m afraid he won’t get any chance to build one out here on the prairies.	Homesickness
mototsune-182	We decided to raise chickens, but we can’t as the hawks & weasels gets [sic] them. Then we decided to raise pigs, but we also find it a great problem to solve.	Living-conditions
mototsune-183	I’m afraid, Joan, I can’t write such interesting letters as you could. There’s nothing interesting to write about, and even if there is, I can’t write it as you do. I guess I had better close as this letter will, no doubt, be boring you, so I will close with love and hoping to meet you very soon,	Communications Optimism
mototsune-184	I remain,
mototsune-185	Your affectionate friend,
mototsune-186	Sumi.
mototsune-187	P.S. Excuse me for the water blotches on the letter.
mototsune-188	P.S. Please write soon as possible [sic].
mototsune-189	P.S. Mother send her best regards to you and the rest of your family. Love – S.
mototsune-190	Box 167,	Letter 8
mototsune-191	Raymond,
mototsune-192	Alta.,
mototsune-193	Sept. 24/43.
mototsune-194	Dearest Joan,
mototsune-195	Just a sheet with few lines to say “Hello” and “How are you”. It’s been quite a long time since I’ve heard from you last, and I hope you are all well as we are also.
mototsune-196	I imagine you’re going to school every day and enjoying your everyday life. That’s swell!!! Life is very dull out here … no school, no play.
mototsune-197	Guess what??? It’s but topping season now. Think of us in the field pulling and topping beets while you’re doing your geometry, social studies, etc. will you Joan? And I’ll think of you having a wonderful time while I work. School begins sometimes in October this year. From Tuesday this week, we’ve been going to top beets every day (about two miles from here.) He comes for us about 7:30 A.M. and takes us home again around 7:00 P.M. This year	Labour-conditions Homescickness
mototsune-198	we do around 1 ½ acres. We might do more when it comes to our beets because we’ll start earlier in the A.M. and quit later in the P.M. and also we’ll work twice as hard as what we’re doing now. This year we have 26 acres and I suppose it will take around 2 weeks and no later, I hope, as we don’t want to pull beets out of the snow. Last year, we finished just in time. The day after we finished, it snowed, but we still had to work in the snow as we did 3 acres of somebody else’s after ours.
mototsune-199	Oh! but I have so many things to tell you about the beets and every thing out here; I don’t think I could write everything I want to in the letter.	Communications Communications
mototsune-200	Well, I’m just wishing for the day when you and me, telling and hearing each other’s story for hours and hours of what we’ve missed. I only wish it would be soon, don’t you think so, Joan? I’ll write again; a longer letter and I’ll be waiting for yours everyday.	Optimism Joan Homesickness
mototsune-201	Your friend as ever, Sumi E. M.
mototsune-202	Dear Joan,
mototsune-203	I am enclosing with this letter a postcard showing you a corner of the C. Sugar Factory. The things which are in the box cars are beets. You see at the extreme right of the picture, a pile of beets. This pile grows at least fifty times larger. I am not exaggerating. Love, Sumi.
mototsune-204	Box 167,	Letter 9
mototsune-205	Raymond, Alta.
mototsune-206	Dec. 28/43.
mototsune-207	My dearest Joan,
mototsune-208	I am just writing few lines to tell you how glad I was to receive your package. Thanks a million, Joan. Honestly, I never dreamed of receiving such a lovely gift. Thanks ever so much, again, Joan. The package arrived in good condition after all the careful work you put into it.	Communications
mototsune-209	After I received your gift, I’m really ashamed of how I sent mine and the content inside it. I m [sic] very sorry, but I was rushing and just got what was at hand, and I didn’t get pretty wrapping paper, nor stickers nor anything. I’m really ashamed of myself and next year I’ll know better what & how to send presents.	Communications Joan
mototsune-210	Did you have a good Christmas Day? Did you have a White Xmas? We didn’t, but I hope you did. Honestly, Christmas day [sic] seemed just as if it were an ordinary day and an autumn weather [sic] – no snow.	Living-conditions
mototsune-211	As a matter of fact, we didn’t have much snow so far this winter as we did last winter; and it seems as if it is warmer too.	Living-conditions
mototsune-212	I came home on the morning of the 25th. On Christmas Eve, those folks (The Roddicks) went out from 8:30 P.M. and came back around 11:30 P.M. with a bunch of friends & they didn’t go home till 3:00 in the morning. I had to stay home and put the baby to bed. She slept well until the bunch came and she was up till they went home. Poor kid, I don’t blame her for staying up so late with the radio going on full blast, piano playing, singing carols and talking so loud. On Christmas morning, I slept in till 8:30 A.M. and they slept in till 9:30 A.M. We had breakfast and I finished dishes around 11:00 A.M. Mr. Roddick helped dry the dishes. This was	Labour-conditions
mototsune-213	his first time to help me with the dishes and he hopes that it will be his last. I don’t blame him as there was a whole stack from the night before.	Labour-conditions
mototsune-214	I reached home around 12:30 and we had our Christmas dinner around 6:00 P.M. This year we got two turkeys for Christmas present so we had one for Xmas and the other is to be fore [sic] New Year’s. Honestly, I had the most worst stomach ache I had for ages. I think I ate too much turkey and cranberries. Christmas is dull out here. I wish we had the same Christmas as we did back there. Out here, we don’t have a Christmas tree, nor Church Services nor a picture show. We could have a Christmas tree, but we didn’t bring our tree ornaments with us. Xmas isn’t fun out here, and on radio	Homesickness Living-conditions Belonging
mototsune-215	programmes they don’t sing many Christmas carols nor have a [sic] good Christmas stories on the air. It doesn’t seem a bit like a [sic] Christmas.	Homesickness Living-conditions Belonging
mototsune-216	The other day, my father won a quilt from a ticket which he bought for 25ȼ. Oh, it’s pretty and nicely finished. (I don’t mean to brag or boast about it). It’s a wine taffeta comforter with a pretty design on it. The drawing took place in the 2nd Ward Morman [sic] Church. I was certainly surprised when his name was drawn, only he wasn’t there, so Kay went and received it.
mototsune-217	Well, I really think I must close now. Thanks again, Joan, for the lovely present and I hope you had a very merry Christmas and hope to have a “Happy and Prosperous New Year.”
mototsune-218	With lots of love,
mototsune-219	Sumi M.
mototsune-220	Box 167,	Letter 10
mototsune-221	Raymond.
mototsune-222	Alberta.
mototsune-223	Ap. 7/44.
mototsune-224	My dear Joan:
mototsune-225	I am so ashamed of myself for not writing to you, that I don’t deserve to have such a good friend as you. Don’ you think that I’m terribly ignorant and stubborn?	Communications
mototsune-226	Well, how are you, Joan, and the rest of the family?? I hope that you are all fine as we all are well. How is your little brother coming along? I bet he’s the cutest little baby in this whole world. Aren’t you proud of him? Gee, I can’t wait to see him.	Joan
mototsune-227	How are you getting along in school? No doubt, you’re getting along fine as you always doe. We only have our Easter holidays today (Ap. 7) and on Monday. (Ap. 10). Isn’t it a short	Education
mototsune-228	holiday? How long do you get yours? Now’s my chance to get my book reviews written. Imagine, five book-reviews and then “school-books.” (they’re library books, but a list of books are suggested for school-reading; and we have to read 10 off [sic] this list.) I’ve read all my ten books but I haven’t written any book-reviews, yet.	Education
mototsune-229	In French “Author’s” text, we read ten stories out of fifteen. In French “Grammar” text, we’ll be finished with this course by the end of this month, & we’re going to review over [sic]. There is only 12 students in Fr. II class – 9 girls & 3 boys!	Education
mototsune-230	In Typing, I’m on Block 13. I’m taking it over because I didn’t finish to the end in Gr. 9. Instead, we get only 3 credits because we take only 3 periods per week.	Education
mototsune-231	We had a debate against	Education
mototsune-232	Gr. 12 and we lost by one point.	Education
mototsune-233	We finished our Sociology text, so we’re reviewing over again. After we have finished that, we’re going to work in groups on a project. We haven’t decided on the topic, yet. I went to the Kinsmen’s – “Milk for Britain Fund, Victory Revue.” It was held in the opera house, and was there a crowd!! The programme [sic] was good – from 8:30 to 10:30. P.M.	Education
mototsune-234	We’ll be moving very soon but I don’t know when or where. Don’t worry, the address will be same [sic], only we’re not going to work on Maudsley’s farm anymore. It’s too far from school and very inconvenient.	Labour-conditions Forced-displacement
mototsune-235	Kay is still working at Mrs. Kate Card’s. See, Card’s house is certainly pretty, both inside and out. It’s a very modern, streamlined, well-equipped home. All in all, there is are 16 rooms and 2 large hallways. Kay says that the folks are nice.	Labour-conditions
mototsune-236	I’m still working at the banker’s [sic]. They had a notice to move since last fall, but they haven’t been transferred yet. The girl certainly is getting honory [ornery?]. And is she ever spoiled, being the only child. She’ll be two years old in June. I’m teaching her to point where-ever I say; such as nose, mouth, eye, etc. She might be a spoiled child, but she’s not so dumb. On the whole, she’s quite clever.	Labour-conditions
mototsune-237	Our school-paper, which was destributed [sic] on Monday, created quite a disturbance. The cover, which had every teacher’s cartoon and nick-names on it, had “APRIL FOOLS” written on it because it was an April issue. That afternoon all the teacher’s bowled Hazel Taylor (the artist) out, not for the cartoons, but for the word “FOOLS.” They didn’t like the letter “S.” on “fools.” The	Education
mototsune-238	whole school got mad at the teachers and the next day the high school went on a strike. (I forgot to mention this, but the principal locked the “Hi-Times” Room on Monday P.M. [sic]) On the bulletin board, somebody pinned up a large paper with the words painted in red paint “DICTATORS – FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.” On Tuesday night, around 10:00 - 10:30 P.M., the kids had a – a real one, with torches and banners declaring the freedom of the “Hi – Times” room. They even stopped the traffic and blockaded the roads. It surely was some “mob mind.” The radio broadcasted about this over the air and it was also written in the papers. Some school, and some kids!!!!! Majority [sic] of the students came back on Wed. but there was [sic] some who still stayed out. The whole town was talking about the “high-school.” The kids were	Education
mototsune-239	so mad at the teachers that they pinned the “Hi-Times” cover all over the town and broke into the school office and pinned the covers all over the walls and the desk [sic]. So you can just imagine what the whole town was talking about for four days. I’ll enclose the Hi-Times cover with this letter. The cartoons are very good, especially Mr. Gloat, who certainly is a gloat. And how!!!!!	Education
mototsune-240	Well, I guess I’ve talked enough about school, so I’ll quit. But I couldn’t let this riot slip by unless I wrote to you about it.
mototsune-241	Write me something about QE. school, what’s happening and so on.	Homesickness
mototsune-242	Some day I’m going to Lethbridge and get my picture taken. I promise to send you one as soon as	Photographs
mototsune-243	I get it taken. Don’t faint when you see it though.	Photographs
mototsune-244	Well, today was Good Friday, but it didn’t seem as though it was. I got a new dress for Easter which I’m going to wear on Easter Sunday to the church. It’s gold and brown with dirndl effect skirt and V neckline and short sleeves. I’m also getting a jacket made. It The material is green tweed with brown leather buttons.	Recreation
mototsune-245	I’ll have to close the letter for this time, as it is getting late. Wasn’t this some trash? I admit that I dread writing letters but enjoy receiving one. So please write as soon as you can. If you put it off as I did, well, I wouldn’t be angry as I deserve	Communications
mototsune-246	to be negelected. So I’ll close now with love –	Communications
mototsune-247	Your friend as ever,
mototsune-248	Sumi
mototsune-249	P.S. I hope you have a good Easter. S.M.
mototsune-250	Box 167,	Letter 11
mototsune-251	Raymond,
mototsune-252	Alberta.
mototsune-253	July 6, 1944.
mototsune-254	Dearest Joan,
mototsune-255	I was very glad to hear from you again, Joan. I think it is time that I write to you now.
mototsune-256	How are you and everybody in your family? And how is your brother coming along? I bet he’s cute; I [sic] like to see him. Send a picture of him of you have any, will you please?	Joan Photographs
mototsune-257	Well, I finished writing all my exams today. Hip! Hip! Hurrah!!! We started writing ours from Monday. When did you write your exams? (that is, if you had to write any.)	Education
mototsune-258	I hardly knew a thing, since I was out for beets and missed all the important preludes to the examination. I hate to hear my marks, which will be sent probably next month. Well, school is over for another term and am I ever glad! Aren’t you?	Education Labour-conditions
mototsune-259	We moved, did you know? Oh yes, I forgot that I wrote to you about it in the last letter.	Living-conditions
mototsune-260	Our French exam was exactly one and three-quarters hours [sic] long and even at that, we had to rush. There were two very long passeges [sic] to translate from French into English. One of them we took it up in authors and the other one was the one we had never seen before. It was a joke and it was quite	Education
mototsune-261	funny. We also had ten verbs in the principal parts to translate from Eng. into French. Last but not least, we had 15 long long sentences to write. I mean from Eng. into French. On the whole, the exam wasn’t bad. She gave us a harder test in French many times before. Our French teacher is Mrs. Shortliffe. She’s still very young and she is loads of fun, especially in French class, because there are only twelve in the class. She’s quite different in our English class. There’s always some foolish smart alecs who cracks jokes and which makes her mad. Talk about her temper, whew!! And she hasn’t red hair either!	Education
mototsune-262	Our Chemistry exam wasn’t bad either, but our Eng. test was. I guess it’s because	Education
mototsune-263	I never even looked at my notes or verses or essays and proses. I am quite certain I flunked in Eng.	Education
mototsune-264	Oh, Joan, but you don’t know how lucky you are to have a formal gown. I wish I was in your boots[.] If ever your gown gets too short for you, send it over. I’ll be glad to have it, and how! How did the banquet come out? Did you have a good time? I certainly hope you did. Goodness, I don’t even know how to dance.
mototsune-265	Did you know what? We have sixty baby chicks, but they are grew quite a bit now. We have 4 mother hens and no roosters, but I think half of the chicks are roosters. My! but hase [sic] some got long legs and necks. The chicks are in their ugliest stage right	Living-conditions Labour-conditions
mototsune-266	now. We also have two kittens, but they don’t bother the chicks because mother hen pecked at them once; and now they wouldn’t even go near the chickens.	Living-conditions
mototsune-267	The radio is now playing “The Campbells are Coming.” I like that song, don’t you?	Recreation
mototsune-268	Gee, you know, Joan, I missed a good chance of going to Waterton Park this year. You remember the Roddick family, don’t you? – (The family where I stayed as a school girl last winter.) Well, they came over and asked me if I wanted to go with them to Waterton Park for a week from July 1st to July 8th. Boy! I certainly wished to go, but heck! I had to write exams that	Recreation Education
mototsune-269	following week. Was I ever mad!!!! I don’t think I’ll ever have such a good chance like that again.	Recreation Education
mototsune-270	We went to the Raymond Stampede again this year. It’s the same thing all over, but you know, one can desire fun when there’s a crowd down town [sic]. The day was just perfect – not hot, and not cold. I had five cones, two hot-dogs and three bottles of orange crush (orange crush was all that they sold.)	Recreation
mototsune-271	I also took a picture of which I am going to enclose one in this letter. It’s not good, but it’s just me with the same big face and funny nose. It’s about time I sent you one, don’t you	Photographs
mototsune-272	think? A man from the Lethbridge studio came over to Raymond and established a little room to take pictures. I think he’s going back to Lethbridge this Saturday. He is quick in developing pictures so lot [sic] of people get their pictures taken. Usually, he has them develop-ed the next day.	Photographs
mototsune-273	This summer is quite hot and dry. The beets are not so good as last year’s, either. But for a change, it rained today for almost two hours! Were we ever glad! Especially Dad! He kept saying to himself, “Ah! rain, rain! Good for the ducks and beets.” Satisfied, Dad went to bed at 8:30 tonight. It is now 10:05 P.M.	Labour-conditions living-conditions Labour-conditions
mototsune-274	Well, Joan, I am out of news so I guess I had ought to close. I hope I’ll to hear from you soon. Here’s hoping you’re all well and happy,
mototsune-275	Your friend as ever,
mototsune-276	Sumi Mototsune
mototsune-277	P.S. On July 1st I went to see Roy Rogers in “Song of Texas.” This was my first time that I saw Roy Roger’s picture. Being a Dominion Day, there were 2 features. – Song of Texas and the other one which I forgot; but both pictures were swell. S.M.	Recreation
mototsune-278	Box 167,	Letter 12
mototsune-279	Raymond,
mototsune-280	Alberta.
mototsune-281	Aug. 16/44
mototsune-282	My dear Joan,
mototsune-283	Since I haven’t heard from you for a long time, I thought I had better write to you and see what’s the matter. I hope you are not seriously sick or ill. If you are, I wouldn’t know what to do; but I am just hoping that you are well and having such a fine time that you can’t be bothered writing letters. I hope that my guess is right.	Communications Joan
mototsune-284	Today, I put up six quarts of table-beets. Yes, I really did all the work by myself. Imagine!! But I wouldn’t	Labour-conditions
mototsune-285	be a bit surprised if they spoil within a month or so. In fact, I’ll be surprised if they don’t. All in all, I’ve put up 12 qt. of green beans, 12 qt. of table-beets, 4 ½ jars of plum jam, 1 ½ jars of blueberry jam and 1 ½ [jars?] of raspberry jam. We’ll be putting up fruits later and probably some more jam if we have any sugar left. This is the first time we have ever put up any vegetables or fruits or jam. We are sort of climbing up to it. I suppose you have put up some vegetables already and probably some fruits.	Labour-conditions
mototsune-286	Our garden isn’t too bad providing that this year is rather hot and dry. We	Labour-conditions
mototsune-287	irrigated it 3 times already. How is your garden? Our sugar-beets at first seemed burned up and almost hopeless, but since we irrigated them, they grew all of a sudden. We
mototsune-288	The other day I went to see Roy Rogers in “King of the Cowboys.” Did you see that picture-show? I thought it was a good picture. I hardly go to shows unless they are cowboy or mystery pictures. I can’t resist cowboy shows; I don’t like comical pictures much. Do you?	Recreation
mototsune-289	Well, I guess I had better close for now. Please excuse my scribbling and please overlook my errors. I am very poor in writing	Communications
mototsune-290	letters. I guess you know that by now. Here’s hoping you are in the best of health and best regards to you all.	Communications
mototsune-291	Your friend forever;
mototsune-292	Sumi Mototsune
mototsune-293	P.S. Please write soon and tell me if anything is the matter with you. I’m worried. S.M.	Joan
mototsune-294	Box 167,	Letter 13
mototsune-295	Raymond, Alta.
mototsune-296	June 4, 1945.
mototsune-297	Dearest Joan;
mototsune-298	I’m so ashamed of myself, I don’t know how to start this letter. Let me see …. When was it when I last wrote to you? It’s been so long I haven’t the faintest recollection. Well, anyways, I hope you will forgive me, Joan. I was so busy ???????? etc.	Communications
mototsune-299	Dear me, we started thinning our beets this morning and the rain ruined our first day.	Labour-conditions
mototsune-300	Here we are at home, 10:45 A.M., and I decided to write and tell you I am safe and sound. Hope you and the rest are all well. I didn’t know that we were out of ink, so please excuse the pencil. Don’t mind my scrawl as I am in a hurry, for	Communications labour-conditions
mototsune-301	we’ll be going out this afternoon again.
mototsune-302	Do you know, I’m writing five government exams this year? I’m so thrilled — only I hope I don’t flunk any of them. I’ll be writing three of teacher’s exams before June 27th. I hope I could go back for a week’s review. When do you get your exams? When will you be out of school? I write my last exam on July 6th. [Ill.] that horrible? It’ll be so hot then, that I don’t think I could think.	Education
mototsune-303	How did you celebrate V E Day? On Monday we had a holiday from the afternoon and on that night we had a thanksgiving service from 8:30 P.M. and after the service we had a bonfire (rotten railroad ties and salvaged rubbers) and after the bonfire we had a free dance at the Opera House. Oh yes, I forgot to tell you, we burned Hitler (dummy)	WWII
mototsune-304	in the bonfire. It was awfully cold that night but the bonfire certainly warmed us up. A huge crowd had gathered that night. Aren’t you glad war’s half over at least?	WWII
mototsune-305	We have two of the cutest whitest kittens. Honestly, I don’t mean to boast, but I really think they’re cute.	Recreation
mototsune-306	I believe your brother’s cute too, if he took after you. I wish I could see him. How old is he now? Here’s a small boy at the place where Kay was working. He’s only five but he’s quite clever. I think he’s sort of cute too.	Joan Homesickness
mototsune-307	I ran out of writing material so I guess I had better close for now. Please write soon. I’ll be waiting for your reply. Send me love to all and especially “to Little Kenny” —
mototsune-308	With loads of love
mototsune-309	from Sumi.
mototsune-310	Raymond,	Letter 14
mototsune-311	Alberta.
mototsune-312	Aug. 20/45.
mototsune-313	Dearest Joan:
mototsune-314	I don’t know whether I should congratulate you first or tell you I’m sorry for not writing sooner.	Communications
mototsune-315	At any rate, Congratulations, Joan, and I hope you all the success in the world. I’m awfully glad you graduated and for being the most proficient girl student. You well deserved the title.	Joan
mototsune-316	Thank you for the Q. E. VUE and the pretty photo. You look so charming and mature. Everybody says you are so pretty. If ever I take a picture of myself, I promise to send you one. I could not find a suitable card so I just bought one which was the most suitable. What I sent to you about a month ago is just a small appreciation for your kindness and to show how glad I am you graduated.	Communications Photographs
mototsune-317	It’s nothing much —.
mototsune-318	I bet you didn’t worry half as much as I did. My gov’t exam results came a week ago last Monday. Honestly I was scared stiff even to open the envelope. I won’t tell you my marks in number, but I got an A in every subject. You should have seen how surprised I was because I had expected D’s & failures. My teachers’ exams results – Psychology, Alg. I, Law – have not arrived yet but am [sic] expecting them soon. At least I know I passed Soc. St., Eng., Chem., and French, thank heavens! Now I have only 7 more credits to complete my 100 cr. and I’ll get my sen. matric next year. (ie. I hope!!!) Since I missed a month’s review (from June 4th – 28th) I thought for sure I was going to fail, but luck certainly was with me. I wrote my	Education
mototsune-319	exams from June 28th – July 5th. It’s a choice between writing or failing flat, so I thought I’d write, and I certainly am glad I did. Teruko Ikeda wrote only her Eng. Exam and didn’t write the rest. She found the exams too tough. You should have been with me the night before the exams. With such a clever girl as you, I might have got something in my dull mind. I used to come home about 6:00 P.M. and study steadily until midnight – sometimes even until one. I didn’t like to go home while the rest were out in the field working, but I could not help it. Trying to study a year’s work in six or seven hours is quite difficult for me. (of course, it would not be so with you.) When the next morning came, my mind was a complete blank. I’m still surprised how I even passed my exams.	Education
mototsune-320	You are fortunate to graduate in a formal, banquet, dance and everything. It was always my dream to graduate that way, but it seems as if my dream has vanished. Over here, it is really dull for graduates, although I am not one this year.	Homesickness Education
mototsune-321	You’ll make a very good teacher (even if I say so) and I am sure you will succeed as one. If I had as much brain as you, I will definitely go in for teaching.
mototsune-322	Congratulations to Donalda, too. With such pep, energy, cleverness and a leading ability she will make a school term successful and lots of fun. She is a lucky girl.
mototsune-323	Thank you for the Q. E. Vue I read every word in it and it surely was interesting. There aren’t very many students left by the time they reach Gr. 12, are there? There were about 24 in our	Homesickness Education
mototsune-324	Gr. 12. last year.
mototsune-325	I am glad the war is over for good. What did you do to celebrate? In Raymond there was a bonfire and a free dance. I can hardly believe war is over.	WWII
mototsune-326	Have you seen “National Velvet”? I saw it last [ill.] night. It’s good. Marion (she is the baby of our family) went to see it twice. She is so crazy about horses – all day long she does nothing but draw horses and Margaret O’Brien. She wants a colt for herself but we’ll have to think of our credit first.	Recreation
mototsune-327	Right now I am doing nothing. Just loafing or else canning. On Sept. 15th I promised a lady I will come and help her clean the house they are going to move in. It is a big Gambling house – 3 floored and lots of rooms. It was formerly owned by	Living-conditions Labour-conditions
mototsune-328	Dr. Hall (dentist) who moved to Vancouver last winter. I have decided to stay with her this winter — going to school part of time and helping her part of time and getting paid. Her husband is a manager of the Bank of Montreal. They have only two girls — a six year old and a two year old.	Living-conditions Labour-conditions
mototsune-329	How is everybody? Well, I hope, as we are all in good health.
mototsune-330	Government exams are tough, don’t you think so? Every exam is 3 hours long. Of course, those who made up the exams do not expect you to finish the paper. Some papers, such as French contain as much as 22 pages. Chemistry had only 19 pages. It had the least.	Education
mototsune-331	I don’t know where Tori is but Mitsuro is in Man. If you want his address,	Homesickness Communications Forced-displacement
mototsune-332	it is Box 365, Emerson, Manitoba. Did you know that his sister (the one just below him) passed away almost two years ago?	Homesickness Communications Forced-displacement
mototsune-333	The weather over here is not so hot as it used to be, which proves that autumn is near and that means beet topping. I even hate to think about it. I don’t like farm work but I like a [sic] business work. I wish I could go to a business school but I guess that’s out. Our credit, you know.	Living-conditions Labour-conditions
mototsune-334	I think I have written a lot for now. Please excuse my scrawly writing as I got sleepy and scribbled just to get through quicker. I hope everything is okay your way. I might be a bit late, but just the same, congratulations and good luck! Thank you ever so much for all what you	Communications
mototsune-335	sent me. I can’t thank you enough. Many success in the future.
mototsune-336	Love, Sumi.
mototsune-337	Box 167,	Letter 15
mototsune-338	Raymond,
mototsune-339	Alberta.
mototsune-340	January 21/45.
mototsune-341	Dearest Joan;
mototsune-342	Oh, I’m sorry, Joan. I’m so sorry, I never wrote sooner. I haven’t any excuse whatsoever.	Communications
mototsune-343	Thank you, thank you very very much for the school pin and the pretty socks. Honestly, I was always praying for a Q. E. pin but I never dreamt of getting one. It was a gift from heaven, I’m sure. You should see me now, I wear the pin all the time — to school, at home or to anywhere else. I thank you again, Joan. And oh! thanks a million for the pretty socks. It fits me well. How did you guess my size? (I wear 9 ½.) Honestly, you shouldn’t have sent me	Homesickness Education Joan
mototsune-344	such a gift. I don’t deserve it and it makes me ashamed of myself for receiving it.
mototsune-345	This may be a trifle late but, I’m glad you had a good Christmas and I hope you had a happy New Year’s too. We enjoyed our Christmas and New Year’s, thank you. We also had a marvelous Xmas dinner with an eighteen pound [sic] turkey. (It was a pound less than yours.) On that night we went to see — “Sensation of 1945.” I didn’t like it much [sic] as I did, “Bathing Beauty.” Have you seen this picture? I thought the picture was pretty but the story wasn’t too hot. On the 27th, we were invited to a dinner party and imagine, we came home at 3:30 A.M. I slept in ‘til 11:00 of the	Recreation
mototsune-346	following morning. It was lots of fun and I hoped you were there with us too. It would have been merrier, since its [sic] always gay & merry with you around.	Homesickness Joan
mototsune-347	Anyways, we had snow even though we had no Christmas tree. Oh! how we long for a Christmas tree that we had back there.	Homesickness Recreation
mototsune-348	We haven’t had much cold weather but we’re having plenty of snow, – more than last year. The coldest day we had this winter, so far, was 12 below. It’s not cold at all.	Living-conditions
mototsune-349	How are you passing your time? Do you like school? Oh, I dread school now. I used to like it before but I don’t know what’s happening to me now. I guess it’s because of the school and well, you’re not here with me or I with you. Another year of school for me and I’ll get my 100 credits	Education
mototsune-350	and a senior matric. I suppose you’ll be through this year. I’m very jealous, you know!!! I take four government exams this June – Soc. St., Eng., Chem., and French. I’m also taking Law, Psychology and Algebra. I love Chemistry and Algebra. I used to like Fr. I + II but I don’t now, since we have a different teacher. She’s Mrs. [ill.] Ridell from the east, of all places! Worse than that, she’s a real French-woman. We have to pronounce every word exact to suit her, and if we don’t, she docks some marks off the average. She takes up so much time on unnecessary work that we don’t seem to be travelling very fast; we get a government exam in it too!	Education
mototsune-351	How is school back there? Please write all about the dear Q.E.	Homesickness Education
mototsune-352	Basketball & skating are the	Recreation
mototsune-353	only sports now. I wish you were here. The ice is nice and the rink is free – no admission and no limited time. I’ve been to 2 basketball games this winter, & Raymond won both times. Oh, say, did you know that Sonny Ohama comes to our high school now? He’s on the basketball team too. I guess he can’t quit playing ball. I stayed for the dance after the game and danced ‘til 11:30. Usually, the game ends around 10:00 P.M. and the dance is open until midnight. It was lots of fun although I can’t dance very well as some kids.	Recreation Homesickness Joan
mototsune-354	If you were here, I’d take lessons from you but since you’re not, it’s quite impossible, isn’t it? I’m telling you again; I hope you were here with me	Joan Homesickness
mototsune-355	and share the fun together.
mototsune-356	Last Wednesday night, I went with Teruko Ikeda to see “White Cliffs of Dover.” Honestly, I thought this picture was perfect. I’d see it if I were you; or have you seen it too? “Jane Eyre” was also good. I read this story in Gr. XI and I vowed I’d see the show when it arrived. Well, I didn’t break my vow.	Recreation
mototsune-357	Believe it or not, our hens are beginning to lay eggs. We get 2 a day. There are left only 20 hens and one rooster. We ate all the rest. For a while, I was fed up with chicken but mother forced me in eating it so I had to eat it even though I didn’t appreciate it much.	Labour-conditions
mototsune-358	A miracle has happened to Raymond. The Raymond town bought a regular city bus for a school van. It	Living-conditions Education
mototsune-359	hasn’t started running yet. I heard that it was waiting for the licence, though I’m not sure. I’m glad the new bus is going to run soon. Then we won’t have to crowd or stand in a 45 degree angle. The size of our van right not is about 3/4 the size of your van (the orange one) and 12 kids ride on it, so you can imagine how crowded it is.
mototsune-360	Mother is always praising you. She says that if she were able to write, she’d write and express all the feelings she has for you. Honestly, she loves you. (ditto, here.) Remember the picture you gave me in Grade VIII for Christmas? (You are sitting on in your lawn with a book in your lap and you are wearing that pretty blue dress.) That picture is in our photo album and I’m sure it’ll always be there. The other pictures you sent of cadets and of dear	Joan Homesickness Belonging Photographs
mototsune-361	Joan in her overalls is are in the Album too. I love pictures and I could look at them all everyday without getting a bit fed up. That’s how much I like them.	Photographs
mototsune-362	I guess this is all for now. Really, you must overlook my numerous errors; they’re horrible! I ought to check and write over again, but I haven’t the time so please try and make out what I’m trying to say. I hope you will be able to read this scrawl. It’s horrible!!! isn’t it???	Communications
mototsune-363	Give my regards to all and I hope you are all in the best of health. Meanwhile, I’ll be looking forward for your reply.
mototsune-364	Your pal as ever,
mototsune-365	Sumi Mototsune.
mototsune-366	P.S. I bet your brother is cute! I love him because I know he must have taken after you S.M.

Ohama19420704

ohama19420704-1	July 4, 1942	1
ohama19420704-2	Ranier, Atla.
ohama19420704-3	Dear Joan:
ohama19420704-4	Hello there! I just received your letter last mail-day. Gee it was swell to hear from you. Thanks a million for writing.
ohama19420704-5	Gosh, I’ve been a terrible pal. You’ve got all the right in the world to be angry with me, Joan. I love being busy -- but not so busy that I should neglect writing to you. Gee, Joan, I’m awful sorry, I guess I was never cut-out to write letters. But from now on you can be sure you’ll hear from me often--	Communications Joan
ohama19420704-6	maybe too often. I hope you don’t think I’ve forgotten you. Do you? I was swell of youto write -- and -- gosh',' I just feel awful about it. Anyway we’re writing to each other now-- and thats what counts. Isn’t it? I still feel terrible and I guess I always will--unless you Say you’ll forgive me. Please!	2 Communications Joan
ohama19420704-7	Well to change the subject to something much more important, how are you, Joay[?]? How are your Mom and Dad? And little Donnie? I just know everythings all right. How are all your friends?	Joan
ohama19420704-8	I hope I’m still one of them. Let’s talk about you, Joan, shall we? Say, did you know you are a beautiful little flatterer? You had me “redder than a beet.” Really! But really Joan, you’re so understanding and everythin’, I think your [sic] swell. Honestly!! And, gosh, where did you learn to write so well. Honestly, when I read your letter, I think I’m sittin’ right next to you.	3 Joan
ohama19420704-9	Are you enjoying your holiday? Wasn’t that last minute of school, a grand and glorious Feelin’? I can just picture you, Joan, slamming your	Homesickness Education
ohama19420704-10	books in your suitcase and probably giving a shout of joy. I bet you made faces at the teachers you disliked. Say for instance,	4 Homesickness Education
ohama19420704-11	“Jackie Hockin[?].” Gosh, Joan, I hope and pray you didn’t have her next time. She’s just like you said, “Stupid,” and gosh I mean stupid. She’s the most ignorant person I know. I ought to know. She taught me for a couple of years and look what she done to me. Ha ha. Honestly though, I think she’s not fit to teach. But then, who am I to judge?	Education
ohama19420704-12	I am sorry to hear Mr. [???] is leaving you. He was swell to us. I haven’t much To say for Mr. Sanford. You won’t lose much by his going -- but Keatley! Ye gad! What a prize-sop[?]! Phooey on him!	5 Education
ohama19420704-13	Gee isn’t it terrible weather we’ve been havin! I guess it’s the same here as in Surrey, coz we’ve been havin' rain, rain and more rain. Honestly the last week (4 days) was the only “hot” days we’ve had since coming out here. Gosh! but was it hot. Whew! I never seen nothin’ like it.	Living-conditions
ohama19420704-14	I think I could fry an egg on a chunk of iron (we have no sidewalks).	6 Living-conditions
ohama19420704-15	At present we’ve been haying, and gosh is that a job. We’ve got some 30-odd acres of hay to put up. We cut it last week and now we are Bringin’ it in our hay-racks. We are blowin’ it into the barn loft with a grain separator. Gee this is the hardest job yet -- Oh! come to think of it, I hate fixin’ fence themost and we spent about 2 weeks fixin’ about 10 miles of fence. Gee that’s a job and	Labour-conditions
ohama19420704-16	I’ve got plenty of scars to show you, Joan. That darn barb wire can sure make some really nasty cuts.	7 Labour-conditions
ohama19420704-17	Say, by the way, now that you’ve got your holiday, what are you doin’? Are you workin’ somewhere?
ohama19420704-18	And, Joan, will you do me a favor--eat plenty of cherries for me--but don’t eat the green ones, I don’t want you to get sick. Gosh, I like cherries, don’t you?	Homesickness
ohama19420704-19	Joan, have you been in [???] swimmin’ lately? I guess we are pretty lucky ‘coz we’ve got a swell lake to swim only a few steps from the house.	Recreation
ohama19420704-20	Which reminds me, you ask about	Labour-conditions
ohama19420704-21	the farm so I’ll tell you about it. I guess Sonny has told you most of the things though. Well it’s not such a big farm as compared to some of them a round here, it’s got 3/4 [???].	8 Labour-conditions
ohama19420704-22	(I guess it’s large compared to our 10 acres back home -- but it’s far from being home.)	Homesickness
ohama19420704-23	You see we’re running the farm for a Mr. Burnett. He moved out to Calgary, so we’ve got the whole farm to ourselves.	Labour-conditions
ohama19420704-24	I guess we are pretty lucky at least I sure hate to work sugar-beets. It’s such a monotonous job. Well, anyway, we’ve got lots of cows (20), only 3 are milking cows.	Labour-conditions
ohama19420704-25	By the way, Sonny does all the chores. He milks like an “old maid” now. We have lots of horses about 25 but only 8 are working horses the rest of them are wild and they just romp around in the pasture back of our fields. We have two swell ridin’ horses. Gee, their [sic] beauties. I fell off once when I was too lazy to put on the saddle. (I couldn’t catch the horse again so I had to walk)	9 Labour-conditions
ohama19420704-26	I’ll send you some pictures of them and the farm as soon as I can.	Photographs Labour-conditions
ohama19420704-27	And Joan, remember those pictures you took when Sonny	Photographs Joan Homesickness
ohama19420704-28	Was over to your party, well he’s got them developed and he’s gonna send them to you -- but not until I get some prints. Some of them are swell.	10 Photographs Joan Homesickness
ohama19420704-29	Well, back here on the farm, all our crops are in, and they are coming along swell. We’ve got acres and acres of grain, and lots of spuds and vegetables like that. Gee it sure is some job keeping them clear of weeds.	Labour-conditions
ohama19420704-30	Say, Joan, how is your “Victory Garden” coming along? Swell, I hope.	WWII
ohama19420704-31	Say, Joan, one funny thing that I learned out here is that back home we cleared trees to plant	Labour-conditions
ohama19420704-32	things and out here we plant trees to get a wind-brake and to have some shade. Funny isn’t it?	11 Labour-conditions
ohama19420704-33	Oh yes! You asked how Rainier was. (I think you wrote RANIER but its Rainier) Anyway you won’t find it on the map its such a small dump. Its only our P.O. and our store and garage.	Living-conditions
ohama19420704-34	We get mail 2 times a week. By the way how long did this letter take to get to you? I ask because all mail coming in takes from two to three weeks! I only realized this a few weeks ago when my Brother brought it to my attention.	Communications
ohama19420704-35	Well, to get back to Rainier	Living-conditions
ohama19420704-36	as I said before it’s a dump. Its 3 miles away. Brooks is the nearest town it’s about the size of Cloverdale. I’ve been there only once. It’s about 25 miles away. We are about 140 miles South of Calgary. 80 miles from Lethbridge. So you see we are away from civilization. Ha! Ha!	12 Living-conditions
ohama19420704-37	I guess I’m just pushin’ words along so I guess I’ll say good-bye but before I do will you please give my best to your Mom and Dad and Donnie?	Homesickness
ohama19420704-38	Well take care of yourself, Joan, and be good.
ohama19420704-39	Good-Bye and Good Luck!
ohama19420704-40	Albert Ohama.
ohama19420704-41	P.S. c/o of Mr. Bennett is not necessary. Call me whatever you like, Joan. I could add a lot more of nick-names to your list but anything will do. I ain’t fussy -- much. Ha! Ha!	13 Communications Joan
ohama19420704-42	Al.
ohama19420704-43	P.P.S.
ohama19420704-44	Please excuse my hen-scratch. I know I’m a terrible writer. We have hens but they didn’t help me! Ha! Ha!	Communications
ohama19420704-45	Al.

Mototsune19460121

mototsune19460121-1	Box 167,
mototsune19460121-2	Raymond,
mototsune19460121-3	Alberta.
mototsune19460121-4	January 21/45.
mototsune19460121-5	Dearest Joan;
mototsune19460121-6	Oh, I’m sorry, Joan. I’m so sorry, I never wrote sooner. I haven’t any excuse whatsoever.	Communications
mototsune19460121-7	Thank you, thank you very very much for the school pin and the pretty socks. Honestly, I was always praying for a Q. E. pin but I never dreamt of getting one. It was a gift from heaven, I’m sure. You should see me now, I wear the pin all the time — to school, at home or to anywhere else. I thank you again, Joan. And oh! thanks a million for the pretty socks. It fits me well. How did you guess my size? (I wear 9 ½.) Honestly, you shouldn’t have sent me	Homesickness Education Joan
mototsune19460121-8	such a gift. I don’t deserve it and it makes me ashamed of myself for receiving it.	2
mototsune19460121-9	This may be a trifle late but, I’m glad you had a good Christmas and I hope you had a happy New Year’s too. We enjoyed our Christmas and New Year’s, thank you. We also had a marvelous Xmas dinner with an eighteen pound [sic] turkey. (It was a pound less than yours.) On that night we went to see — “Sensation of 1945.” I didn’t like it much [sic] as I did, “Bathing Beauty.” Have you seen this picture? I thought the picture was pretty but the story wasn’t too hot. On the 27th, we were invited to a dinner party and imagine, we came home at 3:30 A.M. I slept in ‘til 11:00 of the	Recreation
mototsune19460121-10	following morning. It was lots of fun and I hoped you were there with us too. It would have been merrier, since its [sic] always gay & merry with you around.	3 Homesickness Joan
mototsune19460121-11	Anyways, we had snow even though we had no Christmas tree. Oh! how we long for a Christmas tree that we had back there.	Homesickness Recreation
mototsune19460121-12	We haven’t had much cold weather but we’re having plenty of snow, – more than last year. The coldest day we had this winter, so far, was 12 below. It’s not cold at all.	Living-conditions
mototsune19460121-13	How are you passing your time? Do you like school? Oh, I dread school now. I used to like it before but I don’t know what’s happening to me now. I guess it’s because of the school and well, you’re not here with me or I with you. Another year of school for me and I’ll get my 100 credits	Education
mototsune19460121-14	and a senior matric. I suppose you’ll be through this year. I’m very jealous, you know!!! I take four government exams this June – Soc. St., Eng., Chem., and French. I’m also taking Law, Psychology and Algebra. I love Chemistry and Algebra. I used to like Fr. I + II but I don’t now, since we have a different teacher. She’s Mrs. [ill.] Ridell from the east, of all places! Worse than that, she’s a real French-woman. We have to pronounce every word exact to suit her, and if we don’t, she docks some marks off the average. She takes up so much time on unnecessary work that we don’t seem to be travelling very fast; we get a government exam in it too!	4 Education
mototsune19460121-15	How is school back there? Please write all about the dear Q.E.	Homesickness Education
mototsune19460121-16	Basketball & skating are the	Recreation
mototsune19460121-17	only sports now. I wish you were here. The ice is nice and the rink is free – no admission and no limited time. I’ve been to 2 basketball games this winter, & Raymond won both times. Oh, say, did you know that Sonny Ohama comes to our high school now? He’s on the basketball team too. I guess he can’t quit playing ball. I stayed for the dance after the game and danced ‘til 11:30. Usually, the game ends around 10:00 P.M. and the dance is open until midnight. It was lots of fun although I can’t dance very well as some kids.	5 Recreation Homesickness Joan
mototsune19460121-18	If you were here, I’d take lessons from you but since you’re not, it’s quite impossible, isn’t it? I’m telling you again; I hope you were here with me	Joan Homesickness
mototsune19460121-19	and share the fun together.	6
mototsune19460121-20	Last Wednesday night, I went with Teruko Ikeda to see “White Cliffs of Dover.” Honestly, I thought this picture was perfect. I’d see it if I were you; or have you seen it too? “Jane Eyre” was also good. I read this story in Gr. XI and I vowed I’d see the show when it arrived. Well, I didn’t break my vow.	Recreation
mototsune19460121-21	Believe it or not, our hens are beginning to lay eggs. We get 2 a day. There are left only 20 hens and one rooster. We ate all the rest. For a while, I was fed up with chicken but mother forced me in eating it so I had to eat it even though I didn’t appreciate it much.	Labour-conditions
mototsune19460121-22	A miracle has happened to Raymond. The Raymond town bought a regular city bus for a school van. It	Living-conditions Education
mototsune19460121-23	hasn’t started running yet. I heard that it was waiting for the licence, though I’m not sure. I’m glad the new bus is going to run soon. Then we won’t have to crowd or stand in a 45 degree angle. The size of our van right not is about 3/4 the size of your van (the orange one) and 12 kids ride on it, so you can imagine how crowded it is.
mototsune19460121-24	Mother is always praising you. She says that if she were able to write, she’d write and express all the feelings she has for you. Honestly, she loves you. (ditto, here.) Remember the picture you gave me in Grade VIII for Christmas? (You are sitting on in your lawn with a book in your lap and you are wearing that pretty blue dress.) That picture is in our photo album and I’m sure it’ll always be there. The other pictures you sent of cadets and of dear	Joan Homesickness Belonging Photographs
mototsune19460121-25	Joan in her overalls is are in the Album too. I love pictures and I could look at them all everyday without getting a bit fed up. That’s how much I like them.	Photographs
mototsune19460121-26	I guess this is all for now. Really, you must overlook my numerous errors; they’re horrible! I ought to check and write over again, but I haven’t the time so please try and make out what I’m trying to say. I hope you will be able to read this scrawl. It’s horrible!!! isn’t it???	Communications
mototsune19460121-27	Give my regards to all and I hope you are all in the best of health. Meanwhile, I’ll be looking forward for your reply.
mototsune19460121-28	Your pal as ever,
mototsune19460121-29	Sumi Mototsune.
mototsune19460121-30	P.S. I bet your brother is cute! I love him because I know he must have taken after you S.M.

Nagamori19430411

nagamori19430411-1	Lorette Manitoba	1
nagamori19430411-2	April 11 /43
nagamori19430411-3	Dear Joan:
nagamori19430411-4	Hellow there, Many thanks for the most welcome letter I received quite awhile ago and Gosh!
nagamori19430411-5	Was I glad to see a snapshot of yourself enclosed. Thanks a lot, Believe it or not I’ve got two snapshot of you now	Photographs
nagamori19430411-6	The other one was taken in your victory garden last year.	WWII Photographs
nagamori19430411-7	The weather we’re having these days isn’t too bad The snow is practically all gone making things look more like Spring The Seine River has expanded 15 times its	Living-conditions
nagamori19430411-8	width because this river hasn’t much of a bank This water has reached within 15 feet of our house. They say last year it was the worst since 1910 on this river The wheat fields are a sight now huge patches of water here and there deep enough to hold a couple on a light dinghy	2 Living-conditions
nagamori19430411-9	Maybe you have heard this In the middle of March we had a blizzard for 3 consecutive days 60 hrs. Behind our house the drift came as high as 9 ft. Yosh says he had a drift 15 ft high behind their	Living-conditions
nagamori19430411-10	house	3
nagamori19430411-11	How’s the good old B.C. like these days more like summer than spring I suppose.	Homesickness
nagamori19430411-12	During the last week of March we have done some skating on the rivers and fields.	Recreation
nagamori19430411-13	To date we’ve only had few drops of rain which came just recently.	Living-conditions
nagamori19430411-14	Last Friday I happened to meet up with Yosh in the bus. For a while there I was puzzled there I couldn’t recognize him right away. He had a glass on which I’ve first-seen him with, and besides he has grown a lot fatter. He and I went in to see a show It was of this	Recreation
nagamori19430411-15	title “Spring-time in the Rockies” It was a nice show in technicolor.	4 Recreation
nagamori19430411-16	I heard from Yosh that you and few other girls an boys are comming [sic] over to see him this summer Is this on the level?	Joan
nagamori19430411-17	Since the last time I heard from you I have made over half a dozen toy planes I’ve made this as my hobby from now. I sold few to our boss He says, he never seen anyone make a better toy plan He said there were few that were worth about 3-4 dollars length are only a foot long.	Recreation
nagamori19430411-18	In the last letter you asked me if I’ve been to Newton Siding I haven’t been there once since we came over I like to tho’ it’s pretty hard to get the permit.	5 Recreation
nagamori19430411-19	Any time we hop on a bus we are questions if we got our permit.	Living-conditions
nagamori19430411-20	I’m enclosing a snap-shot which was taken almost a year ago I’m sorry but this is the only one I got of myself My height is I am a little shorter than Yosh.	Photographs
nagamori19430411-21	Always
nagamori19430411-22	Tad
nagamori19430411-23	P.S. I hope you haven’t passed out by my picture

Nagamori19440116

nagamori19440116-1	P. 1	1
nagamori19440116-2	c/o Dryden Paper Co.
nagamori19440116-3	Camp 29,
nagamori19440116-4	Dryden Ontario,
nagamori19440116-5	Jan 16, /44
nagamori19440116-6	Dear Joan:
nagamori19440116-7	Hellow honey, I’m really sorry for this terrible long delay. The reason why I didn’t answer you letter sooner was because I was way up north of Winnipeg working in a lime quarry, and the fellas at home forgot to send the letter up to me till two month later. After this long delay I felt kind of shy writing back, and it came hard and harder for me to write. But since you encouraged me this Christmas to write I am sincerely glad to do so.	Communications
nagamori19440116-8	By the way I received your Christmas Card on the 28 and I really loved it just as much as I love you. I sent one to you on the 20th I hope you received it because the mail only go out once or twice a wk at this camp.	Communications Joan
nagamori19440116-9	Well how is the climate like back there in B.C. this winter. I guess its mild there too. Over here it only went as low as 30 below yet and usually it goes 50 below. I heard in part of Saskachewan it rained on the Christmas day. Right now we have foot and couple inches of snow. In Winnipeg I heard they	Living-conditions
nagamori19440116-10	have only about inch of snow.	2 Living-conditions
nagamori19440116-11	Its almost 2 month since we came to work here. I am here to work another two month but I don’t know how I can stand it here. I believe you like to hear a little about over here in Ontario. So far we have only been 100 miles into Ontario so I really haven’t much to tell, but I could say we came across hundreds of small lakes. The trees around here only average 50-60 ft. mostly all evergreen. I haven’t noticed any high mountains yet, but where ever you go is a hill. I like to send some pictures to you of this camp and scenery but it is almost impossible to get films now.	Labour-conditions
nagamori19440116-12	To tell you the truth I think British Columbia is the best place to live and enjoy scenery.	Homesickness
nagamori19440116-13	I hope i was in the interior of B.C. now where you can come over now and then to see me. Gee but won’t we have lot of fun then Well anyways I’ll hope there’ll be a day when we get together in a near future and have a good time and a good talk with you.	Optimism Joan Homesickness
nagamori19440116-14	Well here’s hoping I'll be hearing from you soon. Till then Cheerio! Honey
nagamori19440116-15	Friend
nagamori19440116-16	Tad.

Mototsune19430924

mototsune19430924-1	Box 167,
mototsune19430924-2	Raymond,
mototsune19430924-3	Alta.,
mototsune19430924-4	Sept. 24/43.
mototsune19430924-5	Dearest Joan,
mototsune19430924-6	Just a sheet with few lines to say “Hello” and “How are you”. It’s been quite a long time since I’ve heard from you last, and I hope you are all well as we are also.
mototsune19430924-7	I imagine you’re going to school every day and enjoying your everyday life. That’s swell!!! Life is very dull out here … no school, no play.
mototsune19430924-8	Guess what??? It’s but topping season now. Think of us in the field pulling and topping beets while you’re doing your geometry, social studies, etc. will you Joan? And I’ll think of you having a wonderful time while I work. School begins sometimes in October this year. From Tuesday this week, we’ve been going to top beets every day (about two miles from here.) He comes for us about 7:30 A.M. and takes us home again around 7:00 P.M. This year	Labour-conditions Homescickness
mototsune19430924-9	we do around 1 ½ acres. We might do more when it comes to our beets because we’ll start earlier in the A.M. and quit later in the P.M. and also we’ll work twice as hard as what we’re doing now. This year we have 26 acres and I suppose it will take around 2 weeks and no later, I hope, as we don’t want to pull beets out of the snow. Last year, we finished just in time. The day after we finished, it snowed, but we still had to work in the snow as we did 3 acres of somebody else’s after ours.	2
mototsune19430924-10	Oh! but I have so many things to tell you about the beets and every thing out here; I don’t think I could write everything I want to in the letter.	Communications
mototsune19430924-11	Well, I’m just wishing for the day when you and me, telling and hearing each other’s story for hours and hours of what we’ve missed. I only wish it would be soon, don’t you think so, Joan? I’ll write again; a longer letter and I’ll be waiting for yours everyday.	Optimism Joan Homesickness
mototsune19430924-12	Your friend as ever, Sumi E. M.
mototsune19430924-13	Dear Joan,	Enclosed Postcard
mototsune19430924-14	I am enclosing with this letter a postcard showing you a corner of the C. Sugar Factory. The things which are in the box cars are beets. You see at the extreme right of the picture, a pile of beets. This pile grows at least fifty times larger. I am not exaggerating. Love, Sumi.	Labour-conditions

Ohama19420427

ohama19420427-1	Hi Joan!	1
ohama19420427-2	Having swell trip. Lots of people but not crowded. “Not alone but lonesome”. Trains awful jerky.
ohama19420427-3	I will write later. Beautiful scenery.
ohama19420427-4	Sure miss the old gang.	Homesickness
ohama19420427-5	Al Ohama

Nakamura19450103

nakamura19450103-1	Jan. 3, 1945,	1
nakamura19450103-2	Dear Joan -
nakamura19450103-3	To-day is the 3rd of January. oh yes! May I wish you a Happy New Year? Did you have a White Xmas? I had a pretty nice Xmas–and New Years too.
nakamura19450103-4	To-day is Wednesday and a half holiday in the afternoon at the store. I've been working in the store for over a month now and I like it very much.	Labour-conditions
nakamura19450103-5	Gosh but I've been going to parties and shows and games so much that I have never slept earlier than 2:30 A.M. each night. Last night was the last one, I hope. We had a grand time at the parties though.	Recreation
nakamura19450103-6	Gosh! Joan, I'm sorry I did not send the parcel sooner. I have to go to work by 8 A.M. and after work at 6, I come home do bit of this and that; have supper and off we go.	Communications
nakamura19450103-7	How are you getting along in school now. How does it feel to be a senior–the Undergrads. Gee! everytime I think of the school I sure sit and dream of what I might have done in the last year.	Education
nakamura19450103-8	I was going to write some more of the story? wasn't I. Well, here I start again on the 2nd half of the 1st Chapt.	Communications
nakamura19450103-9	"The 7th of dec. was on a Sunday. On Monday I went to school wondering how I was going to go through the whole day as if nothing had happened and wondering
nakamura19450103-10	how the teacher and other students would [red text: ?] react toward me. Most of my worries were over that 1st period. The bell rang for the 1st period and quietly we all went to the assigned rooms for Algebra. Our principal taught us that subject. When he came in I could see that he was under some sort of a strain, probably, I thought, as I was. When he got to the desk he looked toward me and said, jokingly. "How did the basketball game turn out?" Knowing that our high school team lost to another high school about 20 miles away; that last Friday evening. He asked me a few more questions and I answered with a laugh as best I could. I knew then that he was trying to ease the tension caused by this suddenly erupted chaos. Words cannot express what those few words did to me and others [red text: who] that were in the same [red text: position] boat as I was. The lesson went over in the usual pattern. For at least a month I went through lessons in a semi-strained way.	2 Education
nakamura19450103-11	After that life at school was swell for awhile. The reason why I say "For a while," is [red text: that] because in March all the boys like myself "the Japanese-Canadians" were called into a counselling room and were told that we were barred from further participation in the high school army cadet corps. In all my school career that was my first and worst heart-breaking experience. There were thirty of us in that room wondering why we were called here. We laughed and joked till the principal came in and conveyed to us the ill-news. You should have seen the expression on their faces; dumbfounded; and looked as if they were all asking the same question "Why do they have to do this to us?" Then sadly with bowed heads we silently listened. I couldn't imagine such an order coming from a ministry of Education. The Cadet Corps was one subject in the curriculum I loved very much. I liked that branch so much that I studied all the notes that were given me. We drilled and practised quite a lot. The Battalion was divided into units consisting of the First Aid Corps, Signal Corps, and Officer training Corp. All those wishing to become officers and noncoms	Forced-dispersal Education WWII
nakamura19450103-12	were given tests based on what we had learned so far. Out of the cadets who wrote the exams five corporals were picked, of [red text: whom] which I was one. Later we became candidates for officers training. We studied map reading and other subjects which were essential. The whole course was very interesting. I can say very easily that the rest of the boys like myself liked that very much. The action of barring us from participation in the cadet corps put a brand on us in a way. When the rest of the students would be having corps practise we would be doing other things less interesting. Even if it was supposed to be interesting one [red text: could] cannot expect us to like it. Around about this time studying became less and less important to me and to a lot of others like myself. Long before the Easter holiday I hardly ever took my books home and did not prepare my lessons. The time came one April afternoon when we were told that we were going to Alberta. This was the sixteenth day of April 1942."	3 Forced-dispersal Education WWII
nakamura19450103-13	Well Joan, I'll leave it at that for now. I still have a lot of mistakes and everything wrong with the grammar and punctuation and etc. so you'll have to sort of put it together like a puzzle. If you have time, Joan, I'd like very much if you would re-read the 1st and this last part and sort of fix it up; and tell me where I should fill in more and etc. Will you please? I do not intend this to be a story or an essay–I'd like to sort of have it like a long letter to a friend.	Communications
nakamura19450103-14	This last Friday I met Sonny and Mae in Raymond for the first time in 3 years. Gee! but I was sure glad to see them; I mey Ally too. He came to see me yesterday again and we went to a show and talked after till after midnight.
nakamura19450103-15	By the way Joan, where do Betty and Margie teach? Do you know their address. I sent a card to May Webb but as yet I have no answer. I heard that Dot Kan is still stationed in Calgary so I may see her. I sure wish I could see you, Betty and Margie soon. We may not recognize each other first but after all 3 years or more is a long time. Remember when Betty went past Calgary? Well, I never got the letter in time to know she was going past Calgary and did not know what time and date she'd pass so I couldn't go to Calgary. Gosh! but I sure wished I knew what date and time. I'll write again soon Joan so untill then solong	4 Communications
nakamura19450103-16	As ever
nakamura19450103-17	Yosh
nakamura19450103-18	P.S. Send me some snaps of yourself Joan. Will you please?	Photographs

Ikeda19430510

ikeda19430510-1	May 10, 1943	1
ikeda19430510-2	Dear Joan.
ikeda19430510-3	Its almost a few decades ago I had received your letter and I am sorry I had not written to you any sooner. I know your anxious to hear some news of Raymond so I’ll start and get down to business, even though there isn’t much news to write.	Communications
ikeda19430510-4	My, its a lovely time to start snowing again when the beets are almost ready to be thinned by some farmers. Its fairly cold to-day and the temperature has dropped considerably. It started to snow around five and everythings white but I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see it all melted by to-morrow night.	Labour-conditions
ikeda19430510-5	I hope you had a real good Easter holidays as for me I spent my Easter holidays going to school. I didn’t mind very much for I believed I learned something.	Education
ikeda19430510-6	Last week I forgot to take my excuse for being absent from school so the old Principal Jacobs gave me some detention to do. Boy, was I boiling. I could have knocked his block off, that is if he had one.	Education
ikeda19430510-7	On Friday the grade tens and some other grades were shown a moving picture about Spies. But you know every time there is something like that I’m never there to see it.	2 Education
ikeda19430510-8	Say, I heard Q.E. had cadets for girls. Are you taking cadets? I sure think its a good idea to have an organization for girls as well as for boys.	Gender-dynamics Education WWII
ikeda19430510-9	R.H.S. has cadets only for boys but I’ve never seen them practising because they have it at night.	Gender-dynamics Education WWII
ikeda19430510-10	From last week I started to go [???] a school girl at Mrs. Hudsons and I am staying there till I have to go into [???]. This family is very nice to me and I sure think a lot of them. Mrs. Hudson teaches at the Mammoth school out at the Ridge.	Labour-conditions
ikeda19430510-11	News or no news, I like to announce the birth of [some little???] kittens which where [sic] born last week. They’re still blind but are getting fluffier and cuter each day. There been quite a few weddings this spring and I think theres going to be a [???] wedding on Sat.	Recreation
ikeda19430510-12	Its half past ten now and I still have to write a composition for to-morrow. It really was supposed to be handed in on Fri. but I wasn’t there so I have a chance till to-morrow. Thank Goodness. I guess you could picture me and Emee going to you for help every time we had any written work to hand in when I mention “Composition.”	Education
ikeda19430510-13	Well, I better close now. Good-bye and good-luck till I write again
ikeda19430510-14	Your Friend
ikeda19430510-15	Teruko Ikeda
ikeda19430510-16	P.S. I would appreciate very much if you’d send me your snapshot. Maybe your wondering why I write on this paper instead of writing tablet but the truth is I’m too busy to buy one just now so I’ll have one by next time.	Photographs Communications

Nakamura19430720

nakamura19430720-1	Box 173, Magrath, Alta	1
nakamura19430720-2	July 20/43.
nakamura19430720-3	Dear Gang-
nakamura19430720-4	I guess it's useless to start apologizing and making excuses for not writing these past centuries. I must have had a touch of laziness again. Well, may I begin to tell you all or nearly all that happened since I last wrote? O.K.? Swell.	Communications
nakamura19430720-5	To begin with the last time I wrote was in March wasn't it? or was it before that. About that time we were all practising to put on a concert or "Club Review" as we called it, on the end of March.	Recreation Education
nakamura19430720-6	You know, something like the big concert we had in Q.E.? only it wasn't half so good.	Homesickness Recreation
nakamura19430720-7	The surprising part of it was that they never had such a concert like this before in Magrath. We had a packed house both times. (We put it on 2 nights.) It was the greatest success Magrath has ever put on. School inspectors and other school teachers etc. commented on it very highly. They has such things as dancing displays, plays (short) tumbling (I gave them a sample of Q.E. tumbling) with 3 other boys; the school band (5 piece)	Living-conditions Recreation Education
nakamura19430720-8	songs by the glee club and a few other items. There was a dance after each performance (I mean at the end of each night.). That concert was the talk of the town for a month.	2 Recreation
nakamura19430720-9	We had pictures taken etc. I got hold of me print of myself on top of a pyramid and had it autographed by the other fellows I'll get hold of another and send it over. We had fun doing it too.	Photographs
nakamura19430720-10	All the time in between, we played badminton.	Recreation
nakamura19430720-11	A week after the concert we had Easter exams. Pretty fair tests. Only some dopey girls (excuse me) cheated and got caught. Boy, was there a row over it.	Education
nakamura19430720-12	Easter holidays came and I went to herd sheep about 60-70 miles from here. My boss has a couple of thousand head of sheep there. There were 3 of us boys and 2 men working there. It was lambing season so we were very busy. My boss couldn't get anybody to take my place so I had to stay away from school all May. I really was a shepherd of the hills then. I had to watch and take care of 1500 head of ewes and little lambs. The last week I was there I had to take the herd a few miles away from the other sheep so that they do not mix. I had to stay all by myself for a week.	Labour-conditions Farm-owners
nakamura19430720-13	I had to cook by myself. I never saw a human being for 4 days. wow! what misery! Since it was better to leave the sheep outside of the corral, I had to watch them longer. The darn sheep head for all over the places as soon as it gets light and I do not stop till dark. I watched them all day and bring them back at night. I watch them till about 9-9:30 P.M. In the morning I have to get up between 4.30 A.M. and 5 A.M., catch a bite to eat and put some oranges etc. in my pocket for a mid-morning bite and off I go. I'll tell you now that I'll never do that again. I went there expecting to be home in 1 week but I had to stay 22 days! My boss sure was glad cause I stayed for him. If it was some grumpy old guy I might have left but he's been very good to us so I stayed for him. While I was there I found lots of pieces of petrified wood. If you'd like to see some I'll send some over. Let me know eh? I turned a combination of geologist and a herder. I found a number of pieces of petrified wood. Big and small; from 1 oz. to 15 lbs.	3 Labour-conditions Farm-owners
nakamura19430720-14	So much for that. When I came home I found that the beets were awaiting me. Well for	Labour-conditions
nakamura19430720-15	nearly a month I thinned beets ugh! what a job but was it a relief when we finished in June, about the 24th.	4 Labour-conditions
nakamura19430720-16	I went back to school just before this and found out that I was recommended in all subjects. They said that I cannot receive my Senior Matric this year 'cause the credits are rather on the low side. That is, they took away so much that I'll have to go back another year. Same with Tom Tsukishima. I'm thinking of going back next year.	Education
nakamura19430720-17	Say, thanks for sending me the Q.E. Vue Joan, it sure was swell. To tell you the utmost truth I just about felt like crying when I read about the graduation and to think that I would have been there too. Gosh! I sure had a swell time while I attended good old, I mean new Q.E. Gosh! but I've finally lost hope of getting that Q.E. pin which I was supposed to have won. I wrote to "Stinky" but no response. I guess he decided that it was just a waste to send it to me eh?	Homesickness Education
nakamura19430720-18	What are you all doing nowadays? Having fun? I hope so.
nakamura19430720-19	Nearly everyday except Sundays and 1st of July, I've been working out on the prairies. Wow! is it ever hot! We hayed	Labour-conditions Living-conditions
nakamura19430720-20	for a week in the blazing heat. It was 114° F at 6 P.M. so you can guess how hot it was at 1 or 2 P.M. Sweat just pours down in streams and water just flows nearly continuously down the hatch. I guess we drink a gallon or two of water each day. I've been mowing and raking hay these last few days and we start to hay again on Thursday.	5
nakamura19430720-21	On the 24th of July a holiday for Magrath (It's birthday) us Evacuees play ball against the Local boys. We have formed a team and have practised every Sunday for about a month. We have fun tho'. Last Sunday after ball practise we had a wiener roast beside a canal and enjoyed it very much. The brains of a working boy drains and wanes fast so I'll close now before I lose all of my precious knowledge juice.	Recreation
nakamura19430720-22	So long-
nakamura19430720-23	As ever
nakamura19430720-24	Yoshio
nakamura19430720-25	P.S. Hoping against hope that you were able to read the ink lines.	Communications

Nakamura19450919

nakamura19450919-1	Magrath, Alta.	1
nakamura19450919-2	Sept. 19/45
nakamura19450919-3	Dear Joan;
nakamura19450919-4	I am really at a loss as to how I should apologize for the long silence. I have to apologize to a number of other people too, cause I did not write for so long. e.g. Masao, May Ohama, May Webb, Bob Inouye, Dott Kan etc.	Communications
nakamura19450919-5	This summer we had to work such long hours and nearly all the Sundays. We worked from 12 to 14 hours a day in the busy times. Now we work between 10 to 12 hours. All summer I only had 2 Sundays off. I really loathe to work on Sabbath day, but it was work that had to be done—irrigating. I am glad, so very glad, that we have finished with it now. After we finish	Labour-conditions
nakamura19450919-6	topping the beets I’ll be happier still.	2 Labour-conditions Communications
nakamura19450919-7	Had I really wanted to write and made myself write, I could have done so, but in the hot sweltering heat when one works for so long it just drives the energy from your body and after you have supper at anytime between 7.30 and 9 P.M.—sleep and rest is all you think off.	Labour-conditions
nakamura19450919-8	I really should have written long ago but another reason is plain laziness. Shall I come back and start writing a letter? Okay.	Communications
nakamura19450919-9	First of all, how are you Joan? I hope you are in the best of health. Are you going to normal school now? I am still working on the Farm. I do not know if I will work in the store this winter or not.	Joan Labour-conditions
nakamura19450919-10	Yesterday I went to the dentist in Lethbridge and suffered from 11 AM till after 3 PM. I did not have dinner so I got a bite to eat & ran to the bus terminal to catch the bus. Since yesterday morning we have had snow and later rain till this morning. The sun is out now for a change.	3
nakamura19450919-11	On Sunday we played a baseball game against a Raymond team and won 8—0. I got hit on the nose when I slid into a base. It’s healing now. On the end of August I had my Summer holidays and I went up to Waterton Lakes again. I had a grant time fishing, boating and biking. Gee! Joan, it’s really wonderful to be there for a few days. Even tho’ it’s only once a year.	Recreation Optimism
nakamura19450919-12	The air is fresh and so—well it seems to be free of dust.	4 Living-conditions
nakamura19450919-13	What have you been doing all summer Joan? Have you seen Betty and Margaret lately?	Joan
nakamura19450919-14	Over a month ago I wrote to a Lieutenant C. Thomas ‘cause he’s the one that was recruiting us Niseis for the Can. Army. He was supposed to come to Alta but he did not so I wrote to him over a month ago telling him that I wished to volunteer in the Army Intelligence Corps. I have been awaiting answer a long time not receiving a reply, I wrote again after hearing that they needed Niseis for the army. I still have no answer yet.	WWII
nakamura19450919-15	Since V.J. day I gave up hope but when I read that Japanese-Canadians are still needed for Intelligence I wrote a second time and as yet no answer. Even tho’ the war is finished now, I may be of use if they do accept me. For years now I have been waiting for the war to end, but now that it has ended I am at a loss as to what to do. It seems I have a war to fight from now. A sight that does not need physical energy but mental. Our fight for our freedom as Canadians. We have to fight to make up our minds where we should move to. At present we are not allowed to move to B.C.	5 WWII Belonging Forced-dispersal
nakamura19450919-16	As far as we know now we are free to move to points East from the 15th of November. Even if we do move east on the 15th we are subject to relocation again. It’s all so funny, so complicated. If I were just a lone ranger I would not worry so much but as it is I am a member of a family of 6. So far we have no decided on any place to move. I think we will be on this farm till next fall anyway as far as we know now.	6 Forced-dispersal Living-conditions
nakamura19450919-17	Gee, Joan, I’d give anything to go back to a place near Westminster. I wonder	Homesickness
nakamura19450919-18	how it is back there. I’ll bet the Maple leaves are red, yellow brown and all colours; Leaves falling down everytime a breeze comes blowing.	7 Homesickness
nakamura19450919-19	I wish that I was in the East when I first moved—then I might have been in the army intelligence and would have been to Vancouver for advanced training.	Forced-dispersal Homesickness
nakamura19450919-20	Some more of the Japanese-Canadians who have finished their basic training in Ontario have gone to Vancouver on Sept 5 for advanced training—Gee! Joan it makes me almost cry right now—the time is 9:15 and the radio is just bringing forth	Homesickness
nakamura19450919-21	the swellest song “Home Sweet Home.” All the verses too. Golly—it makes a guy feel pretty lonely after not having a real home for 3 ½ years.	8 Belonging Homesickness
nakamura19450919-22	I’m sorry I ran off the subject. Thanks very much for the Q.E. Vue. It was swell. I was really interested on the two views on the Japanese question. One boy really spoke from a democratic point of view and the other from the general point of view of people who are more or less leaning towards the “expulsion league.” If you can—I’d like to write a friendly letter to both—I’d like to have their addresses. I have a few copies of the pamphlets	Communications Forced-dispersal
nakamura19450919-23	Showing what (1)—The Japanese-Americans did for the war effort. (2) Japanese-Canadians—This pamphlet was written by a Mr. Norman. It answers a lot of questions that are in the minds of the general public. At present I have not any but I’ll get some and send you a copy of each. I want to send a copy to each of those two boys. I think those two boys will appreciate getting true facts on a question they themselves did not know very well. Although what they both wrote, there was a lot of truth in it, yet there were other things that were not.	9 WWII Forced-dispersal
nakamura19450919-24	A lot of the people such as doctors, Bishops, and well-to-do farmers do not favor us or take our side (and I think that they are really swell) but they do express the democratic point of view, which Canada is following or is supposed to be in regards to the Japanese Canadians.	10 Forced-dispersal
nakamura19450919-25	I, like hundreds of other Canadian born boys, am officially a citizen of Canada for which I was willing to serve as she wanted me to. I have done nothing bad, yet I am treated as I am.	WWII Forced-dispersal
nakamura19450919-26	I am hoping that some day, justice and true democracy will come to me.	Optimism
nakamura19450919-27	Racial prejudice and discrimination are two things that are certainly not a part of democracy.	11 Belonging
nakamura19450919-28	President Roosevelt made that clear in one of his later speeches. He is my ideal of “Democracy.” He was very fair but stern to the enemy, he was fair and equal to all Americans—be they Negros, Japanese, Chinese or Caucasians. I think that he was the greatest man ever to watch over a nation. Abraham Lincoln ranks with him for he was the father of Democracy.	Belonging
nakamura19450919-29	There I went off again. The hanky I am enclosing is a souvenir of Waterton Lakes Park. I’ll send some pictures soon.	12 Photographs
nakamura19450919-30	Once again I am sorry that I did not write to you more sooner. Please forgive my not writing. Hoping that I will hear from you sometime. I am	Communications
nakamura19450919-31	As ever
nakamura19450919-32	Yosh.
nakamura19450919-33	P.S. The program that is on right now certainly is bringing a lot of swell songs.
nakamura19450919-34	P.S. The radio is playing “I dream of you”. I do really, and of the rest of the old gang. Some day, even tho’ we be almost strangers, I will visit that way.	Belonging Homesickness

Ohama19421114

ohama19421114-1	Rainier Alta.	1
ohama19421114-2	Nov 14, 1942
ohama19421114-3	Dear Joan,
ohama19421114-4	Hello honey, what’s a cookin’? Alright don’t tell me! It’s only me dropin’ [sic] a few liners from out Rainier way, so don’t keel over.
ohama19421114-5	(About time huh?) I’m really sorry I didn’t write to you sooner -- how many “weeks” or months I should say -- am I behind time? How can I make up for it, Joan? Please tell me. Anyway, please for give me, won’t you? Please!!	Communications
ohama19421114-6	Gosh! And all the swell letters and pictures -- gee, do I feel terrible! I should have thanked you ages ago! Gulp! And your Q.E. Vue arrived sometime ago too. Thanks, thanks, and a million more thanks, Joan! The pictures were really great. We all enjoyed them very much. And the old school paper -- boy it was good to read about old names again.	Homesickness Joan
ohama19421114-7	Say, you’re sure doin’ swell at school, aren’tcha? Your name’s on most every page. You adn the kids are sure making things buzz at the school aren’tcha? I guess you like school better’n ever now huh? Well,	Education
ohama19421114-8	whatcha say, Joan. Oh, how was the mixer? Gee, I bet you had fun. I bet you danced every dance. Ahem, who didya dance with the mostest, Joan? Oh, for the “love of Pete,” Joan, you dont’ have to answer if you don’t wanna (ahem). I bet you did have lots of fun, huh? I sure wish I could have been there -- you’d really be tired after the dance.	2 Homesickness Joan
ohama19421114-9	I see by the paper you still have house games. Boy, they were lots of fun. How about clubs? Still have ‘em?	Homesickness
ohama19421114-10	Say, how are you? Taking good care of yourself? Swell! Have you been skating yet? I don’t suppose there’s ice yet other than the [???] ?
ohama19421114-11	Well, out here in Rainier, life’s getting duller and duller. We’ve finished work now, at last. We finished up thrashing about 4 days ago -- right now we’re recuperating so that we can now have some fun. I went to Calgary the other day -- I didn’t	Labour-conditions Living-conditions
ohama19421114-12	have much fun ‘cause I went by myself. I saw “Bambi” and “Iceland” at the shows. They weren’t too bad. By the way, the theatres were terrible compared to those of Van. The first time I went to Calgary I seen “Mrs. Miniver” and “Fantasia.” I was so lucky because they were the best pictures I wanted to see. It sure was lonely in town. I didn’t do much but I did listen to the juke-boxes. Didya ever hear Bing sing “White Christmas”? (sigh). Now I’m being silly, ain’t I?	3 Recreation
ohama19421114-13	Well we had a cold spell about three weeks back and we were able to skate for a few days, but now we are having very warm weather -- really.	Recreation
ohama19421114-14	For the last several days a chinook wind has been blowin’! And it sure melted that ice in a day. We never had chinooks in B.C. but they come quite often out here. It’s a warm south wind comin’ from Montana-way. I bet you think we’re shiverin’ in our skins now huh? This weather sure surprised me. By the way we had	Living-conditions
ohama19421114-15	And Indian summer here this year, too. I’m already for the winter weather though. Hope to get lots of skating and skiing this winter. That’s what I say now but I becha I’ll be sitting around the stove in the house as soon as it drops below zero. Our neihbors say it gets as gold as 60 below. Hope I don’t see any of that kind of weather.	4 Living-conditions Recreation
ohama19421114-16	Well it’s getting late and I’m wandering around in circles so I had better close. Say hello to your folks and Donnie for me.
ohama19421114-17	G’bye now
ohama19421114-18	Love Al
ohama19421114-19	Ps. Hope to get this off from Calgary. I’ll be skiing. Your Al.	Recreation

Takahashi19450216

takahashi19450216-1	Atlas ??? Co. Camp 9	1
takahashi19450216-2	Rocky Mt. House, Alta.
takahashi19450216-3	February 16, 1945
takahashi19450216-4	Dear Joan,
takahashi19450216-5	The last time I wrote must have been around December of 1943 or the beginning of 44. A year has gone by and it sure did go fast.
takahashi19450216-6	I must have been still going to school when I wrote the last time. Last March I stopped school again before I finished grade 10 and went to work on a farm and worked there most of the summer and fall. The summer past [sic] without much change. Fall came and passed by November the tenth I left with my brother to camp. I’ve been up here in the wilderness since then and intend to stay till the end of March.	Labour-conditions Education
takahashi19450216-7	Life isn’t very exciting up here. Work day after day and no where to spend our money or have a little fun once in a while. Rocky Mt. House Town is about 35 miles from here so we can’t go there when we feel like going. Two weeks ago was the first time I saw the town since I came here and most of the boys here haven’t had the chance. I had to see the dentist so i got off a couple of days. Lumber trucks have lumber every day so there is transportation if you get off. Rocky town is right at the foothills of the Rockies and is only a small town just like Magrath or any of the Southern Alberta towns.	Living-conditions Labour-conditions
takahashi19450216-8	After work hours are spent by reading, writing, or playing cards or just sitting around talking. Sitting	Recreation
takahashi19450216-9	around and talking is the favorite pastime. Sometimes we listen to records or listen to the radio. No there isn’t much here to do to pass time. Sundays are spent like any evening -- nothing to do.	2 Recreation
takahashi19450216-10	The work here isn’t bad at all for I really like the trees and woods for I’ve always lived in it. The trees only average 20 inches and a few 3 ft so they can’t be compared with B.C. logs.	Labour-conditions
takahashi19450216-11	The logs are small so most of the work is done by hand here. First the trees are fallen, branches cut off, and cut to length of 12, 14, 15, 18 or 20 feet. Then the logs are hauled out by horses to skidways and loaded on sleighs (that’s my job - been at it about 2 months) and sent to the mill and cut. The loading is done all by hand so when large logs come out we have quite a time loading them. Soon they intend to drag out long logs with catipillars [sic] and cut them up at once place then send them to the mill. This way they wouldn’t use as much [sic] horses as the way we are doing it.	Labour-conditions
takahashi19450216-12	Each day we are supposed to put in 8 hrs but the bush crew only put in about 7 hrs while the mill crew has to put 9 hrs in. Working hours are supposed to be from 7:30 to 12:00 then from 1:00 to 5:30. We start from 8:00 and stop about 5:00. Dinner time we stop work around 11:30 and don't’ start work till about 1:30.	Labour-conditions
takahashi19450216-13	The weather all along has been pretty fair some days it got a little cold but most of the time it has been warm. Yesterday it turned	Living-conditions
takahashi19450216-14	awfully cold and this morning it dropped to 38 degrees below zero so we didn’t have to go out to work. When it goes till below 30 below we don’t have to work. This is the first time it got so cold. Just last week it was up to around 40 above with the snow melting. We have still about 10 inches of snow around the bush in places.	3 Labour-conditions Living-conditions
takahashi19450216-15	Although I’m fed up with everything here, I intend to stick here till end of March so I’m waiting for the day to return back to civilization.
takahashi19450216-16	The best regards to you and all and thanks for the Christmas card - sorta late to thank you but later is better than never I guess. Well I’ll say good bye now.	Communications
takahashi19450216-17	Yours Sincerely
takahashi19450216-18	Jackie Takahashi

Mototsune19440706

mototsune19440706-1	Box 167,	1
mototsune19440706-2	Raymond,
mototsune19440706-3	Alberta.
mototsune19440706-4	July 6, 1944.
mototsune19440706-5	Dearest Joan,
mototsune19440706-6	I was very glad to hear from you again, Joan. I think it is time that I write to you now.
mototsune19440706-7	How are you and everybody in your family? And how is your brother coming along? I bet he’s cute; I [sic] like to see him. Send a picture of him of you have any, will you please?	Joan Photographs
mototsune19440706-8	Well, I finished writing all my exams today. Hip! Hip! Hurrah!!! We started writing ours from Monday. When did you write your exams? (that is, if you had to write any.)	Education
mototsune19440706-9	I hardly knew a thing, since I was out for beets and missed all the important preludes to the examination. I hate to hear my marks, which will be sent probably next month. Well, school is over for another term and am I ever glad! Aren’t you?	2 Education Labour-conditions
mototsune19440706-10	We moved, did you know? Oh yes, I forgot that I wrote to you about it in the last letter.	Living-conditions
mototsune19440706-11	Our French exam was exactly one and three-quarters hours [sic] long and even at that, we had to rush. There were two very long passeges [sic] to translate from French into English. One of them we took it up in authors and the other one was the one we had never seen before. It was a joke and it was quite	Education
mototsune19440706-12	funny. We also had ten verbs in the principal parts to translate from Eng. into French. Last but not least, we had 15 long long sentences to write. I mean from Eng. into French. On the whole, the exam wasn’t bad. She gave us a harder test in French many times before. Our French teacher is Mrs. Shortliffe. She’s still very young and she is loads of fun, especially in French class, because there are only twelve in the class. She’s quite different in our English class. There’s always some foolish smart alecs who cracks jokes and which makes her mad. Talk about her temper, whew!! And she hasn’t red hair either!	3 Education
mototsune19440706-13	Our Chemistry exam wasn’t bad either, but our Eng. test was. I guess it’s because	Education
mototsune19440706-14	I never even looked at my notes or verses or essays and proses. I am quite certain I flunked in Eng.	4 Education
mototsune19440706-15	Oh, Joan, but you don’t know how lucky you are to have a formal gown. I wish I was in your boots[.] If ever your gown gets too short for you, send it over. I’ll be glad to have it, and how! How did the banquet come out? Did you have a good time? I certainly hope you did. Goodness, I don’t even know how to dance.
mototsune19440706-16	Did you know what? We have sixty baby chicks, but they are grew quite a bit now. We have 4 mother hens and no roosters, but I think half of the chicks are roosters. My! but hase [sic] some got long legs and necks. The chicks are in their ugliest stage right	Living-conditions Labour-conditions
mototsune19440706-17	now. We also have two kittens, but they don’t bother the chicks because mother hen pecked at them once; and now they wouldn’t even go near the chickens.	5 Living-conditions
mototsune19440706-18	The radio is now playing “The Campbells are Coming.” I like that song, don’t you?	Recreation
mototsune19440706-19	Gee, you know, Joan, I missed a good chance of going to Waterton Park this year. You remember the Roddick family, don’t you? – (The family where I stayed as a school girl last winter.) Well, they came over and asked me if I wanted to go with them to Waterton Park for a week from July 1st to July 8th. Boy! I certainly wished to go, but heck! I had to write exams that	Recreation Education
mototsune19440706-20	following week. Was I ever mad!!!! I don’t think I’ll ever have such a good chance like that again.	6 Recreation Education
mototsune19440706-21	We went to the Raymond Stampede again this year. It’s the same thing all over, but you know, one can desire fun when there’s a crowd down town [sic]. The day was just perfect – not hot, and not cold. I had five cones, two hot-dogs and three bottles of orange crush (orange crush was all that they sold.)	Recreation
mototsune19440706-22	I also took a picture of which I am going to enclose one in this letter. It’s not good, but it’s just me with the same big face and funny nose. It’s about time I sent you one, don’t you	Photographs
mototsune19440706-23	think? A man from the Lethbridge studio came over to Raymond and established a little room to take pictures. I think he’s going back to Lethbridge this Saturday. He is quick in developing pictures so lot [sic] of people get their pictures taken. Usually, he has them develop-ed the next day.	7 Photographs
mototsune19440706-24	This summer is quite hot and dry. The beets are not so good as last year’s, either. But for a change, it rained today for almost two hours! Were we ever glad! Especially Dad! He kept saying to himself, “Ah! rain, rain! Good for the ducks and beets.” Satisfied, Dad went to bed at 8:30 tonight. It is now 10:05 P.M.	Labour-conditions living-conditions
mototsune19440706-25	Well, Joan, I am out of news so I guess I had ought to close. I hope I’ll to hear from you soon. Here’s hoping you’re all well and happy,
mototsune19440706-26	Your friend as ever,
mototsune19440706-27	Sumi Mototsune
mototsune19440706-28	P.S. On July 1st I went to see Roy Rogers in “Song of Texas.” This was my first time that I saw Roy Roger’s picture. Being a Dominion Day, there were 2 features. – Song of Texas and the other one which I forgot; but both pictures were swell. S.M.	Recreation

Nagamori19420803

nagamori19420803-1	P.O. Box 23	1
nagamori19420803-2	Headingly Man.
nagamori19420803-3	Aug. 3, /42
nagamori19420803-4	Dear Joan--
nagamori19420803-5	Many thanks for your most welcome letter. I received it with greatest pleasure on the 24th. Every letter we’re getting now is cencored [sic] and just to send a letter 30 miles it takes over a week, because every letter we write goes back to B.C. to be cencored [sic].	Communications
nagamori19420803-6	Thanks for the compliment of my letter I didn’t know I write such a letter myself Gee but I sure adore your heavenly letter	Joan Communications
nagamori19420803-7	To-day we have just finished our thinning and at last I’ve found time to scribble few lines	LaborConditions Communications
nagamori19420803-8	We have had one terrible weather for a spell One afternoon the thermometre [sic] climbed over 100° then that evening we had a painfull rain and wind storm. But now the weather have seemed to have settled down.	Living-conditions
nagamori19420803-9	The strawberries and cherries are very scarce out here. The price we pay for a lb. of cherry here is 25 cents. I wonder how the farms are like now. I heard the government have	Living-conditions Homesickness
nagamori19420803-10	sent [mind-nites?] over to take our place on the farm.	2 LaborConditions Forced-dispersal
nagamori19420803-11	The government is now planning on sending more Japanese from the coast for the harvest here. Even the farmers now are getting called up, they are taking mens to about 37.	LaborConditions WWII Forced-dispersal
nagamori19420803-12	To tell you the truth, the most I’ve earned in a single day was $10.00 for hoing 3 1/3 acres. There are five of us looking after 60 acres.	LaborConditions
nagamori19420803-13	Boy I bet you raked up fat dough in picking strawberries I heard it was 40 cents a crate for picking and 40 cents for loose packing.	Joan
nagamori19420803-14	The mosquitoes are quite bad yet - especially just before and after rain.	Living-conditions
nagamori19420803-15	It must have been a fair size mosquitoes to bite right-throw [through] your underthing. Yes it does get you sore when it gets that fore, doesn’t it.	Joan
nagamori19420803-16	Oh yes we got a privilege to own a radio and a camera here. We had both radio and two cameras there but we had to leave it in the hands of the R.C.M.P. I believe the custodian is now looking after it. That radio wouldn’t be in any use here I don’t think because the dials are different here	Photographs Living-conditions
nagamori19420803-17	We have sent for our camera about two weeks ago but it still hasn’t arrived	3 Photographs Optimism
nagamori19420803-18	There [sic] both swell cameras too. One takes a card size picture and the other takes 1 1/4 x 1 3/4 picture They both had a nice leather case to it. We have bought one lately to take souvenir pictures and we have already taken 5 rolls of it. This is a bullet type camera that takes a picture size approx 1 3/4x 2 1/2. Soon as we get these rolls developed and if it turns out O.K. I’ll send it.	Photographs
nagamori19420803-19	Gosh I’m just waiting for your glamorous picture. Boy but I’ll bet you had a good laugh at my school-day pictures We’ve got piles of those old school pictures too.	Joan
nagamori19420803-20	Dancing would be fun with you Joan, if I know how to dance. My brother took a lesson at [Lallas Moors?] in Vancouver late last Autumn. He tried to teach me then but I wasn’t crazy over it so I couldn’t quite get to dance. Gee but I’d like to know how now.	Recreation
nagamori19420803-21	One trouble is we haven’t any radio yet.	Living-conditions Recreation
nagamori19420803-22	Your [sic] more up to date in show than I am, the last time I seen one was almost	Recreation
nagamori19420803-23	three month [sic] ago when we were stationed at the Immigration Hall. We stayed at this place for about a week and we sure used it went to a show almost every day I think every picture Vancouver gets comes over a month or two later here in Winnipeg.	4 Recreation
nagamori19420803-24	Do you like the Hawaiian Guitar. This is one instrument I wanted to learn for a long time. Gee I’d like to start in on it this winter. Can you play any instrument? I’d like to have some kind of a music around. Gee I bet you just love singing. I like to have you here just to sing for me. I can play a mouthorgan, this is what I learned when I was a small kid.	Recreation
nagamori19420803-25	This song (“I like New York in June, How about you?”)	Recreation
nagamori19420803-26	I think I could remember Judy Garland sing this in the show called (“Babe on Broadway”)	Recreation
nagamori19420803-27	You asked me what the last two pages in your letter reminded you of. The closest I could get to it is. The one you Love. No I can’t think of anything else.	Joan Recreation
nagamori19420803-28	Gosh I sure do enjoy the Union steamship. I’ve been on one of these This was on a B.+A. picnic to Bowen Island. It sure is nice along the coast -- isn’t it.	5 Homesickness
nagamori19420803-29	Right here you see nothing but a wide piece of land with few houses here and there.	Living-conditions
nagamori19420803-30	When I think of the B.C. I really don’t feel like staying here for the next minute.	Homesickness
nagamori19420803-31	About that firefly I was going to send you. Gee I’m sorry I promised you but it doesn’t seem to be flying around now. Gosh but I should have saved one for you before. I just went out to look for one but all I could see is the stars. And boy the moon is out nice and bright.	Living-conditions Joan
nagamori19420803-32	Joan you write a swell letter. I’m just wondering why I can’t write any better than this.	Communications
nagamori19420803-33	Your letters getting more and more interesting and I’m glad you like writing to me too. Well I guess I better close here for its past midnight. Bye.
nagamori19420803-34	Yours As Ever
nagamori19420803-35	Tad
nagamori19420803-36	P.S. Hoping to hear from you soon I’ll be expecting your picture at the same time	Joan Photographs
nagamori19420803-37	I hope you didn’t mind my poor grammar and cross-outs ect. [sic]	6 Communications
nagamori19420803-38	About that drawing, I aint much of a drawer but if you can stand it to have it around I’ll try and do one for you.	Recreation

Nagamori19430214

nagamori19430214-1	Lorette Manitoba	1
nagamori19430214-2	Feb. 14 /43
nagamori19430214-3	[doodle of two hearts impaled by an arrow]
nagamori19430214-4	Dear Joan:
nagamori19430214-5	Hellow Joan, thanks for the very welcome letter I received on the 1st of Feb.	Communications
nagamori19430214-6	How are you and the rest All fine and dandy and I hope you didn’t catch a cold during the sub-zero weather you had out there. I was glad to hear you had received my letter on your birthday and besides it was on my sisters birthday I sent it.	Homesickness Joan
nagamori19430214-7	I hear it went down as long as 45 degrees below in the North Fraser Valley. Is that true? I suppose you have coupla foot of snow there now. My friend in the interior of B.C. says they had 3 ft of snow, but out here we only have 18 in. average.
nagamori19430214-8	In places there are about 5 ft of snow frozen hard enough to keep us up. One of our boss’s son [sic] recently went trucking up in Alaska and he says its 80 degrees below there. Boy the fuel cost went sky high these days hasn’t it This winter sure	Living-conditions
nagamori19430214-9	fooled many citizens. I heard in the prairies they’re burning their own houses for fuel. There’s so much snow there the roads are all blocked up. Quite a few highways in Manitoba are blocked up. The peoples around here says this highway’s about the last to get blocked. There are snow plughs working on the highways but it doen’t do much good because the wind out there are too strong it blows the snow around 30-40 feet up in the air.	2 Living-conditions
nagamori19430214-10	My brother came from Fort William. He is perfectly well now and at present he is in Winnipeg looking for more profitable job [sic]. The fellas that went to Ontario to cut pulp wood says the trees there are no bigger than a raspberry cane. My brother brought home a piece of birch bark to write letters on It’s almost as smooth and thin as an ordinary writing sheet. He had about foot square of it. He says, Ontario quite similar to B.C. of course there are no	Labour-conditions
nagamori19430214-11	High mountains.	3
nagamori19430214-12	“Lorette Village” as they call it is a French settlement. The people living in this district are almost all French. The most outstanding building here is the Catholic church about 1 1/2 times the size of the Lutheran church at Annivial[?]. Theres a nun’s school, Public school with high school, 3 general store one with Post Office, Hall, Hotel, 2 garage and a pool room. In this town are six Japanese families one of them being our neighbor back home. The Manitoba Sugar Beet 60 intends to put 10 more families in this Area. We live 3 miles away from the Village.	Living-conditions
nagamori19430214-13	But our boss owns a small general store so we don’t have to cycle in for our groceries There’s a small school right across my place that holds about 50 pupil Theres one 23 year old teacher teaching 40 pupils, grades 1 to 10. It is exactly 50 miles from Lorette to Newton Siding Our boss owns 16 kids The eldest about 25 He lost 4	Labour-conditions
nagamori19430214-14	He expects to get another soon. Theres only nine home now and the eldest is only 16. Our neighbor just across the river from us has a family of 13 and majority of them are girls. They all say the French have a big family. They all seem to be friendly towards us at least they have no hatred towards us. Is this true about Glen that he’s a student of the University of Washington? And about the barge balloon they’ve got up around Vancouver? Have you seen it yet?	4 Living-conditions
nagamori19430214-15	Is this true about Glen that he’s a student of the University of Washington? And about the barge balloon they’ve got up around Vancouver? Have you seen it yet?	Homesickness
nagamori19430214-16	Last night the Japanese Girls in Winnipeg held a party at the I.W.A.	Recreation Gender-dynamics
nagamori19430214-17	Well this is about all I can think of so I’ll close here
nagamori19430214-18	Always
nagamori19430214-19	Tad
nagamori19430214-20	P.S. I’ll be waiting for your swell picture	Photographs
nagamori19430214-21	[doodle of two hearts impaled by an arrow]

Takahashi19470224

takahashi19470224-1	Magrath Alta.,	1
takahashi19470224-2	February 24, 1947
takahashi19470224-3	Dear Joan,
takahashi19470224-4	Hello Joan -- I think that’s a better way than just saying Dear Joan --
takahashi19470224-5	I hope except [sic] my apologies for not answering your letter sooner. To tell you the truth I started one before but didn’t answer it - it’s just like me - plenty of time to do everything but to [sic] lazy to do anything --	Communications
takahashi19470224-6	Well it sure has been a long time since I have corresponded with you. I’m still alive and living yet if you didn’t know. I don’t remember the last time I wrote but things are much the same -- I’ve kept myself busy doing [???] -- working in a cannery and going to the bush in the north --	Labour-conditions
takahashi19470224-7	I was there in the bush for only 2 months this winter -- came home a month ago with a few dollars to show -- I’m living a life of ease at present but I find it sure is hard on my pocketbook. I had a job with a carpenter for 2 days but cold weather ended that. We had good weather after but I had other business so never got to working -- I stay home in the hotel and with my pal but since I can’t get to work I guess I’ll go home again.	Labour-conditions
takahashi19470224-8	We’ve been here for four long years now and most of us not knowing what our future will be. This winter a great many Japanese have went east hoping to find a better future. Last week I went to Brooks-(about 100 miles from here) to see a farm-- We’re now intending to go there try our luck in farming -- I found the town of Brooks a fairly nice place. My dad’s getting on	Forced-dispersal Labour-conditions
takahashi19470224-9	age now and my brothers coming up mechanics so I have to take over the family and that I don’t like.	2
takahashi19470224-10	My brothers are still going to school yet. My twin brothers are just in 10 now. They should be in 11 but they had to one year back when we came for the school wouldn't let them up for they never finished their term when we left. Henry is in 8 I think. -- I’m enclosing a snap of me and my brothers -- it’s not a very clear picture though but I thought maybe you would like to see it. Sometime if I ever get a good one of myself I’ll send it to you -- Say Joan I sure would like to get one of you. --	Education Photographs
takahashi19470224-11	I sure hate to leave Magrath for the people here are sure treating us as citizens. This is the only town in Alberta they gave us the right to vote in a town election. Some of us have joined into the clubs and they sure treat us swell. -- But the future here sure doesn’t look very good here I tried to rent a farm here too but with no success so we’ll be going to Brooks as far as I know. We have regulations upon us so we can’t do everything we please -- though they have cancelled many of the regulations. --	Living-conditions Forced-dispersal
takahashi19470224-12	You ask me about the other fellows you know -- well I don’t know much about them either for you know how my correspondence is. I read about Tom Hashibo [?] a few weeks ago. Sure wish I could send you that article from the paper -- He got the highest honor in a university in Montreal I think and now is attending one in Ohio now. He sure is getting places. Sure wish I were in his shoes -- Other fellows I don’t know	Forced-dispersal Education
takahashi19470224-13	much about.	3
takahashi19470224-14	Say Joan -- You do sound a little -- can’t think of a right word -- my vocabulary isn’t very good. You said foul tempered but I would say that -- anyways cheer up chum -- life isn’t that bad is it -- I guess everyone gets lonesome for home and other things but one has to some work to live so I’ve found out -- I think when you get to know a place for a while you start to like it even if it is a dead place -- Magrath is just a small store on a road but now I hate to leave it -- I sure hated the place the first few years --.	Forced-dispersal Homesickness
takahashi19470224-15	You say you are a terrible teacher -- I wouldn’t say that for I know your intelegent [sic] enough -- I think -- (don’t take that serious - I like tickeling [sic] people) -- for I sure couldn’t keep up to your marks ever. -- good old school days. --	Joan
takahashi19470224-16	Say Joan you say you are nineteen and you hate getting old -- I wouldn’t call that old. I myself am a year older but I don’t mind and feel fine although a woman is suppose [sic] to be a few years older than a man the same age -- I was fourteen when I came here and those five years have sure changed me a lot in way of life. I guess I grew a little too -- I’m 5ft 6 now and have been for the last 4 years -- My brothers that is the twins are getting bigger than me. Soon I’ll be the smallest. My older brother is about 5 ft 9. --	Forced-dispersal
takahashi19470224-17	Can’t think of anything else to write about at present so I take this [???] to say good bye dear teacher --	4
takahashi19470224-18	I wish you my best regards and say good bye again.
takahashi19470224-19	Yours very sincerely
takahashi19470224-20	Jackie
takahashi19470224-21	P.S. Hoping this have found you fine and healthy. Hoping you’re able to read my small and pardon my mistakes for I never reread or rewrite my letters	Communications
takahashi19470224-22	Good night Joan --

Nagamori19421004

nagamori19421004-1	P.O. Box 23	1
nagamori19421004-2	Headingly Man.
nagamori19421004-3	Oct. 4, /42
nagamori19421004-4	Dear Joan:
nagamori19421004-5	Please forgive me for not writing any sooner. To tell you the truth this is the first chance I got to write after I got home from threshing. I’ll promise you I’ll write sooner the next time. Gee why but come to think of it its almost two month ago I wrote to you isn’t it.	Communications
nagamori19421004-6	Well anyway how are you and the rest? All in the best road of health I hope. As for me I’m just swell, beside I’ve gained five pounds since we came out here.	Homesickness Optimism
nagamori19421004-7	We’ve had some nice cold weather out here for a while. The first sight of Jack Frost was seen on the 23rd of Aug. After that we had some cold days for about two wks. Once I went for the milk to our neighbors in the evening nearing 7:30 and the thermometer reading 30 degrees. Boy! But was I surprised to see this Gee whiz and the first snow flury [sic] came	Living-conditions
nagamori19421004-8	down on the 23rd of Sept. It snowed a little for 3 days in succession. On the last day we had a blizzard for just five minute. It just came and went like a lightning. I was sure surprised how the cold weather comes around here, but now the hot weather seem to have came back again. I guess this is what they call Indian summer. How’s the weather back there I suppose you haven’t met up with Jack frost yet have you?	2 Living-conditions
nagamori19421004-9	We have just started on our beet harvest about a week ago. Boy I found this job really miserable specially when your shaking the dirt off. The only thing the owner does at harvest is come along with a tractor and loosen the beet out of the heavy gumbo soil. Then we go up 2 rows a piece throwing 8 rows of beets into one row shaking the dirt off at the same time. Then we go back up the row topping it this time soon as we make a pile of beets we throw the leaves over it in	Labour-conditions
nagamori19421004-10	case it freezes before them come to collect. To topp [sic] this sugar beet we use a heavy knife with a curved hoot at the end to pick it up. This we could only do about 1/2 acre a day or less. To every ton of beets topped we get $1.25 to 8 tons of beet topped and to anything over 8 tons an acre we get 1.00 per ton.	3 Labour-conditions
nagamori19421004-11	I suppose you’ve heard or read about the mon eclipse on the 25th of Aug. Boy! That was really clearly seen. The sky was clear and besides the moon was in full then.	Living-conditions
nagamori19421004-12	Talking about radio. About a week ago my brother bought a brand new portable radio. It can be brought to any place and we played. We’re using battery now. Its made for both battery and electric.	Recreation
nagamori19421004-13	At least I’ve got one picture of myself thats not too bad. I had it taken on a Millionar’s Farm while I was threshing there. I’m gonna get coupla reprints of this one so in the next correspondence you can expect it. So please try and	Photographs
nagamori19421004-14	get one of yourself for me will you	4 Joan Photographs
nagamori19421004-15	By the way Joan I’d like to read some of your wonderful poems can you write one just for me? I’ll be waiting for it.	Joan
nagamori19421004-16	By the way you haven’t heard about Oki’s dad have you? He passed away on the 28 of Aug. Gosh that sure was a shock to all of us here.	Homesickness
nagamori19421004-17	Well I guess this is all I can write this time so I’ll close here. Bye for now.
nagamori19421004-18	As Ever
nagamori19421004-19	Tad
nagamori19421004-20	Here is a drawing I have done this afternoon. It took me an hour and a half to draw and paint this. This ain’t nothing wonderful but since I drew it I thought I might as well send it to you.	Recreation
nagamori19421004-21	P.S. please write soon I’ll be waiting

Nagamori19420705

nagamori19420705-1	P.O. Box 23	1
nagamori19420705-2	Headingly, Man.
nagamori19420705-3	July 5 /42
nagamori19420705-4	Dear Joan,
nagamori19420705-5	Well here I am, back in B.C. to talk with you (I hope I was.).	Homesickness
nagamori19420705-6	Thanks for your kind and most welcome letter, I received it on the 2nd.	Communications
nagamori19420705-7	I intended on writing sooner but since we’re kinda late in thinning the bees I just couldn’t find time to write. This is one letter I had enough ambition to walk four miles to get it.	Communications
nagamori19420705-8	I couldn’t walk or ride a bike on this sticky road so I took the C.P.R which runs right through Headingly.	Living-conditions
nagamori19420705-9	I was sure glad you understood my letter and besides I was wondering if you still remember me because it was a long time since we seen each other.
nagamori19420705-10	Gosh I hate to be outside now, the mosquitos are buzzing outside like the bee buzzing around its hive. Ooo that one bit me in the forehead. I’ll get revenge with him yet. Oh. That reminds me, have you ever seen a	Living-conditions
nagamori19420705-11	“firefly,” If you like I'll send you one. If I could grab hold of one. Oh boy, they sure give off light for the size of itself.	2 Living-conditions
nagamori19420705-12	“Roses,” there are millions of it here. Joan its a swell time to come and see me now. The roses are in full bloom, the oaks, ash, poplar, ect. [sic] are just loaded with bright green leaves.	Living-conditions Joan
nagamori19420705-13	When we first came ot the prairie everything just didn’t look right.	Homesickness
nagamori19420705-14	This here country right now isn’t too bad at all specially if your [sic] here Gosh if I had enough money now I’ll pay your fair [sic] in. There are hundreds of horse-back riders here. Gosh I sure like that, do you?	Joan Optimism Living-conditions
nagamori19420705-15	About 10 days ago we were moved from Headingly to a place called West Winnipeg, which is about 5 miles south of where we use to live. This is between two tracks the C.P.R + G. N.R. It’s a good thing we have trees around our house because we have lots of strong wind here.	Living-conditions
nagamori19420705-16	Talking about sunburn Gosh you ought to see me, I’m darker than a n----- seen in a dark, since I started on the [beet?].	3 Living-conditions
nagamori19420705-17	Gosh I hope the sun don’t burn you up too much. What I think would be good when your [sic] picking strawberries are those wide brim hat [sic].
nagamori19420705-18	Sure, I’ll tell Yoshiyaki that. I like to see and talk to him now but we’re both busy. I have written one to him just the day I sent you one I think, but he never wrote to me since. I know his dad’s in a pretty bad health now.
nagamori19420705-19	Sure I’ll write to you as long as we’re apart.	Communications
nagamori19420705-20	I know you were a swell letter-writer, I heard you were one of the best in QEHS. Before I forget Joan, I like to a picture of yourself so I won’t get so lonesome here.	Joan
nagamori19420705-21	Well it’s getting on to 12 so I guess I’ll sign off here. Hoping to hear from you soon. Bye.
nagamori19420705-22	I remain
nagamori19420705-23	Yours sincerely
nagamori19420705-24	Tad.
nagamori19420705-25	P.S. Please give me best regards to Kirky (Booo)	Homesickness

Takahashi

takahashi-1	c/o George C Card	Letter 1
takahashi-2	Magrath, Alta.
takahashi-3	Saturday, April 25, 1942
takahashi-4	Dear Joan;
takahashi-5	On Wednesday we reached our new home after 2 1/2 days 2 nights. We left New Westminster around 9 Mon. All the time along to Kamloops we had our heads poked out of the window looking at the scenery but [once?] there it was night. During the night we stopped at Salmon Arm, Revelstoke. The next morning April 21 Harding [???] and I were up from 3 am walking up and down the train and watching the scenery throw [sic] the pass. There it was so cold that the Kicking Horse River had ice around the banks and streams were frozen. In daylight we reached Frields where we put our time ahead one hour. Later we reached Banff. Along the way between Fields and Banff we saw many elks and a moose. Near noon we reached Calgary where we spent the rest of the afternoon till about 7.	Forced-dispersal
takahashi-6	There we saw the show “Babes on Broadway” and we walked about the town. About 11:00 PM we reached Lethbridge and spend the whole night there. From about 4 AM I roamed around the station the town. About 5 AM Yoshio and I and some girls at breakfast at [Lethbridge]. We started again for Raymond at 8:20AM. We reached Raymond at 11:30.	Forced-dispersal recreation
takahashi-7	Afternoon we took our own baggage off the freight and load [sic] it on trucks to our new home which is 18 miles out of Raymond. Our home is about 2 1/2 mi apart from Yoshio’s home but bout 20 miles apart from most of our friends. I find it quite different over here for it is colder, windy, no trees and the place is so rolly and places level. On Thursday	Forced-dispersal Living-conditions
takahashi-8	April 23 when I awoke I found out that it had snowed about 2 inches. Today the wind is so cold that your hands and face turns red and purple from the cold.	Living-conditions
takahashi-9	I bet Surrey is so warm that you could go out with no sweaters and I bet you sweat while we freeze.	Homesickness
takahashi-10	We are all healthy and happy and I wish you are too. I wish you would write for I would like to know how you are getting along and know your and my school pals are getting along.	Communications
takahashi-11	This is all I got to say so I wish you will write for me to read at lonely nights.	Communications Homesickness
takahashi-12	Your School Pal
takahashi-13	Jackie Takahashi
takahashi-14	c/o George C. Card.	Letter 2
takahashi-15	Magrath, Alta.,
takahashi-16	Sunday, May 10, 1942
takahashi-17	2:00 P.M.
takahashi-18	Dear Joan;
takahashi-19	I received your letter on the fifth day of May but I didn't get it until the next day for I was out working somewhere else for a couple of days. We have been here 18 days. On the 8 and 9th my brother and I started planting the garden. Boy! What a place to make a garden. Clumps of hard dried dirt all over and the ground hard as stone. We had to plant the garden for there isn't no body else to do it.	Labour-conditions
takahashi-20	Last night it rained and thundered and lightning flashed so bright that things could be seen plainly. This morning it was still raining. Boy! You should come down here and walk around. Mud about 2 inches. Go out side and you get mud all over your shoe. All we can do is sit in our little wee shack which is only about 10’ by 20’. No radio no nothing in fact no room to move. Yesterday it was so darn windy that your had, paper, cans, pails, and every thing was blown around. The wind made a terrible noise around the corner of the house. Gosh! I'm getting sick and tired of this country. Gee wiz the wind is starting to blow again. Anyways maybe it will dry the ground so a person could walk around with out getting a new sole on your shoe. Friday night about 11 o’clock the irrigation water came down the ditch which is along the side of the road right near our house. The water comes from a mountain in the United States. I haven’t told you about the surrounding yet. Well towards the north the land is quite level without large trees like B.C. Towards the east and south there is a high hill which is about 600ft higher then [sic] where we are. On the	Living-conditions
takahashi-21	side of the hill strips of green and brown can be see. From near our home if we look westwards we can see part of the Rocky. From Yoshio’s place which is SW of our place and much higher we can see part of the sugar factory at Raymond which is about 18 miles away. From there we can see about 4 train stations. We can tell if there is a station for we can see grain elevators.About a mile east of our place there is a low steep banked river or a creek running. This is a nice place, clean water down below and small trees and green grass.	Living-conditions
takahashi-22	One thing I miss is the big trees. Out here you pay 50 cents for a spruce tree about 2 ft tall.	Homesickness Living-conditions
takahashi-23	There isn't nothing to do at all around here but go see your friends or catch goffers [sic] or try to. Riding a bike isn't much fun when the wind is blowing against you. I don't mind the rain but darn the wind and rain.	Living-conditions recreation
takahashi-24	But soon I guess I will be saying gosh it’s hot I wish the wind will blow. The darn wind blows dust around the place and into your eyes. When the sun shines it gets too darn hot and dry.
takahashi-25	In another two weeks time we will be working on our good old sugar beets for some are out all ready [sic]. Boy! Oh Boy! You can think of us bent over sweating and thinning the beats. Gosh!	Labour-conditions
takahashi-26	I feel going to school but they told us not to consider school till September.	Education
takahashi-27	And about your hope. The letter you wrote came to me with black letters reading “examined by censor.”	Communications
takahashi-28	Gosh I will miss the cherry and other fruits and even the flowers. Anyhow I remember seeing a tulip before I came here.	Homesickness
takahashi-29	I am fine and I wish you are too. Well Good-bye till I write again.
takahashi-30	Yours
takahashi-31	Jack Takahashi
takahashi-32	P.S. Where you get the idea that I write interesting letters
takahashi-33	Magrath Alberta,	Letter 3
takahashi-34	June 10, 1942
takahashi-35	Dear Joan;
takahashi-36	You aren't mad at me for not answering your letter right away are you? I was sort of lazy to write right away and I just about forgot to answer your letter. I just finished super and I remembered I still had to answer your letter.	Communications
takahashi-37	Boy it felt good to come in the house after being working in the sugar beets when the wind was blowing like the heck. It sure was windy. It made tear [sic] come out of my eye and water out of my nose. We started beet thinning last Tuesday, June 2nd. We worked about 1/2 day on the 2nd, 1/2 day on the 3rd. The other half day it rained. That Wednesday it changed from sunshine to rain while we ate our dinner. For the rest of the week we stay at home. Sunday night we had a thunder storm.	Labour-conditions
takahashi-38	Around Raymond they had hail and rain but we were lucky for we were on the outskirts of the rain and it only sprinkled around here.	Living-conditions
takahashi-39	Monday we started work again and have worked every day till today so far. We finished over 6 acres that is thinning the beets.	Labour-conditions
takahashi-40	Thinning isn’t so hard as I thought. All we have to do is to cut out the beets with a how so to leave a beet a hoe length apart. You are supposed to leave only one beet and not two at once place for it won't grow as big. The sugar beet plant is all the same as a ordinary red beet but the leaves aren't red but are green. It look more like a spinach plant than a beet. The only thing wrong is that the weeds cover the garden for it rained so darn much.	Labour-conditions
takahashi-41	I got tired last night so I put away the half written letter for I knew I couldn’t mail it till to-day June 11 when our boss comes here to his farm from town.	Communications
takahashi-42	This morning my eyes
takahashi-43	opened around 6 o’clock but I heard the sound of the wind and the rain and slept soundly till about quarter past eleven. I waited for dinner and then here I am writing again. Gosh rain again. That mean [sic] no work for a couple of days, more grass, more mud, can't go outside without getting muddy. When it rains it’s as same as being stranded on an island for you can't go outside. We hauled some travel along our house so it won't be as muddy as before that’s one thing. I’d for rather [sic] work or be outside than stay inside out from the rain. This month we had only about 2 days with sunshine. When the sunshines [sic] and when the wind isn't blowing it sure is hot. Sweat just pours down my face last Tuesday. Yesterday we had sunshine most of the day but the wind was blowing like the heck.	Living-conditions
takahashi-44	I heard from Yosh that the Blue House had won the Inter House [???]. That sure is something I never thought the Blue House would win even though I was in it. Well I was in the winning house for the track twice. So was Yosh	Homesickness Education
takahashi-45	Are you still going to school or have you finished yet? Have you past [sic] all your subjects or don't you know yet? I wish I could of [sic] finished grade nine. I don't know if I have to start grade nine over again or not if I start in September yet but if I start school again I'll find out.	Education
takahashi-46	How are the cherries and other fruits I sure miss my strawberries and cherries.	Homesickness
takahashi-47	The strawberries here that is our bosses is just flowering. Their tulips are fresh blooming here. The lilac and all of the flowers are just blooming here. I guess you don't see tulips and lilac at Surrey now? Spring just got here in Alberta.	Living-conditions
takahashi-48	You want to know something about our garden? Well it’s more grass than anything else and that’s about all there is anyway.	Living-conditions
takahashi-49	That’s all I've got to say so I'll end there.
takahashi-50	(I just moved the page and didn’t look where i was writing)
takahashi-51	Good-bye for a while
takahashi-52	Jackie Takahashi
takahashi-53	P.S. Excuse my paragraphing and everything else	Communications
takahashi-54	Magrath Alberta,	Letter 4
takahashi-55	July 24, 1942
takahashi-56	8:00 PM
takahashi-57	Dear Joan,
takahashi-58	I thought I’d better write this letter before I forget again. I'm just fooling around now.
takahashi-59	We finished thinning on Tuesday, July 1 around 4 P.M. We went up to Yosh’s place to help them thin their beets for a couple of days. On Monday 13th I've started hoeing, that is, taking out the grass around the [???} beets that were left. On Wed. I think it rained so we couldn’t work for a couple of days. We just about finished Wed. that is day before yesterday but when we were all on our last row a big black cloud came over our head. It started thunder and lightning and started to drip. We started on our way home as fast as we could. (We had about 1/2 mile to go). Just as we started it started to pour. It kept up getting worse and worse. Soon it began to hail too. We were all in our shirts soaking wet before we even reached half way home. The wind was blowing from the west and oh boy I really felt the hail as it bounced off my bare arms. I couldn't see about 500 ft in front or around me. When we got home we all were dripping wet. The rain even went through my boots. That sure was a rain and it taught me to run when ever I see big black clouds coming. We just finished having another storm a half an hour ago worse than the other but it was shorter. I thought the cloud would miss us but the wind changed and the cloud came towards us. I’d say it was the blackest clouds I'd ever seen yet. It was as black as coal. When I saw the clouds	Labour-conditions Living-conditions
takahashi-60	our way I wasn't dumb enough to stay out this time but I just got in the house in time. The rain was more like snow for its blown all over by the wind. It’s the first time I'd ever seen rain like that. A couple of miles out from our place they had hail bigger than marbles the other day. Lucky we didn’t. These storms come all of a sudden that you aren't even prepared for rain. Today till about 1 it really was hot.	Living-conditions
takahashi-61	They celebrated the birthday of Magrath (I don't what birthday [sic]) to-day at the town park. It isn't what I'd call a park it’s just a play ground with a grand stand. I didn't go although I was playing. They all [sic] kinds of sports and broncho [sic] riding, milking wild steers, that is, they let out a herd of steers out and cowboys lasso them and others on foot carry a milk bottle and try to get some milk the first to get milk gets the prize. They had a parade too. I don't know how that was but I guess it couldn’t be so bad.	Recreation
takahashi-62	I went to the Raymond Stampede on July 1st. There wasn't much to see but they charged me 50 cents. All they had was milking the wild steer, lassoing and typing up calf (the first one to tie a calf wins) decorating a steer by leaping off a horse onto a steer and put a ribbon on its horn. They had wild broncho [sic] riding, steer riding, 3 cowboys saddling a wild broncho [sic] and riding to the opposite end of the ground. They also had horse races. It sure was hot that day and I had to sit in the sun. A seat in the Grand Stand was 2 bits and I was full anyway. I rode both ways on my bike and did I sweat. That was about 30 miles all together.	Recreation
takahashi-63	From the beginning of July we have had hot weather but we have rain about 4 times this month all ready. July seems to be	Living-conditions
takahashi-64	the month of hot weather and storms.	Living-conditions
takahashi-65	We finished thinning on Tuesday, July 1 around 4 P.M. We went up to Yosh’s place to help them thin their beets for a couple of days. On Monday 13th I've started hoeing, that is, taking out the grass around the [???} beets that were left. On Wed. I think it rained so we couldn’t work for a couple of days. We just about finished Wed. that is day before yesterday but when we were all on our last row a big black cloud came over our head. It started thunder and lightening and started to drip. We started on our way home as fast as we could. (We had about 1/2 mile to go). Just as we started it started to pour. It kept up getting worse and worse. Soon it began to hail too. We were all in our shirts soaking wet before we even reached half way home. The wind was blowing from the west and oh boy I really felt the hail as it bounced off my bare arms. I couldn’t see about 500 ft in front or around me. When we got home we all were dripping wet. The rain even went through my boots. That sure was a rain and it taught me to run when ever I see big black clouds coming. We just finished having another storm a half an hour ago worse than the other but it was shorter. I thought the cloud would miss us but the wind changed and the cloud came towards us. I’d say it was the blackest clouds I’d ever seen yet. It was as black as coal. When I saw the clouds	Labour-conditions
takahashi-66	No the [???] family aren’t very close to us for their [sic] about 13 miles from here. The whole family was up at Yosh’s place today but didn’t come here at all.
takahashi-67	Yes, I received a copy of the June Q.E.Vue and it wasn’t bad for I found out how the school was and how the time ended. I really enjoyed reading the paper.	Homesickness Education
takahashi-68	It’s the first time I ever wrote such a long letter so I better quit now before I keep writing all night.
takahashi-69	Sincerely Jack.
takahashi-70	P.S. I didn’t seal the envelope last night so I thought I’d tell you how Magrath town took the storm last night. My brothers went to town and told me about it. In town they really had a storm for big hail poured down. The windows on the north end of most of the building and house were all broken to bits, the grain around town that is east and north of town were all knocked down, beets that got hit were all knocked over and they say it	Living-conditions
takahashi-71	Looks as if they (the leaves) were all chopped up. We were lucky only a little of our beets were hit although not so badly damaged. To-day we can still see hail piled up a little out of town from here. The wind even blew over big trees and took a roof of [sic] a house or barn near town. We were one of the lucky ones but maybe we may get one next time. I hope not anyway. Well so-long!	Living-conditions Labour-conditions
takahashi-72	Magrath Alberta,	Letter 5
takahashi-73	Nov. 17, 1942
takahashi-74	Dear Joan,
takahashi-75	It’s been a couple of weeks since I received your letter so I thought I better write while I got the time.
takahashi-76	How’s the weather out there. Near the end of October and the beginning of Nov it started to get cold and began freezing. We had about 3 snow falls in the beginning of Nov. We had about 4 to five inches of ice (enough to skate on anyways). All of a sudden the weather changed. It began to get warm again for a week or so. Now it changed again this Sunday night. We had snow Sunday night and yesterday which amounted to about 12 to 14” of snow in different places. Today it seems to be clearing up again but no body knows what will happen	Living-conditions
takahashi-77	I’ve been out working for a couple of weeks now after we had finished our beets for my school days our [sic] over for this term or for ever. Before I stopped school for topping I didn’t know whether I should go to school or go out to work but now they say that we have to pay $5.50 a month to go to school so I stopped going and I didn’t go after we finished topped [sic]. Instead of school now I have to work. I bought a few books so I can still keep on studying at home in spare time. I’ve been out to other farms topping beets and for the past three days I was out with my brother pitching bundles onto	Labour-conditions
takahashi-78	wagons and into the thresher but the snow fall stopped us for a while I hope.	Labour-conditions
takahashi-79	These schools in Alberta won’t let you take some subject if you aren’t the smartest ones. I got B for grade 9. So I was able to take only 2 out of French Physic and Algebra. I dropped Physic and took typing. The typing book is the only book that I know which is the same as your grade 10 books. The Social Studies seems to be the same as out here. I believe most of the subjects are as same as yours but they say that Alberta schooling is ahead of B.C. schooling. I guess I can send you a school newspaper if they have one now. Yosh is still attending school so maybe you can ask him.	Education
takahashi-80	I’m sorry I can’t tell you where Tori or Mitsuo are. I was going to ask you in the last letter but I didn’t.	Communications Homesickness Forced-dispersal
takahashi-81	No, Joe and John are still in grade six they should be in seven but they won’t put them up. Harry is only in 4 but should be in five. Our boss made a covered wagon so they don't’ have to walk to school.	Education Forced-dispersal
takahashi-82	This letter is only a big jumble but I hope you can read it. I’m signing off here so Good-bye till the next letter.
takahashi-83	Jack Takahashi
takahashi-84	P.S. Tell Don and the others to write because I don’t know there [sic] address	Homesickness Communications
takahashi-85	Box 76,	Letter 6
takahashi-86	Magrath Alta.,
takahashi-87	Oct. 28, 1943
takahashi-88	Dear Joan,
takahashi-89	Hello! Joan. This is your old school pal Jack writing a few lines again. Sure is a long time since we heard from each other.
takahashi-90	How’s school? No doubt your [sic] getting along fine there. Sure wish I was still going to Q.E. In Alberta school started on the 10th of October and I just started on the 21, that’s yesterday. It feels sort of funny to be in grade 10 with all the younger pupils. The courses have been changed so the schooling is much better. In grade 10 there is 5 compulsory courses [sic]; English, Mathematics, Health, Social Studies, and Science. Besides that I take French and Industrial arts and typing. There isn’t much activity at school yet but I believe they are going to start some clubs soon. Next Friday we elect a president of the school.	Education
takahashi-91	All summer I was away from home working on a farm as [sic] hog feeder and trader man ]. Beet topping kept us busy the last 3 weeks but now we’re finished so we can take it easy now.	Labour-conditions
takahashi-92	The weather has been fair for a long while but it doesn’t look so good to-night. We have had frost in the morning just about every day since the middle of September. We had enough snow on September 18th to make everything white believe it or not. That’s the first time I saw snow in Sept. Soon we’ll be seeing plenty of snow and cold weather. I sure don’t like the winters here. Br-r-r it makes me shiver to just think of it. I guess you won’t be seeing old man winter for a while yet.	Living-conditions
takahashi-93	That’s about all so I wish my best regards and Good-bye till I write again
takahashi-94	Yours truly
takahashi-95	Jackie
takahashi-96	Box 76,	Letter 7
takahashi-97	Magrath Alta.,
takahashi-98	June 22 /44
takahashi-99	Dear Joan,
takahashi-100	I sent a letter to you on the 28th of Dec. but it came back to me for I put the wrong address on -- must of been day-dreaming
takahashi-101	Well how’s everything? Good as ever I hope. Not much change here -- never is.
takahashi-102	Talk about school. I’m sick of school. Sick of going 3 miles to learn nothing. All I learnt so far is a little math and french. Hardly learnt anything in the three subjects.	Education
takahashi-103	School is a little bit livelier now that they play badminton during noon hours. We are making a ping pong table in shop so we’ll be able to play ping pong soon. The tumbling club isn’t getting	Recreation
takahashi-104	ahead very fast. Yesterday we had club period so I went down to tumblr and I was doing these forward rolls and things again I don’t think I’ll go down to tumble again till they get a little better.	Recreation
takahashi-105	Last night we (the B team) went to Cardstone to play basketball and lost by one point. Two weeks from now we play them again on our own floor. On the 7th we beat Raymond by about 6 points.	Recreation
takahashi-106	Last night going and coming back from Cardstone we were like sardines in a can. Twenty-one of us crowded in a little van about 8ft x 5ft. Four sat in the front and 17 of us were in the back crowded so much we could hardly move. There was 10 boy and 7 girls in the back. After the game last night we all were invited to a dance in an [???] Church. I was just a wall flower. They	Recreation
takahashi-107	sure have a nice dancing hall there.	Recreation
takahashi-108	I read your [sic] having nice weather on the coast. Well we haven’t anything to kick about for we are having swell weather too. We haven’t seen snow since Christmas when we had a little snow. The days are really warm but the last few days the darn wind has been blowing terribly. Most of the ice have [sic] melted now so we can’t go skating.
takahashi-109	I’ve got to go [???] now so I’ll close here. Oh yes I got a few souvenir hankies so I thought I should send one to you.
takahashi-110	Well So-Long now
takahashi-111	Yours sincerely
takahashi-112	Jack T.
takahashi-113	Atlas ??? Co. Camp 9	Letter 8
takahashi-114	Rocky Mt. House, Alta.
takahashi-115	February 16, 1945
takahashi-116	Dear Joan,
takahashi-117	The last time I wrote must have been around December of 1943 or the beginning of 44. A year has gone by and it sure did go fast.
takahashi-118	I must have been still going to school when I wrote the last time. Last March I stopped school again before I finished grade 10 and went to work on a farm and worked there most of the summer and fall. The summer past [sic] without much change. Fall came and passed by November the tenth I left with my brother to camp. I’ve been up here in the wilderness since then and intend to stay till the end of March.	Labour-conditions education
takahashi-119	Life isn’t very exciting up here. Work day after day and no where to spend our money or have a little fun once in a while. Rocky Mt. House Town is about 35 miles from here so we can’t go there when we feel like going. Two weeks ago was the first time I saw the town since I came here and most of the boys here haven’t had the chance. I had to see the dentist so i got off a couple of days. Lumber trucks have lumber every day so there is transportation if you get off. Rocky town is right at the foothills of the Rockies and is only a small town just like Magrath or any of the Southern Alberta towns.	Living-conditions Labour-conditions
takahashi-120	After work hours are spent by reading, writing, or playing cards or just sitting around talking. Sitting	Recreation
takahashi-121	around and talking is the favorite pastime. Sometimes we listen to records or listen to the radio. No there isn’t much here to do to pass time. Sundays are spent like any evening -- nothing to do.	Recreation
takahashi-122	The work here isn’t bad at all for I really like the trees and woods for I’ve always lived in it. The trees only average 20 inches and a few 3 ft so they can’t be compared with B.C. logs.	Labour-conditions
takahashi-123	The logs are small so most of the work is done by hand here. First the trees are fallen, branches cut off, and cut to length of 12, 14, 15, 18 or 20 feet. Then the logs are hauled out by horses to skidways and loaded on sleighs (that’s my job - been at it about 2 months) and sent to the mill and cut. The loading is done all by hand so when large logs come out we have quite a time loading them. Soon they intend to drag out long logs with catipillars [sic] and cut them up at once place then send them to the mill. This way they wouldn’t use as much [sic] horses as the way we are doing it.	Labour-conditions
takahashi-124	Each day we are supposed to put in 8 hrs but the bush crew only put in about 7 hrs while the mill crew has to put 9 hrs in. Working hours are supposed to be from 7:30 to 12:00 then from 1:00 to 5:30. We start from 8:00 and stop about 5:00. Dinner time we stop work around 11:30 and don't’ start work till about 1:30.	Labour-conditions
takahashi-125	The weather all along has been pretty fair some days it got a little cold but most of the time it has been warm. Yesterday it turned	Living-conditions
takahashi-126	awfully cold and this morning it dropped to 38 degrees below zero so we didn’t have to go out to work. When it goes till below 30 below we don’t have to work. This is the first time it got so cold. Just last week it was up to around 40 above with the snow melting. We have still about 10 inches of snow around the bush in places.	Labour-conditions Living-conditions
takahashi-127	Although I’m fed up with everything here, I intend to stick here till end of March so I’m waiting for the day to return back to civilization.
takahashi-128	The best regards to you and all and thanks for the Christmas card - sorta late to thank you but later is better than never I guess. Well I’ll say good bye now.	Communications
takahashi-129	Yours Sincerely
takahashi-130	Jackie Takahashi
takahashi-131	Magrath Alta.,	Letter 9
takahashi-132	February 24, 1947
takahashi-133	Dear Joan,
takahashi-134	Hello Joan -- I think that’s a better way than just saying Dear Joan --
takahashi-135	I hope except [sic] my apologies for not answering your letter sooner. To tell you the truth I started one before but didn’t answer it - it’s just like me - plenty of time to do everything but to [sic] lazy to do anything --	Communications
takahashi-136	Well it sure has been a long time since I have corresponded with you. I’m still alive and living yet if you didn’t know. I don’t remember the last time I wrote but things are much the same -- I’ve kept myself busy doing [???] -- working in a cannery and going to the bush in the north --	Labour-conditions
takahashi-137	I was there in the bush for only 2 months this winter -- came home a month ago with a few dollars to show -- I’m living a life of ease at present but I find it sure is hard on my pocketbook. I had a job with a carpenter for 2 days but cold weather ended that. We had good weather after but I had other business so never got to working -- I stay home in the hotel and with my pal but since I can’t get to work I guess I’ll go home again.	Labour-conditions
takahashi-138	We’ve been here for four long years now and most of us not knowing what our future will be. This winter a great many Japanese have went east hoping to find a better future. Last week I went to Brooks-(about 100 miles from here) to see a farm-- We’re now intending to go there try our luck in farming -- I found the town of Brooks a fairly nice place. My dad’s getting on	Forced-dispersal Labour-conditions
takahashi-139	age now and my brothers coming up mechanics so I have to take over the family and that I don’t like.
takahashi-140	My brothers are still going to school yet. My twin brothers are just in 10 now. They should be in 11 but they had to one year back when we came for the school wouldn't let them up for they never finished their term when we left. Henry is in 8 I think. -- I’m enclosing a snap of me and my brothers -- it’s not a very clear picture though but I thought maybe you would like to see it. Sometime if I ever get a good one of myself I’ll send it to you -- Say Joan I sure would like to get one of you. --	Education Photographs
takahashi-141	I sure hate to leave Magrath for the people here are sure treating us as citizens. This is the only town in Alberta they gave us the right to vote in a town election. Some of us have joined into the clubs and they sure treat us swell. -- But the future here sure doesn’t look very good here I tried to rent a farm here too but with no success so we’ll be going to Brooks as far as I know. We have regulations upon us so we can’t do everything we please -- though they have cancelled many of the regulations. --	Living-conditions Forced-dispersal
takahashi-142	You ask me about the other fellows you know -- well I don’t know much about them either for you know how my correspondence is. I read about Tom Hashibo [?] a few weeks ago. Sure wish I could send you that article from the paper -- He got the highest honor in a university in Montreal I think and now is attending one in Ohio now. He sure is getting places. Sure wish I were in his shoes -- Other fellows I don’t know	Forced-dispersal Education
takahashi-143	much about.
takahashi-144	Say Joan -- You do sound a little -- can’t think of a right word -- my vocabulary isn’t very good. You said foul tempered but I would say that -- anyways cheer up chum -- life isn’t that bad is it -- I guess everyone gets lonesome for home and other things but one has to some work to live so I’ve found out -- I think when you get to know a place for a while you start to like it even if it is a dead place -- Magrath is just a small store on a road but now I hate to leave it -- I sure hated the place the first few years --.	Forced-dispersal Homesickness
takahashi-145	You say you are a terrible teacher -- I wouldn’t say that for I know your intelegent [sic] enough -- I think -- (don’t take that serious - I like tickeling [sic] people) -- for I sure couldn’t keep up to your marks ever. -- good old school days. --	Joan
takahashi-146	Say Joan you say you are nineteen and you hate getting old -- I wouldn’t call that old. I myself am a year older but I don’t mind and feel fine although a woman is suppose [sic] to be a few years older than a man the same age -- I was fourteen when I came here and those five years have sure changed me a lot in way of life. I guess I grew a little too -- I’m 5ft 6 now and have been for the last 4 years -- My brothers that is the twins are getting bigger than me. Soon I’ll be the smallest. My older brother is about 5 ft 9. --	Forced-dispersal
takahashi-147	Can’t think of anything else to write about at present so I take this [???] to say good bye dear teacher --
takahashi-148	I wish you my best regards and say good bye again.
takahashi-149	Yours very sincerely
takahashi-150	Jackie
takahashi-151	P.S. Hoping this have found you fine and healthy. Hoping you’re able to read my small and pardon my mistakes for I never reread or rewrite my letters	Communications
takahashi-152	Good night Joan --

Ohama19430128

ohama19430128-1	Rainier, Alta.	1
ohama19430128-2	Jan 28, 1943
ohama19430128-3	Dear Joan,
ohama19430128-4	Thanks for all the swell letters. It’s awfully nice of you to write so often -- and such nice letters, too! Gee, ain’t I lucky! It ain’t everybody that has someone to write to him on Christmas Eve at 11:30 P.M.! You’re really swell, Joan!	Joan
ohama19430128-5	Being your “victor” is swell, Joan!	WWII
ohama19430128-6	You know, three weeks after Christmas Eve, when I got your letter, I spent it all over again -- in your house! Boy it was swell! I’m glad you liked the gift.	Joan
ohama19430128-7	So you had a party. Gee, I bet the fellas and gals had lots of fun -- and why shouldn’t they, when they have a swell hostess like you!! Poor you, hunny, to clean up the mess!
ohama19430128-8	Say, these two little cousins of
ohama19430128-9	yours sound very interesting you’ll have to introduce them to me sometime. Billy -- the one who wields the pencil -- must be a real card.	2
ohama19430128-10	Remember you asked if anyone out here raised bees ? Well, yes! There’s a couple of big apiares [sic] out here. Ho! It couldn’t have been our name on it -- although we have a hive ‘neath our house. ??? ??? says he gets ‘bout 300lbs out each year but we didn’t get around to it (that’s how busy -- or ignorant we were.) I guess the bees have eaten it all by now!	Living-conditions
ohama19430128-11	Oh, another thing, you seem to remember Kay and Juke very well -- better than I infact! They and their dad, were down here last summer and then they returned to Lethbridge. That’s where my brother works! Mother and May just returned from this place and they say they are getting along very well!
ohama19430128-12	Christmas would have been perfect if my
ohama19430128-13	Brother and his family could have been with us. We sent them lots of things for Christmas though.	3
ohama19430128-14	Well, enough of this sniffing and drooling! What chou doin’ these cold days? I hear and read that you’re snowed in! How does it feel to be cold? At least it’s a change from that lousy rain and drizzle! (Aren’t I mean!) What’s the best a foot of snow or six inches of mud! I hear there’s a shortage of fuel! Well I hope your family has lots -- as if my hoping would do any good when you can’t lay your hands on the stuff!!
ohama19430128-15	I hear also that dear old Q.E. got mad and broke a few pipes! What luck, huh?	Homesickness
ohama19430128-16	Listen, who’s suppose to be telling me of home -- you or me!	Homesickness
ohama19430128-17	I guess I should tell you a little, anyway, of what’s happening down here.
ohama19430128-18	Well nothin’ much ever happens
ohama19430128-19	out here! The days just come ‘n go. What a life! Had a blizzard last week. Had to work ‘cause I was workin’ for someone down the road. The rest of the family stayed indoors that day. The roads were blocked by drifts and the mail truck didn’t get through, fortunately it came the next day though.	4 Labour-conditions Living-conditions
ohama19430128-20	Oh, Christmas and New Years were swell! We all had a grand time. So help me, the Christmas turkey never tasted better -- maybe because we worked up a hefty appetite by skating. The weather was just like B.C. in Winter. There was no snow ‘till late Christmas night. We (the younger Ohamas) went to our neighbors’ party. Stayed ‘till two and had a swell time.	Recreation Living-conditions
ohama19430128-21	New Years was a little different. We had snow and it was a little colder. New Years Eve we planned to go to the hall shin-dig, but the car broke down at the last minute. (The same thing happened when we started out for the local school concert! Wotta lousy jalopy! They said, after it was all over, we really missed somethin’) Well, anyway, we managed to ??? over one of the neighbors and his family. Boy, did we have a lot to drink -- pop, of course! (Don’t worry, Joan, all us boys were sober!)	5 Recreation Living-conditions
ohama19430128-22	I’m boring you so I’ll close -- while I got the chance -- ‘cause I’ll just go on and on.
ohama19430128-23	You be hearing from me soon.
ohama19430128-24	Take care of yourself and bundle up and be good!
ohama19430128-25	Yours Al
ohama19430128-26	Over
ohama19430128-27	P.S. Thanks for the lovely card! Keep the home fires burning! Al.	6 WWII

Mototsune19440407

mototsune19440407-1	Box 167,	1
mototsune19440407-2	Raymond.
mototsune19440407-3	Alberta.
mototsune19440407-4	Ap. 7/44.
mototsune19440407-5	My dear Joan:
mototsune19440407-6	I am so ashamed of myself for not writing to you, that I don’t deserve to have such a good friend as you. Don’ you think that I’m terribly ignorant and stubborn?	Communications
mototsune19440407-7	Well, how are you, Joan, and the rest of the family?? I hope that you are all fine as we all are well. How is your little brother coming along? I bet he’s the cutest little baby in this whole world. Aren’t you proud of him? Gee, I can’t wait to see him.	Joan
mototsune19440407-8	How are you getting along in school? No doubt, you’re getting along fine as you always doe. We only have our Easter holidays today (Ap. 7) and on Monday. (Ap. 10). Isn’t it a short	Education
mototsune19440407-9	holiday? How long do you get yours? Now’s my chance to get my book reviews written. Imagine, five book-reviews and then “school-books.” (they’re library books, but a list of books are suggested for school-reading; and we have to read 10 off [sic] this list.) I’ve read all my ten books but I haven’t written any book-reviews, yet.	2 Education
mototsune19440407-10	In French “Author’s” text, we read ten stories out of fifteen. In French “Grammar” text, we’ll be finished with this course by the end of this month, & we’re going to review over [sic]. There is only 12 students in Fr. II class – 9 girls & 3 boys!	Education
mototsune19440407-11	In Typing, I’m on Block 13. I’m taking it over because I didn’t finish to the end in Gr. 9. Instead, we get only 3 credits because we take only 3 periods per week.	Education
mototsune19440407-12	We had a debate against	Education
mototsune19440407-13	Gr. 12 and we lost by one point.	3 Education
mototsune19440407-14	We finished our Sociology text, so we’re reviewing over again. After we have finished that, we’re going to work in groups on a project. We haven’t decided on the topic, yet. I went to the Kinsmen’s – “Milk for Britain Fund, Victory Revue.” It was held in the opera house, and was there a crowd!! The programme [sic] was good – from 8:30 to 10:30. P.M.	Education
mototsune19440407-15	We’ll be moving very soon but I don’t know when or where. Don’t worry, the address will be same [sic], only we’re not going to work on Maudsley’s farm anymore. It’s too far from school and very inconvenient.	Labour-conditions Forced-displacement
mototsune19440407-16	Kay is still working at Mrs. Kate Card’s. See, Card’s house is certainly pretty, both inside and out. It’s a very modern, streamlined, well-equipped home. All in all, there is are 16 rooms and 2 large hallways. Kay says that the folks are nice.	Labour-conditions
mototsune19440407-17	I’m still working at the banker’s [sic]. They had a notice to move since last fall, but they haven’t been transferred yet. The girl certainly is getting honory [ornery?]. And is she ever spoiled, being the only child. She’ll be two years old in June. I’m teaching her to point where-ever I say; such as nose, mouth, eye, etc. She might be a spoiled child, but she’s not so dumb. On the whole, she’s quite clever.	4 Labour-conditions
mototsune19440407-18	Our school-paper, which was destributed [sic] on Monday, created quite a disturbance. The cover, which had every teacher’s cartoon and nick-names on it, had “APRIL FOOLS” written on it because it was an April issue. That afternoon all the teacher’s bowled Hazel Taylor (the artist) out, not for the cartoons, but for the word “FOOLS.” They didn’t like the letter “S.” on “fools.” The	Education
mototsune19440407-19	whole school got mad at the teachers and the next day the high school went on a strike. (I forgot to mention this, but the principal locked the “Hi-Times” Room on Monday P.M. [sic]) On the bulletin board, somebody pinned up a large paper with the words painted in red paint “DICTATORS – FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.” On Tuesday night, around 10:00 - 10:30 P.M., the kids had a – a real one, with torches and banners declaring the freedom of the “Hi – Times” room. They even stopped the traffic and blockaded the roads. It surely was some “mob mind.” The radio broadcasted about this over the air and it was also written in the papers. Some school, and some kids!!!!! Majority [sic] of the students came back on Wed. but there was [sic] some who still stayed out. The whole town was talking about the “high-school.” The kids were	Education
mototsune19440407-20	so mad at the teachers that they pinned the “Hi-Times” cover all over the town and broke into the school office and pinned the covers all over the walls and the desk [sic]. So you can just imagine what the whole town was talking about for four days. I’ll enclose the Hi-Times cover with this letter. The cartoons are very good, especially Mr. Gloat, who certainly is a gloat. And how!!!!!	5 Education
mototsune19440407-21	Well, I guess I’ve talked enough about school, so I’ll quit. But I couldn’t let this riot slip by unless I wrote to you about it.
mototsune19440407-22	Write me something about QE. school, what’s happening and so on.	Homesickness
mototsune19440407-23	Some day I’m going to Lethbridge and get my picture taken. I promise to send you one as soon as	Photographs
mototsune19440407-24	I get it taken. Don’t faint when you see it though.	Photographs
mototsune19440407-25	Well, today was Good Friday, but it didn’t seem as though it was. I got a new dress for Easter which I’m going to wear on Easter Sunday to the church. It’s gold and brown with dirndl effect skirt and V neckline and short sleeves. I’m also getting a jacket made. It The material is green tweed with brown leather buttons.	Recreation
mototsune19440407-26	I’ll have to close the letter for this time, as it is getting late. Wasn’t this some trash? I admit that I dread writing letters but enjoy receiving one. So please write as soon as you can. If you put it off as I did, well, I wouldn’t be angry as I deserve	Communications
mototsune19440407-27	to be negelected. So I’ll close now with love –	Communications
mototsune19440407-28	Your friend as ever,
mototsune19440407-29	Sumi
mototsune19440407-30	P.S. I hope you have a good Easter. S.M.

Mototsune19420516

mototsune19420516-1	c/o Mr. J. Maudsley
mototsune19420516-2	Raymond, Alta.
mototsune19420516-3	May 16/42
mototsune19420516-4	Dear Joan;-
mototsune19420516-5	Hi Joan!! Was I surprised to hear from you so soon!
mototsune19420516-6	It’s so lonely and quiet here I keep thinking about you all the time and what you’re doing.	Joan Homesickness
mototsune19420516-7	Gosh, was I pleased to hear from you. I received your first letter on May 12, [&] then two days later, while I was in the garden, my sister brought home another one! I recognized your writing on the envelope and ripped it open & read it immediately. The way how I threw down my hoe to read it, my mother knew who the letter was from. I read your letters, I don’t know how many times. Next day, I happened to look in the envelope and the first letter was dated (or stamped) May 1, while the second, May 8. I don’t know how it happened, but I suppose it was because we haven’t been to town for ages.	Joan Mail
mototsune19420516-8	You’re wondering, no doubt, why you haven’t got word from me, but I’m writing to-night, which is the only night I could find spare time.	Communications
mototsune19420516-9	How is your father, mother, Donalda and yourself? I hope you are all well. We are all feeling fine and gradually getting used to this Alberta surroundings. It’s not quite as bad as we first came out here to Raymond.
mototsune19420516-10	We’ve had a very bad weather all this week. It has been raining, windy, rain and sleet, snowing & freezing. Yesterday and this morning I found a thick ice covering the surface of our water pail. Especially this morning, we were all shivering because we couldn’t start the fire. It certainly has been a very bad week, and we hope next week would be better. I hope you had a nice weather back in British Columbia.	Living-conditions
mototsune19420516-11	I am sorry to hear that you have not been feeling well, but staying home and getting rested up and relaxed would make you better, I hope. Well anyways, please take care of yourself.
mototsune19420516-12	I hope your Social Studies test wasn’t too hard as you said it was. Boy am I lucky I didn’t have to write it!! But a “proffessional [sic] student” like you always say [sic] it’s hard and then the result – the highest mark in “Grade 9.” How are you getting along in French, English, Math, Science, etc?
mototsune19420516-13	Gosh, but I wish I was together with you back in school. Do I wish to see the faithful “Queen Elizabeth High School” again, but it won’t be for quite a while.	Education Homesickness
mototsune19420516-14	Yesterday and the day before, we have been in the garden planting some seeds. We planted some water mellons [sic], canteloupes [sic], potatoes, carrots, cabbages, beans, …. etc. It’s a pity you can’t come down & eat some of the things we have grown (if they growe well).	Labour-conditions
mototsune19420516-15	The roads around here are terrible after it rains. No cars nor bycicles [sic] can ride on it. The earth gets soft and sticks onto the tires; therefore just skidding and slipping in one place. We can’t even walk on it ourselves, or else the mud sticks on to our shoes so much it gets too heavy to walk.	Living-conditions
mototsune19420516-16	There isn’t such a road in British Columbia even if you searched fore one. That’s true!	Homesickness
mototsune19420516-17	Yesterday, while I was riding on a bike going to buy some eggs, I took a bad spill. My slack’s leg got caught on a hook or something that was sticking out and [there], I didn’t know it and was going full speed ahead. Bang!! we both fell, and a piece of my slacks got torn. I got several bruises, but not as bad as what yours was. I tried to get up, but I couldn’t for a minute. Then a car comes along towards heading my way, and somehow I managed to get up and drag the bike to one side of the road. A young man was in the car and he asked if I hurt myself badly. I just said I only got a few bruises which was nothing at all. I haven’t seen him since.
mototsune19420516-18	Many cars pass in front of our house, and every one of them honks their horns. I don’t know why, but I guess it’s just a friendly way of passing instead of not honking.
mototsune19420516-19	I heard there was a “May Day” this year. Did you go to it? We wanted to go to it, but was impossible. All that day, I was thinking about the school. — only have [sic] of the pupils present.	Education Homesickness
mototsune19420516-20	It is a common sight to see the clothes-line only about the height of myself, while the clothes-line back in B.C. was higher than the roofs of our houses. I suppose it’s because the wind is too strong.
mototsune19420516-21	There are no trees here in Alberta. Everywhere you look, just level plains of farming lands can be seen, while back in B.C: everywhere you look are trees and nothing but trees. Not one speck of the beautiful mountains can be seen either. We all miss our beautiful B.C. trees and mts.	Living-conditions Homesickness
mototsune19420516-22	We left our cat and dog at home and are always wondering if they are still alive. We all think our dog would be dead because he always used to bark at many people and get stones thrown at. This is none of your affairs to look after, but I just wrote it in to fill up space.	Homesickness
mototsune19420516-23	You must have had a good time riding home with Kirkbride. Afterall, any body would like to ride home with a companion who says funny things rather than a companion who isn’t interesting to talk with very much. He hasn’t got anybody to ride home with him now and you haven’t either, so what’s the matter riding home together? I think that’s swell.
mototsune19420516-24	That was a tricky thing Betty did of taking pictures of you & Kirkbride. If you ever get hold that picture, will you please send one? (if you don’t mind.) We haven’t a camera yet, so are unable to take pictures, but if we do, I promise I’ll send it to you.	Photographs
mototsune19420516-25	The letter is getting long and boring you, no doubt, so I had better close now. Give my best regards to your mother, father, and sister. I think I’ve said everything what I have to say, so good-bye Joan, I am thinking of you all the time.	Joan Homesickness
mototsune19420516-26	With love,
mototsune19420516-27	Your friend as ever,
mototsune19420516-28	Sumi Mototsune
mototsune19420516-29	P.S. You’re lucky to be decreasing in weight. I think I’m increasing.

Ohama19420812

ohama19420812-1	August 12, 1942	1
ohama19420812-2	Rainier, Atla.
ohama19420812-3	Dear Joan,
ohama19420812-4	Hel-lo! How’s the thrill of Scott Hill? Thanks for your very nice letter. I certainly enjoyed hearin’ from you. Jesus, Joan, don’t let writing long letters bother your sweet conscience, ‘cause I love ‘em. I love to (as you say) “wade through ‘em,” too.	Joan Communications
ohama19420812-5	Well, Joan, what are you doin’ this bright and cheerful morning? Oh! Good morning, Joan. Sleep well? (I hope you read this in the morning)
ohama19420812-6	Well, anyway, how are you Joan? None the worse after that “horrible” weekend, I hope. It sounded like lots of fun to me. And say, I don’t mind being your “it”.	Joan
ohama19420812-7	Now for more about your letter: About the work over here; holy ??? but I must of put it on thick. Of course I have time to eat! I’m usually first at the table and last to leave. Boy, but do I love the dinner call! Not because I’m hungry but because we can rest - ah!	Labour-conditions Living-conditions Optimism
ohama19420812-8	Beautiful rest! Seriously, though, Joan, I’m not working that hard. The work has been hard but I’m getting use [sic] to it now. We’ve finished all the field work and there’s really not much work to do now. But there’s enough to keep us busy -- darn it. But don’t worry, Joan, I’m not working myself to death. Here pinch my arm. See, I’m alive. Ouch. (You pinched me too hard). Silly, ain’t I?	2 Labour-conditions Optimism
ohama19420812-9	What do we do in the winter? Nothing! Nothing ‘cept the chores. My brother and I may try to find work elsewhere--but not till I have a vacation. Gee, I wish I could go home for a visit, even for a few days. That’s day-dreaming, though.	Homesickness
ohama19420812-10	Music? I think I like Bing the bestest. I like smooth lingering music. Of course I classical [sic] -- but not too classical. One thing I don’t like --yet is that corny cave-man music (racket -- I mean). It actually drives me nuts.	Recreation
ohama19420812-11	(Of course that’s taking for granted that I’m sane--which I’m not out here)
ohama19420812-12	Of course everyone has their own particular
ohama19420812-13	likings but I like Bing everytime. He drives me nuts, too--in a different way.	3 Recreation
ohama19420812-14	So you were building castles in the sands? How romantic? Oh, I forgot. There were children with you. How horrible! I pity you, but I bet you did have some fun, huh?
ohama19420812-15	A working woman, are you? School’s your job. Stick to it. I would if I could.	Education
ohama19420812-16	Which reminds me, school begins soon again, huh? Tech, tech, how time flies. More books and scraping with the teachers. When I think of school now they seemed lots of fun.	Education
ohama19420812-17	You mentioned disagreeable odours of fish. Phooey! I met a skunk the other day and I thought it was very cute. Seems he doesn’t think the same of me, anyhow, i got the worst of him and he got the best of me. I’ll leave it to your imagination as for what happened. Anyway, the dog killed him and I went on my way. Well for the next week the dog and I were both in the dog house. I wouldn’t attempt to describe the odour. Phew!	Recreation
ohama19420812-18	The moon? I don’t think I’ve ever stopped to admire it. (What-they-hay just about dark)
ohama19420812-19	The sunset is pretty out here, considering the fact that there is nothing but bold-headed prairie hills to give it a beautiful atmosphere. I think the other kids will back me up when I say that the sunset is very beautiful.	4 Living-conditions
ohama19420812-20	I work in my birthday suit so I have a pretty fair tan--but if I keep this up much longer I’ll be burnt to a black crisp. Boy, it sure has been hot on some days, the last two weeks for instance. But today was cold! Can you imagine that? In mid-summer, too! Cold today -- hot tomorrow! Gosh, what goofy weather! How is it out there?	Labour-conditions Living-conditions
ohama19420812-21	Did I leave any questions out?
ohama19420812-22	Well what are you doing these days? Working in the peat-plant or are you taking care of the husband with the sick wife? Oh yes, there’s a baby in the family too, isn’t there? (I ain’t a bit funny am I?)
ohama19420812-23	How are Donnie and your folks? I hope they’re all well. And you. Are you taking good care of yourself?
ohama19420812-24	Say Joan, do you see many shows? Gosh, I haven’t seen one for so long, I forget what they’re like. Honest. I haven’t gone to Calgary yet, but I expect to some time	Homesickness
ohama19420812-25	during the month. My brother took a truck laid of vegetables in last week. He’ll be goin’ in quite often now and I hope to make one of the trips with him. I honestly wouldn’t mind seeing Calgary again. I can still remember some of the old haunts where I used to play and get into a lot of mickey. After all it’s only been about ten years ago.	5
ohama19420812-26	Gosh! Here I’m talking about nothing -- I guess I’m boring you, huh?
ohama19420812-27	Take care of yourself, Joan. And give my love and best wishes to your folks and of course Donnie.
ohama19420812-28	Good-bye till next time -- and don’t worry about us ‘cause we’re all fine.	Optimism
ohama19420812-29	Yours,
ohama19420812-30	Alby
ohama19420812-31	P.S. ------
ohama19420812-32	P.P.S. Imagine that! No P.S.
ohama19420812-33	Bye, Alby
ohama19420812-34	(Oops! Over)
ohama19420812-35	Joan will you tell me how long my letters take to get to you. This letter will leave Ranier on the 14th one of the two mail days we have.	6 Communications
ohama19420812-36	Thanks
ohama19420812-37	Alby.

Mototsune19440816

mototsune19440816-1	Box 167,	1
mototsune19440816-2	Raymond,
mototsune19440816-3	Alberta.
mototsune19440816-4	Aug. 16/44
mototsune19440816-5	My dear Joan,
mototsune19440816-6	Since I haven’t heard from you for a long time, I thought I had better write to you and see what’s the matter. I hope you are not seriously sick or ill. If you are, I wouldn’t know what to do; but I am just hoping that you are well and having such a fine time that you can’t be bothered writing letters. I hope that my guess is right.	Communications Joan
mototsune19440816-7	Today, I put up six quarts of table-beets. Yes, I really did all the work by myself. Imagine!! But I wouldn’t	Labour-conditions
mototsune19440816-8	be a bit surprised if they spoil within a month or so. In fact, I’ll be surprised if they don’t. All in all, I’ve put up 12 qt. of green beans, 12 qt. of table-beets, 4 ½ jars of plum jam, 1 ½ jars of blueberry jam and 1 ½ [jars?] of raspberry jam. We’ll be putting up fruits later and probably some more jam if we have any sugar left. This is the first time we have ever put up any vegetables or fruits or jam. We are sort of climbing up to it. I suppose you have put up some vegetables already and probably some fruits.	2 Labour-conditions
mototsune19440816-9	Our garden isn’t too bad providing that this year is rather hot and dry. We	Labour-conditions
mototsune19440816-10	irrigated it 3 times already. How is your garden? Our sugar-beets at first seemed burned up and almost hopeless, but since we irrigated them, they grew all of a sudden. We	3
mototsune19440816-11	The other day I went to see Roy Rogers in “King of the Cowboys.” Did you see that picture-show? I thought it was a good picture. I hardly go to shows unless they are cowboy or mystery pictures. I can’t resist cowboy shows; I don’t like comical pictures much. Do you?	Recreation
mototsune19440816-12	Well, I guess I had better close for now. Please excuse my scribbling and please overlook my errors. I am very poor in writing	Communications
mototsune19440816-13	letters. I guess you know that by now. Here’s hoping you are in the best of health and best regards to you all.	4 Communications
mototsune19440816-14	Your friend forever;
mototsune19440816-15	Sumi Mototsune
mototsune19440816-16	P.S. Please write soon and tell me if anything is the matter with you. I’m worried. S.M.	Joan

Ikeda

ikeda-1	c/o L. Brandley	Letter 1
ikeda-2	Box 299,
ikeda-3	Raymond, Alta.,
ikeda-4	Feb 14.
ikeda-5	Dear Joan,
ikeda-6	I received your letter few weeks ago and was very glad to receive it. I am sorry for not writing any sooner but under certain circumstances I could not.	Communications
ikeda-7	Well Joan, hows the weather treating you? We’re having one of the coldest winter Alberta has had in yrs. Brr -- , it sure was cold walking almost a mile on the cold days but I managed to live through somehow. I’m sure it was cold in B.C. this yr. for a large number of schools had been closed.	Living-conditions
ikeda-8	It was one of the coldest winter you had in yrs. wasn’t it? Will it effect [sic] you very much? Has Q.E. opened up yet?	Joan
ikeda-9	It certainly is news to hear that [Muriel???] left Q.E. Gee, I can’t imagine it. She wrote to me last in December and I haven’t heard from her since. If she happens to write to you would you give me her new address.	Mail
ikeda-10	Theres most of our group in Raymond but there are few families gone to Magrath, Sterling and Welling.	Forced-dispersal
ikeda-11	I’ve seen Jackie, Johnny, Tan, Tashiko, Suzie etc a few times. I’m sure glad Sumi is with me.	Belonging
ikeda-12	so you see I’m not so lonely as I thought I’d be when I first started school. We take most of the same subjects only Sumi takes French and I take Book Kg.	Education
ikeda-13	Raymond won playing basketball, against Sterling a few weeks ago and on Fri-12, Raymond went to Magrath to play but they had lost the game.	Recreation
ikeda-14	On Fri 12, they had the young peoples social at the Hungarian Hall and I’m sure everyone had a grand time. Gee! I wanted to go but I was sick so I couldn’t go. And Thurs. we had something down at the Buddhist church and I couldn’t go. Darn it, Everything has to go wrong at the wrong time.	Recreation
ikeda-15	Yoshio N. came from Magrath to to the Social for the first time. I’m sure he had a swell time.	Recreation
ikeda-16	Say have you heard from Emee. If you have could you give me her address.	Mail
ikeda-17	By the way hows your little friend of Sonny Ohama. Gee! we miss him but I guess you miss him just as much or even more. or is it Albert that you miss).
ikeda-18	Well, I better close for now. Give my best regards to the girls in your class. Write to me soon, won’t you. Good-bye.
ikeda-19	Sincerely yours
ikeda-20	Teruko Ikeda.
ikeda-21	May 10, 1943	Letter 2
ikeda-22	Dear Joan.
ikeda-23	Its almost a few decades ago I had received your letter and I am sorry I had not written to you any sooner. I know your anxious to hear some news of Raymond so I’ll start and get down to business, even though there isn’t much news to write.	Communications
ikeda-24	My, its a lovely time to start snowing again when the beets are almost ready to be thinned by some farmers. Its fairly cold to-day and the temperature has dropped considerably. It started to snow around five and everythings white but I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see it all melted by to-morrow night.	Labour-conditions
ikeda-25	I hope you had a real good Easter holidays as for me I spent my Easter holidays going to school. I didn’t mind very much for I believed I learned something.	Education
ikeda-26	Last week I forgot to take my excuse for being absent from school so the old Principal Jacobs gave me some detention to do. Boy, was I boiling. I could have knocked his block off, that is if he had one.	Education
ikeda-27	On Friday the grade tens and some other grades were shown a moving picture about Spies. But you know every time there is something like that I’m never there to see it.	Education
ikeda-28	Say, I heard Q.E. had cadets for girls. Are you taking cadets? I sure think its a good idea to have an organization for girls as well as for boys.	Gender-dynamics Education WWII
ikeda-29	R.H.S. has cadets only for boys but I’ve never seen them practising because they have it at night.	Gender-dynamics Education WWII
ikeda-30	From last week I started to go [???] a school girl at Mrs. Hudsons and I am staying there till I have to go into [???]. This family is very nice to me and I sure think a lot of them. Mrs. Hudson teaches at the Mammoth school out at the Ridge.	Labour-conditions
ikeda-31	News or no news, I like to announce the birth of [some little???] kittens which where [sic] born last week. They’re still blind but are getting fluffier and cuter each day. There been quite a few weddings this spring and I think theres going to be a [???] wedding on Sat.	Recreation
ikeda-32	Its half past ten now and I still have to write a composition for to-morrow. It really was supposed to be handed in on Fri. but I wasn’t there so I have a chance till to-morrow. Thank Goodness. I guess you could picture me and Emee going to you for help every time we had any written work to hand in when I mention “Composition.”	Education
ikeda-33	Well, I better close now. Good-bye and good-luck till I write again
ikeda-34	Your Friend
ikeda-35	Teruko Ikeda
ikeda-36	P.S. I would appreciate very much if you’d send me your snapshot. Maybe your wondering why I write on this paper instead of writing tablet but the truth is I’m too busy to buy one just now so I’ll have one by next time.	Photographs Communications

Nakamura19480727

nakamura19480727-1	General Delivery.	1
nakamura19480727-2	Magrath, Alta.
nakamura19480727-3	July 27/48.
nakamura19480727-4	Dear Joan,
nakamura19480727-5	After a century of silence, here I am once more. Miracles do happen don't they.
nakamura19480727-6	How are you Joan? are you getting tanned on the beaches–those wonderful salt-water beaches? I can almost smell the sea now.	Homesickness
nakamura19480727-7	Joan–it's really difficult for me to write a letter nowadays because I have never written one for years,–well, almost a year. It's been quite a while since I wrote you last (and how) and a lot has happened around here lately too.	Communications
nakamura19480727-8	For example, I am now AC2, Nakamura R.C.A.F. as of July 20. I had been trying to get in for some time and finally after I sent my report cards, references etc	WWII Labour-conditions
nakamura19480727-9	I received a telegram of my acceptance as photographer! I went to Calgary and had to write 5 exams and had a medical. After 2 days on July 20th I was sworn in. And now I am on my way to Trenton Ontario on August 17th. I get 12 weeks basic training there and then I go to Rockcliffe Ontario to train as a photographer.	2 WWII Labour-conditions
nakamura19480727-10	I was hoping that I could go out to the Coast on my holidays but that will have to wait.	Homesickness
nakamura19480727-11	You may be wondering why I joined R.C.A.F. Well Joan, I just couldn't see any future for myself in working in a store, or working in Alta. I know that I will be able to study and kept our of mischief	Labour-conditions
nakamura19480727-12	in the Air Force. I hope that it will do me a lot of good so that I may be able to do something with myself later on.	3 Optimism
nakamura19480727-13	By the way, do you see Betty? I am enclosing a pic of myself for you and Betty. Could you give it to Betty? I shall write to her next time.	Photographs Communications
nakamura19480727-14	Last week end I went to Waterton Lakes and spend a couple of days there. It was really swell to get among the trees and hills. I went to the Canyon Church Camp, a camp sponsored by the United Church. We went for hikes, swimming, fishing, climbing and at night we had	Recreation
nakamura19480727-15	dances, skits and sing songs. I had a merry time. I'll have to close for now; it's getting past the wee hours. Will you write and let me know how you and the rest of the gang are doing? Bye for now.	4 Recreation
nakamura19480727-16	As ever,
nakamura19480727-17	Yosh.

Nakamura19440626

nakamura19440626-1	Box 173, Magrath, Alta.	1
nakamura19440626-2	June, 26, 1944.
nakamura19440626-3	Dear Joan;
nakamura19440626-4	I do not know how to thank you for that swell pin. You do not know how I felt when I touched it and looked at for a long time. That pin alone brought back the memories that I have cherished for so long. It reminded me of Q.H.S. and of the students that were in it and are in it now. It brought me back to the time I shook hands with you on that last day at school. Gosh, but I wish I could live those years over again. I feel like a soldier away on a foreign shore fighting in battles, and thinking the peaceful hours spent before the tragic occurance. Thank you an awful lot Joan, for the pin. I won't forget it.	Homesickness Education Forced-dispersal WWII Belonging
nakamura19440626-5	Yipe! hold it Joan, don't talk about the 21st year yet. I feel pretty much like an old man now. On the 21st day I mean birthday I'm going to have a real nice party, something that I can remember. If we are still here at that time I'll send you some of the original cake.	Recreation
nakamura19440626-6	I hope you got recommended. Say what am I saying about hoping, I know you did get recommended. How did the Graduation ceremony turn out? Gee, but I bet it was swell. I sort of missed mine didn't I.	Education Homesickness
nakamura19440626-7	Sports day, ----- that's one thing I really miss. Down here they do not go in for track very much. On the first of July they said there is going to be some sports programs but I do not know the particulars since	Homesickness Recreation
nakamura19440626-8	I have not been in town for 24 days. Can you imagine that, I really am a hermit now.	2 Living-conditions
nakamura19440626-9	I'm glad to hear that the Blue house won cause that was the last house I was in.	Recreation
nakamura19440626-10	I received a letter from Betty the other day too. Her and Margie are teachers now. What are you going to be after grade 12 Joan? Are you going to be a teacher? Are you going to a Secretarial school?	Joan
nakamura19440626-11	Betty says that she is going to Manitoba. She'll be able to see Anne for about a month then wouldn't she.
nakamura19440626-12	Gosh, but it's raining cats and dogs. We seem to have rain everyother day. THe other day we had a real humdinger of a cloudburst. I've never seen rain come down in such a torrent in all my life. It sure was a sight.	Living-conditions
nakamura19440626-13	I'm beginning to sound like a diary now so I'll close till next time.	Communications
nakamura19440626-14	Thanks again for that lovely pin. I like it very much. I will try to show you my appreciation soon. Until then I remain-
nakamura19440626-15	As Ever,

Nagamori19430109

nagamori19430109-1	Lorette	1
nagamori19430109-2	Manitoba
nagamori19430109-3	Jan 9, 1943
nagamori19430109-4	Dear Joan --
nagamori19430109-5	Hellow Joan, It’s been quite a while since I heard from you last isn’t it.	Joan
nagamori19430109-6	Well anyways I resolved to answer every letter sooner, especially yours.	Communications
nagamori19430109-7	Here’s another year, greeting us with Luck and Happiness. I hope.	Optimism
nagamori19430109-8	First of all I guess I’ll tell you of our transfer into Lorette. This was made in the middle of November. We moved out of Headingly because of our poor living quarter. Right now we have all the convenience although the post office is three miles away.	Living-conditions
nagamori19430109-9	Our boss (Joe Gregorior) has a farm of his own, has a dairy, and runs a general store, and above all he owns about 17 children. He just lives across the highway from us, and the school is about same distance away.	Labour-conditions
nagamori19430109-10	This highway which runs between us in the NO12, or some peoples call it the Dawson Rd.
nagamori19430109-11	How’s the weather like back in good old B.C. now? Have you had any snow yet?	2 Homesickness
nagamori19430109-12	Right here we have an average of 8”. Some places like along the edge of the brush or fence the snow is banked about 2 ft. The highway in this country is banked up quite high so soon as the powder snow lands it is blown by a puff of wind, and the speed of the traffic.	Living-conditions
nagamori19430109-13	The toughest day we had out here was about 30 degrees below with a wind that almost tore our skins apart from our bones. This day me and my dad went out a mile to get beet leaves for our boss’s cattle. The beet leaves were stuck tight together so we needed a pick to separate them from the ground. My dad had 1 1/2 inches of icycle [sic] on his mustach when we came back with a load.	Labour-conditions
nagamori19430109-14	If you stand out in this weather for an hour you’ll be chilled right through your marrow.	Living-conditions
nagamori19430109-15	Boy but the river was really well for a coupla weeks last year for skating. This Seine	Recreation
nagamori19430109-16	River was a playground for almost every one around here, on Sundays specially. Last year was my first year on ice and I made out pretty good one day I tried out my speed and proved to go 9 miles in 3/4 hr. this is nothing to what most does [sic].	3 Recreation
nagamori19430109-17	Most of the Japanese sugar beet workers have now gone to the [???] work camp or to Ontario to cut pulp wood and few have landed swell jobs in Winnipeg. My eldest brother has gone to Ontario to cut pulp wood but just a day before Christmas he broke his ribs and he is now at Fort William.	Labour-conditions
nagamori19430109-18	Most of the girls here have work in Winnipeg doing house-work, working in hat-factories and even few of them are smart enough to work as a stenographer.	Gender-dynamics Labour-conditions
nagamori19430109-19	I’ve got some more to write but since its getting to [sic] long I think I’ll cut off here.
nagamori19430109-20	Darn this evacuee business I’m getting tired of it can’t seem to get settled.	Belonging Homesickness Optimism
nagamori19430109-21	Well anyways here’s sending you--
nagamori19430109-22	Best Wishes and Luck for /43
nagamori19430109-23	Write soon please
nagamori19430109-24	Always
nagamori19430109-25	Tad

Takahashi19431028

takahashi19431028-1	Box 76,	1
takahashi19431028-2	Magrath Alta.,
takahashi19431028-3	Oct. 28, 1943
takahashi19431028-4	Dear Joan,
takahashi19431028-5	Hello! Joan. This is your old school pal Jack writing a few lines again. Sure is a long time since we heard from each other.
takahashi19431028-6	How’s school? No doubt your [sic] getting along fine there. Sure wish I was still going to Q.E. In Alberta school started on the 10th of October and I just started on the 21, that’s yesterday. It feels sort of funny to be in grade 10 with all the younger pupils. The courses have been changed so the schooling is much better. In grade 10 there is 5 compulsory courses [sic]; English, Mathematics, Health, Social Studies, and Science. Besides that I take French and Industrial arts and typing. There isn’t much activity at school yet but I believe they are going to start some clubs soon. Next Friday we elect a president of the school.	Education
takahashi19431028-7	All summer I was away from home working on a farm as [sic] hog feeder and trader man ]. Beet topping kept us busy the last 3 weeks but now we’re finished so we can take it easy now.	2 Labour-conditions
takahashi19431028-8	The weather has been fair for a long while but it doesn’t look so good to-night. We have had frost in the morning just about every day since the middle of September. We had enough snow on September 18th to make everything white believe it or not. That’s the first time I saw snow in Sept. Soon we’ll be seeing plenty of snow and cold weather. I sure don’t like the winters here. Br-r-r it makes me shiver to just think of it. I guess you won’t be seeing old man winter for a while yet.	Living-conditions
takahashi19431028-9	That’s about all so I wish my best regards and Good-bye till I write again
takahashi19431028-10	Yours truly
takahashi19431028-11	Jackie

Mototsune19430131

mototsune19430131-1	Box 167, Raymond Alta
mototsune19430131-2	January 31/43
mototsune19430131-3	Dearest Joan, —
mototsune19430131-4	Hi – Joan! How are you and all the rest? Well, I hope, as we all are fine in spite of the cold weather we’re having.
mototsune19430131-5	This isn’t going to [sic] such a long letter as I believe I haven’t much to write. I admit I don’t like writing letters but somehow or rather I get it done anyways – thoughs its [sic] nothing compared to yours.	Communications
mototsune19430131-6	Thank you ever so much for your beautiful card & hankies. Honestly I’ve never dreamed of receiving such presents. And look at me, I tried to send your present in time, but lazy me, I never do get things done right away. Everybody in the house was just about practically driving me crazy saying – “When are you going to buy Joan’s present? When are you going to send it?” That’s all what I’ve been hearing in the house until last Friday I went to Lethbridge to get a picture taken for registration. (I’ll send you one if its OK.) It’s nothing much & I’m really very sorry its going to be	Joan
mototsune19430131-7	awfully late but still wishing you a “Happy Birthday, Joan, and Many Happy returns of the day!” Enclosed is also a Valentine Card. I was just wondering who the “two brides” are? Could it be “Joan & Lionel?” Please tell!!	2
mototsune19430131-8	Yesterday I went to the skating rink with my sisters for a bit of fun. Really, I don’t think it was much fun. There was one particular guy who kept on pushing me & another girl who was skating with me, & every time he pushed us, well, we’ll fall! You see, Joan, I’ve been on the ice only four times and I’m nowhere an expert. If I was, well, I wouldn’t g let him get away with it. After all, he’s a way better skater than both of us. I figure it would be better if I skated on our own ice pond, but heavens! it’ll take ages to shovel all the snow off. Raymond is the only place where you can go in and skate for free. Other places charges [sic] you so much for so long, so I guess were [sic] quite fortunate.	Recreation
mototsune19430131-9	We’ve had a very cold [spell] for over a week. The coldest was 50 degrees below.	Living-conditions
mototsune19430131-10	Other days were below 30 degrees below and it never went above anymore than 30 degrees below. At noon, it’ll be around 35 degrees below while at night it suddenly drops down to 45 degrees below. Our window glass was covered at least an inch with ice inside & not outside. We could’nt [sic] see anything until the ice melted, and it makes such a mess when it does melt. Nobody sits near the window as it is cold, but all crowds around the poor old stove who’s trying so hard to give off heat in spite of all its efforts. When it gets to be so cold, you can’t feel the coldness but it stings your nose and cheeks.	3 Living-conditions
mototsune19430131-11	We’ve had only one blizzard this year so far. And what a blizzard! You couldn’t see an inch ahead of you. We didn’t go to school that day. Quite a lot never went also. The van driver said that he started out the same time as every morning, but was at least an hour and half off the schedule.	Living-conditions
mototsune19430131-12	The thermometer is up to 30 degrees above right now. It’s quite a change after those cold days. People say that this coldness is
mototsune19430131-13	the same as the year 1935. Usually, they say that it isn’t this cold every winter. How are the things at school? Are you very busy with your homework? We hardly get homework except S.S. & French almost every night. Every gym period we play basketball. Most of the girls take P.T. in their dresses and so do I. Rules over here aren’t so very strict. Teruko’s class went ice-skating for 3 periods one afternoon twice. We planned on going last Fri. but it snowed the day before so we couldn’t skate because the snow wasn’t scraped off yet.	4 Education Recreation
mototsune19430131-14	Gee, I wish you were over here or I over there, well it doesn’t make any difference as to where it is as long as were [sic] together.	Joan Homesickness
mototsune19430131-15	This writing pad is the first one I used on your letter which you gave me for Xmas. I haven’t used any envelopes yet.
mototsune19430131-16	Mother just handed me out the bunch of lavenders which was in my Xmas present from you & she wants to know if you can get hold of any more of them. She just loves the scent of it & she’ll be very grateful if you can send anymore if you can get some more.	Homesickness
mototsune19430131-17	Well I think I’ve said all I wanted to say. Best regards to you all – yours as ever,
mototsune19430131-18	Sumi M.

Mototsune19420530

mototsune19420530-1	c/o Mr. J. Maudsley
mototsune19420530-2	Raymond, Alta.
mototsune19420530-3	May 30/42
mototsune19420530-4	Dear Joan,
mototsune19420530-5	Thank you ever so much for the letter I received today. You could have imagined how surprised I was to hear from you so soon! I am not wasting a minute in writing to you. But, oh! fat, large letters every time! That’s what I like. I don’t know how you do it, but gosh, it’s so interesting, that I read it over I don’t know how many times. There isn’t any interesting things to write around here, so you can write all the news back home.	Communications Homesickness
mototsune19420530-6	I feel sorry for you and Donalda about being
mototsune19420530-7	missing a week of school, especially you, when you missed two final exams! I don’t blame you for not getting mad. I know I will.	2
mototsune19420530-8	Where did Setsuko Fujii go? And where did Sonny & Albert go to? We don’t get any newspaper so we don’t know anything. Whenever Dad goes to town, he buys a “Lethbridge Herald News” paper. It has only the half of the pages from that of Sun or Province, and there is no news of Vancouver or New Westminster. The other day, I sent a letter to “The Vancouver Daily Provinces” asking them if they can send a newspaper over here to Raymond. Do you think they will?	Communications Forced-dispersal Homesickness
mototsune19420530-9	As for the pictures, you don’t have to send them to me, but I am asking for only the spare ones you have. I will be very	Photographs
mototsune19420530-10	grateful to you if you can spare some few to me.	3 Photographs
mototsune19420530-11	Yesterday (May 29th) was Sports Day, and my sister & I certainly hope the “White House” would win. The way you write about the “Whites,” it sounds as if we are in an awful position. I hope the White House will improve. Good going for 2 E. [ill.]!! Three times in succession now. I hope they defeat the Langley High School this time. Were the same persons on again? I wish I had listen to it, but it was impossible as we have no radio. Maudsleys’ got a bycicle radio, but we can’t hear Vancouver, tough luck.	Communications Homesickness
mototsune19420530-12	We don’t get blackout practice over here. Even if we do, we don’t hardly put our lamp lights on, so it’ll be simple, I think.	Living-conditions
mototsune19420530-13	The time is now 9:05 P.M. and it is still light outside.	4 Living-conditions
mototsune19420530-14	The weather here is very peculiar. For few days before, it was so hot that we went barefooted in an irrigation ditch (even though we aren’t supposed to.) and we couldn’t eat our meals heartily. Then the next day (cold) it would be cold. This week, it was so cold! and it rained too much!	Living-conditions Labour-conditions
mototsune19420530-15	The peas, beans, cabbages, & corns have started to grow, but the others haven’t. Dad says maybe it may be rotten, because the ground is too wet and form large puddles in low places.	Labour-conditions
mototsune19420530-16	Today, I have gone out killing gophers. Only one in one hour.	Labour-conditions
mototsune19420530-17	That’s bad! One afternoon, Teruko and I got twelve in five hours. We’ve altogether killed approximately fifty by now. We were told to kill as many as we can because they do damage to sugar-beets or vegetables.	5 Labour-conditions
mototsune19420530-18	We still haven’t started on our sugar-beets yet. It has only two large & two small leaves, while it has to have at least six leaves. I don’t think I’m going to like the job of thinning. Some people have started working on them already, but was held in because of the bad weather.	Labour-conditions
mototsune19420530-19	When we go back to school in September, we will have to repeat the same grade. Even	Education
mototsune19420530-20	if I go back to QEHS, I won’t be in the same grade as you and the pupils in the present Grade 9. I don’t know if I will be able to go back to school. It all depends on how our sugar-beets turn out. I really want to go back to school though.	6 Education Labour-conditions
mototsune19420530-21	We are still living in our one-room house, if you can call it a house! Only mice can have the pleasure of living in here. Every night, they come in and eat everything they can find. Last night, it chewed my Dad & Mom’s socks, and made beautiful decorative holes in it. Still worse, it made a large hole (about 2 inches in diameter) on the back of my best summer coat. Was I	Living-conditions
mototsune19420530-22	mad! I lost my temper then. Mom isn’t going to mend it because she said it’ll look funny. Instead, she’s going to take it to the tailor’s to get it mended, but the trouble is, there is no tailor in Raymond, so it is still how it is. My Dad can’t fix or improve the house because there is no material yet. We all hope it will arrive soon.	7 Living-conditions
mototsune19420530-23	Listen, Joan, your letter isn’t a scrawl, no more than my scribbling. (and how) I rather want to read your handwritten letter than anything else I can think of. It doesn’t seem right if its [sic] typed or pressed. And I certainly like reading long letters	Communications
mototsune19420530-24	, and if you don’t mind, you can write everything what has happened.	8 Homesickness Communications
mototsune19420530-25	Thank you very very much for sending those pink roses. There is no bush of them growing here, and it certainly looks dull, without them. It reminded all of us back home in B.C. “You are very thoughtful,” mum says, “to send them to us.” Same here.	Homesickness
mototsune19420530-26	Do “purple violets” & “forget-me-nots” have seeds? If they have seeds, will you please send a teeny weeny bit? Mrs. Maudsley wants some of those seeds & she can’t get them here in Raymond.	Farm-owners
mototsune19420530-27	Mom wants a little bit if she can. Oh, gosh!! I forgot to ask if you have any at first; and if you have, will
mototsune19420530-28	your mother mind giving away just a few?	9
mototsune19420530-29	Was I surprised when you wrote to me that Mr. Sanford is going to join the Air Force. I didn’t even dream of him joining it!	WWII
mototsune19420530-30	The letter is getting too long now and I had better close it. Your eyes must be sore trying to read and make out my scribbling. I am sorry to write such a long letter, but I hope you don’t mind. We all wish to be back home as soon as possible, & I’ll remember you always. Well, I guess I had better stop for final, as I am getting to the end of the page so good-bye & good health till	Communications Joan Homesickness
mototsune19420530-31	we meet again.	10
mototsune19420530-32	Best regards to all from us. Your friend as ever, Sumi M.
mototsune19420530-33	P.S. I have been jabbering & forgot how to inquire how you all are. I hope you are fine. We are all very fine, and getting along well.

Takahashi19420915

takahashi19420915-1	Magrath Alta.	1
takahashi19420915-2	Sept. 15, 1942.
takahashi19420915-3	Dear Joan,
takahashi19420915-4	Thanks for the pictures you sent. They were really nice pictures.	Photographs
takahashi19420915-5	Oh, I'm getting along okay. I've out stooking wheat and oats in sunny days. I couldn't tell you if I gained any weight or grew for I haven't weighed myself after I came here. We got hit by small hail although they were about 1/2 in in diameter once after the big hail. They just made holes in the leaves but it can't be noticed now.	Labour-conditions
takahashi19420915-6	We had plenty rain so we didn't have to irrigate the beets.	Labour-conditions
takahashi19420915-7	Our boss says we may start topping this 24th.	Labour-conditions
takahashi19420915-8	On Aug 28 Tom came down to our place on bike and I went with him to his place that is about 26 miles on bike. The legs sure was tired when I reached there. It rained that night and day after so I had to stay there a couple of days and had to miss couple of days of schools.	Recreation
takahashi19420915-9	I started school Sept. 2nd and I've only gone about 1 week yet for most of the others I worked. Yesterday I was sick on account I eat too much the day before. The school is quite small compared to Q.E. It has only 2 stories although just the top is the class rooms. And the bottom is the gym shop home ec. and lav. Only 5 rooms on the top. I figured on taking matric last year so I'm taking French right now. I don't know if I can take it all the time or only the smartest people are allowed to take French and Physics. Alberta high school are much different than the B.C. high school. They won't let you take some subject unless you are the smart ones. They don't give credits in 9 and you have to get 105 credits in 3 yrs. In 1 year we have to get 35 credits	Education
takahashi19420915-10	The courses are different too. I'm taking Soc St., Eng., Algebra, Shop, French, Physic, health and physical education, and act. I hate art but that was all I could take to get 35 credits. I've only got 5 teachers and a principal. Only one lady teacher and rest all men. The teachers are a joky bunch. They all joke and push the students around in the hallway. You really can have fun with these teachers but they sure give us enough homework to keep us busy. We get enough time at school so it okay. We start school at 9:30 noon hr from 12:30 to 2:00 and from 2:00 to 4:30. The stores are close by so noon hr. and after school we're down the stores. Noon hr. is tiresome for there isn't a thing to do. I'm getting sick of school already for it ain't so hot. Just learn the same things.	2 Education
takahashi19420915-11	I can't think up any more so I guess I should [quiting???] here but write soon and tell how school days are.
takahashi19420915-12	Well so-long
takahashi19420915-13	Sincerely,
takahashi19420915-14	Jack.

Takahashi19440122

takahashi19440122-1	Box 16	1
takahashi19440122-2	Magrath Alta.
takahashi19440122-3	January 22, 1944
takahashi19440122-4	Dear Joan;
takahashi19440122-5	I sent a letter to you on the 28th of Dec. but it came back to me for I put the wrong address on. -Must of been day-dreaming. Still - how's everything? Good as ever I hope. Not much change here - Never is.	Mail
takahashi19440122-6	Talk about shool [sic]. I'm sick of school. Sick of going 3 miles to learn nothing. All I learnt so far is a little math and french. Hardly learnt anything in the other subjects.	Education
takahashi19440122-7	School is a little bit livelier now that they play badminton during noon hours. We are making a ping pong table in shop so we'll be able to play ping pong soon. The tumbling club isn't getting	Recreation
takahashi19440122-8	ahead very fast. Yesterday we had club period so I went down to tumble and I was doing these forward rolls and thing again. I don't think I'll go down to tumble again till they get a little better. Last night we (the 3 teams) went to Cardstone to play basketball and lost by one point. Two weeks from now we play them again on our own floor. On the 7th we beat Raymond by about 6 points. Last night going and coming back from Cardstone we were like sardines in a can. Twenty-one of us crowded in a little van about 8 ft x 5 ft. Four sat in the front and 17 of us were in the back crowded so much we could hardly move. There was 10 boy and 7 girls in the back. After the game last night we all were invited to a dance in an hall but I was just a wallflower. They	2 Recreation
takahashi19440122-9	sure have a nice dancing hall there. I read your having nice weather on the coast. Well we haven't anything to kick about for we are having swell weather too. We haven't seen snow since Christmas when we had a little snow. The days are really warm but the last few days the [???] wind has been blowing terribly. Most of the ice have melted now so we can't go skating. I've got to go to house now so I'll close here.	3 Living-conditions
takahashi19440122-10	Oh yes I got a few souvenir hankies so I thought I should send one to you. Well So-long now
takahashi19440122-11	Yours sincerely, Jack T.

Ikeda19430214

ikeda19430214-1	c/o L. Brandley	1
ikeda19430214-2	Box 299,
ikeda19430214-3	Raymond, Alta.,
ikeda19430214-4	Feb 14.
ikeda19430214-5	Dear Joan,
ikeda19430214-6	I received your letter few weeks ago and was very glad to receive it. I am sorry for not writing any sooner but under certain circumstances I could not.	Communications
ikeda19430214-7	Well Joan, hows the weather treating you? We’re having one of the coldest winter Alberta has had in yrs. Brr -- , it sure was cold walking almost a mile on the cold days but I managed to live through somehow. I’m sure it was cold in B.C. this yr. for a large number of schools had been closed.	Living-conditions
ikeda19430214-8	It was one of the coldest winter you had in yrs. wasn’t it? Will it effect [sic] you very much? Has Q.E. opened up yet?	Joan
ikeda19430214-9	It certainly is news to hear that [Muriel???] left Q.E. Gee, I can’t imagine it. She wrote to me last in December and I haven’t heard from her since. If she happens to write to you would you give me her new address.	Mail
ikeda19430214-10	Theres most of our group in Raymond but there are few families gone to Magrath, Sterling and Welling.	Forced-dispersal
ikeda19430214-11	I’ve seen Jackie, Johnny, Tan, Tashiko, Suzie etc a few times. I’m sure glad Sumi is with me.	Belonging
ikeda19430214-12	so you see I’m not so lonely as I thought I’d be when I first started school. We take most of the same subjects only Sumi takes French and I take Book Kg.	Education
ikeda19430214-13	Raymond won playing basketball, against Sterling a few weeks ago and on Fri-12, Raymond went to Magrath to play but they had lost the game.	Recreation
ikeda19430214-14	On Fri 12, they had the young peoples social at the Hungarian Hall and I’m sure everyone had a grand time. Gee! I wanted to go but I was sick so I couldn’t go. And Thurs. we had something down at the Buddhist church and I couldn’t go. Darn it, Everything has to go wrong at the wrong time.	2 Recreation
ikeda19430214-15	Yoshio N. came from Magrath to to the Social for the first time. I’m sure he had a swell time.	Recreation
ikeda19430214-16	Say have you heard from Emee. If you have could you give me her address.	Mail
ikeda19430214-17	By the way hows your little friend of Sonny Ohama. Gee! we miss him but I guess you miss him just as much or even more. or is it Albert that you miss).
ikeda19430214-18	Well, I better close for now. Give my best regards to the girls in your class. Write to me soon, won’t you. Good-bye.
ikeda19430214-19	Sincerely yours
ikeda19430214-20	Teruko Ikeda.

Takahashi19420610

takahashi19420610-1	Magrath Alberta,	1
takahashi19420610-2	June 10, 1942
takahashi19420610-3	Dear Joan;
takahashi19420610-4	You aren't mad at me for not answering your letter right away are you? I was sort of lazy to write right away and I just about forgot to answer your letter. I just finished super and I remembered I still had to answer your letter.	Communications
takahashi19420610-5	Boy it felt good to come in the house after being working in the sugar beets when the wind was blowing like the heck. It sure was windy. It made tear [sic] come out of my eye and water out of my nose. We started beet thinning last Tuesday, June 2nd. We worked about 1/2 day on the 2nd, 1/2 day on the 3rd. The other half day it rained. That Wednesday it changed from sunshine to rain while we ate our dinner. For the rest of the week we stay at home. Sunday night we had a thunder storm.	Labour-conditions
takahashi19420610-6	Around Raymond they had hail and rain but we were lucky for we were on the outskirts of the rain and it only sprinkled around here.	2 Living-conditions
takahashi19420610-7	Monday we started work again and have worked every day till today so far. We finished over 6 acres that is thinning the beets.	Labour-conditions
takahashi19420610-8	Thinning isn’t so hard as I thought. All we have to do is to cut out the beets with a how so to leave a beet a hoe length apart. You are supposed to leave only one beet and not two at once place for it won't grow as big. The sugar beet plant is all the same as a ordinary red beet but the leaves aren't red but are green. It look more like a spinach plant than a beet. The only thing wrong is that the weeds cover the garden for it rained so darn much.	Labour-conditions
takahashi19420610-9	I got tired last night so I put away the half written letter for I knew I couldn’t mail it till to-day June 11 when our boss comes here to his farm from town.	Communications Labour-conditions
takahashi19420610-10	This morning my eyes
takahashi19420610-11	opened around 6 o’clock but I heard the sound of the wind and the rain and slept soundly till about quarter past eleven. I waited for dinner and then here I am writing again. Gosh rain again. That mean [sic] no work for a couple of days, more grass, more mud, can't go outside without getting muddy. When it rains it’s as same as being stranded on an island for you can't go outside. We hauled some travel along our house so it won't be as muddy as before that’s one thing. I’d for rather [sic] work or be outside than stay inside out from the rain. This month we had only about 2 days with sunshine. When the sunshines [sic] and when the wind isn't blowing it sure is hot. Sweat just pours down my face last Tuesday. Yesterday we had sunshine most of the day but the wind was blowing like the heck.	3 Living-conditions
takahashi19420610-12	I heard from Yosh that the Blue House had won the Inter House [???]. That sure is something I never thought the Blue House would win even though I was in it. Well I was in the winning house for the track twice. So was Yosh	Homesickness Education
takahashi19420610-13	Are you still going to school or have you finished yet? Have you past [sic] all your subjects or don't you know yet? I wish I could of [sic] finished grade nine. I don't know if I have to start grade nine over again or not if I start in September yet but if I start school again I'll find out.	4 Education
takahashi19420610-14	How are the cherries and other fruits I sure miss my strawberries and cherries.	Homesickness
takahashi19420610-15	The strawberries here that is our bosses is just flowering. Their tulips are fresh blooming here. The lilac and all of the flowers are just blooming here. I guess you don't see tulips and lilac at Surrey now? Spring just got here in Alberta.	Living-conditions
takahashi19420610-16	You want to know something about our garden? Well it’s more grass than anything else and that’s about all there is anyway.	Living-conditions
takahashi19420610-17	That’s all I've got to say so I'll end there.
takahashi19420610-18	(I just moved the page and didn’t look where i was writing)
takahashi19420610-19	Good-bye for a while
takahashi19420610-20	Jackie Takahashi
takahashi19420610-21	P.S. Excuse my paragraphing and everything else	Communications

Nakamura

nakamura-1	c/o A. O. Peterson,	Letter 1
nakamura-2	Box 173, Magrath, Alberta
nakamura-3	Dear Joan,
nakamura-4	Here I am again. I hope that I am not bothering you too much; "You know Final Exams and all that." I'm awfully sorry I did not answer yours of the 1st of this month, any to quick. You know me "The lazy good-for nothing I guess." Well to start off with I enjoyed your letter very very much. I really did.	Writing Mail
nakamura-5	The real reason I could not write any sooner was because I hurt my right hand. I was helping my boss pile up some scrap iron he had around his big farm when an old iron plow fell across the back of my ooh! knuckles?? (how do you spell it?) metacarpals and carpals. The Boss thought it was broken but I said it didn't hurt much (not much oh yes!) You know how it is when a person is around when you get hurt. Well, we finished in about 1 1/2 hrs. I got off from work so I had my hand plastered and bandaged for a couple of days. I took it off on 14th "yesterday", and boy was it swollen up.	Beet-farms Labor-conditions [insert proper term for landowner/supervisor/'boss']
nakamura-6	It's still a bit swollen but I can write now. I'm always writing about my own sorrows etc so don't mind me.	Writing
nakamura-7	We had snow last night. Imagine! 3 inches of snow in the middle of May. And icicles and ice... Gosh! I was surprised enough when we had snow twice in April. And talk about mud. Oh! It's just mud anyway. Even on the No. 5 Alberta Highway it's just about 6 inches mud. Then when you get in the side roads its a foot thick. (I mean it's very muddy). Cars cannot run on the roads when it rains.	Living-conditions
nakamura-8	How's B.C.? To-day as I was listening to CBC about 8.30 to 9 P.M. (7:30-8:00 PM your way) I heard the announcer say "As I look across the Inlet from the " " Hotel (I forgot the hotel I could see the colorful Hillsides, the spring or was it early summer, atmosphere is in our surroundings in Western B.C." Something to that effect anyway. It sure reminded me of Surrey. Gee! I was hoping that he would go on but he started on some talk about the Blind being trained for defense work such as serving on Canteen trucks etc. I sure miss the funnies! We take the Lethbridge Herald a corny paper that comes whenever it feels like coming. It's supposed to be a daily paper.	Homesickness Living-conditions
nakamura-9	It has no news of B.C. so we are arranging to have the Sun or Province paper sent to us from an Agent in Raymond or Magrath. Oh! yes. Thanks for that paper clipping. It sure was thoughtful of you to do so.
nakamura-10	Say if you ever hear from Yoshiyuki or Albert or any of those boys who went to a different place from myself, will you please send me their addresses? I sent a letter to Mr. Matheson and Miss Nordberg, but I didn't hear from them since. Gosh! I'm just about going to be disappointed. I'll wait a few more days to get an answer, and if I don't, then I really will be disappointed. I've been waiting since May 1st.	Mail
nakamura-11	I spent my birthday in Alberta (at home). It was the 11th day of May. I never dreamt that I would be spending or rather have my birthday celebration in Alberta, of all places. Oh! the weather was awful. The road muddy. Then when it cleared a bit, my brother and his friend and I decided to go to Lethbridge 25-30 miles away, but oh! darn the rain, no car could go because of the mud, so I stayed home and read a book, I mean some Saturday Evening Posts.	Recreation Living-conditions
nakamura-12	There's lots of gophers here. Hundreds of them.	Living-conditions
nakamura-13	The boss' son (6 ft?) and I went to shoot some to-day. We shot quite a number. Cruel aren't we.	Recreation
nakamura-14	I must close now, my hand still aches a bit. I'll write some more of nothing, but please ask Anne, Betty, Margaret and [...?] to write to me so I can get their addresses and answer them. Please!	Mail Writing
nakamura-15	So long.
nakamura-16	Yours Sincerely,
nakamura-17	Yosh Nakamura
nakamura-18	P.S. If you can't make heads or tales of this scrawl, just burn it.	Writing
nakamura-19	Box 173, Magrath, Alta	Letter 2
nakamura-20	July 20/43.
nakamura-21	Dear Gang-
nakamura-22	I guess it's useless to start apologizing and making excuses for not writing these past centuries. I must have had a touch of laziness again. Well, may I begin to tell you all or nearly all that happened since I last wrote? O.K.? Swell.	Writing
nakamura-23	To begin with the last time I wrote was in March wasn't it? or was it before that. About that time we were all practising to put on a concert or "Club Review" as we called it, on the end of March.	Recreation Education
nakamura-24	You know, something like the big concert we had in Q.E.? only it wasn't half so good.	Homesickness Recreation
nakamura-25	The surprising part of it was that they never had such a concert like this before in Magrath. We had a packed house both times. (We put it on 2 nights.) It was the greatest success Magrath has ever put on. School inspectors and other school teachers etc. commented on it very highly. They has such things as dancing displays, plays (short) tumbling (I gave them a sample of Q.E. tumbling) with 3 other boys; the school band (5 piece)	Living-conditions Recreation Education
nakamura-26	songs by the glee club and a few other items. There was a dance after each performance (I mean at the end of each night.). That concert was the talk of the town for a month.	Recreation
nakamura-27	We had pictures taken etc. I got hold of me print of myself on top of a pyramid and had it autographed by the other fellows I'll get hold of another and send it over. We had fun doing it too.	Photographs
nakamura-28	All the time in between, we played badminton.	Recreation
nakamura-29	A week after the concert we had Easter exams. Pretty fair tests. Only some dopey girls (excuse me) cheated and got caught. Boy, was there a row over it.	Education
nakamura-30	Easter holidays came and I went to herd sheep about 60-70 miles from here. My boss has a couple of thousand head of sheep there. There were 3 of us boys and 2 men working there. It was lambing season so we were very busy. My boss couldn't get anybody to take my place so I had to stay away from school all May. I really was a shepherd of the hills then. I had to watch and take care of 1500 head of ewes and little lambs. The last week I was there I had to take the herd a few miles away from the other sheep so that they do not mix. I had to stay all by myself for a week.	Labour-conditions [insert proper term for landowner/supervisor/'boss']
nakamura-31	I had to cook by myself. I never saw a human being for 4 days. wow! what misery! Since it was better to leave the sheep outside of the corral, I had to watch them longer. The darn sheep head for all over the places as soon as it gets light and I do not stop till dark. I watched them all day and bring them back at night. I watch them till about 9-9:30 P.M. In the morning I have to get up between 4.30 A.M. and 5 A.M., catch a bite to eat and put some oranges etc. in my pocket for a mid-morning bite and off I go. I'll tell you now that I'll never do that again. I went there expecting to be home in 1 week but I had to stay 22 days! My boss sure was glad cause I stayed for him. If it was some grumpy old guy I might have left but he's been very good to us so I stayed for him. While I was there I found lots of pieces of petrified wood. If you'd like to see some I'll send some over. Let me know eh? I turned a combination of geologist and a herder. I found a number of pieces of petrified wood. Big and small; from 1 oz. to 15 lbs.	Labour-conditions [insert proper term for landowner/supervisor/'boss']
nakamura-32	So much for that. When I came home I found that the beets were awaiting me. Well for	Beet-farms
nakamura-33	nearly a month I thinned beets ugh! what a job but was it a relief when we finished in June, about the 24th.	Beet-farms Labour-conditions
nakamura-34	I went back to school just before this and found out that I was recommended in all subjects. They said that I cannot receive my Senior Matric this year 'cause the credits are rather on the low side. That is, they took away so much that I'll have to go back another year. Same with Tom Tsukishima. I'm thinking of going back next year.	Education
nakamura-35	Say, thanks for sending me the Q.E. Vue Joan, it sure was swell. To tell you the utmost truth I just about felt like crying when I read about the graduation and to think that I would have been there too. Gosh! I sure had a swell time while I attended good old, I mean new Q.E. Gosh! but I've finally lost hope of getting that Q.E. pin which I was supposed to have won. I wrote to "Stinky" but no response. I guess he decided that it was just a waste to send it to me eh?	Homesickness Education
nakamura-36	What are you all doing nowadays? Having fun? I hope so.
nakamura-37	Nearly everyday except Sundays and 1st of July, I've been working out on the prairies. Wow! is it ever hot! We hayed	Labour-conditions Living-conditions
nakamura-38	for a week in the blazing heat. It was 114° F at 6 P.M. so you can guess how hot it was at 1 or 2 P.M. Sweat just pours down in streams and water just flows nearly continuously down the hatch. I guess we drink a gallon or two of water each day. I've been mowing and raking hay these last few days and we start to hay again on Thursday.
nakamura-39	On the 24th of July a holiday for Magrath (It's birthday) us Evacuees play ball against the Local boys. We have formed a team and have practised every Sunday for about a month. We have fun tho'. Last Sunday after ball practise we had a wiener roast beside a canal and enjoyed it very much. The brains of a working boy drains and wanes fast so I'll close now before I lose all of my precious knowledge juice.	Recreation
nakamura-40	So long-
nakamura-41	As ever
nakamura-42	Yoshio
nakamura-43	P.S. Hoping against hope that you were able to read the ink lines.	Writing
nakamura-44	Box 173, Magrath, Alta.	Letter 3
nakamura-45	June, 26, 1944.
nakamura-46	Dear Joan;
nakamura-47	I do not know how to thank you for that swell pin. You do not know how I felt when I touched it and looked at for a long time. That pin alone brought back the memories that I have cherished for so long. It reminded me of Q.H.S. and of the students that were in it and are in it now. It brought me back to the time I shook hands with you on that last day at school. Gosh, but I wish I could live those years over again. I feel like a soldier away on a foreign shore fighting in battles, and thinking the peaceful hours spent before the tragic occurance. Thank you an awful lot Joan, for the pin. I won't forget it.	Homesickness Education Forced-dispersal WWII Belonging
nakamura-48	Yipe! hold it Joan, don't talk about the 21st year yet. I feel pretty much like an old man now. On the 21st day I mean birthday I'm going to have a real nice party, something that I can remember. If we are still here at that time I'll send you some of the original cake.	Recreation
nakamura-49	I hope you got recommended. Say what am I saying about hoping, I know you did get recommended. How did the Graduation ceremony turn out? Gee, but I bet it was swell. I sort of missed mine didn't I.	Education Homesickness
nakamura-50	Sports day, ----- that's one thing I really miss. Down here they do not go in for track very much. On the first of July they said there is going to be some sports programs but I do not know the particulars since	Homesickness Recreation
nakamura-51	I have not been in town for 24 days. Can you imagine that, I really am a hermit now.	Living-conditions
nakamura-52	I'm glad to hear that the Blue house won cause that was the last house I was in.	Recreation
nakamura-53	I received a letter from Betty the other day too. Her and Margie are teachers now. What are you going to be after grade 12 Joan? Are you going to be a teacher? Are you going to a Secretarial school?	Joan
nakamura-54	Betty says that she is going to Manitoba. She'll be able to see Anne for about a month then wouldn't she.
nakamura-55	Gosh, but it's raining cats and dogs. We seem to have rain everyother day. THe other day we had a real humdinger of a cloudburst. I've never seen rain come down in such a torrent in all my life. It sure was a sight.	Living-conditions
nakamura-56	I'm beginning to sound like a diary now so I'll close till next time.	Communications
nakamura-57	Thanks again for that lovely pin. I like it very much. I will try to show you my appreciation soon. Until then I remain-
nakamura-58	As Ever,
nakamura-59	Jan. 3, 1945,	Letter 4
nakamura-60	Dear Joan -
nakamura-61	To-day is the 3rd of January. oh yes! May I wish you a Happy New Year? Did you have a White Xmas? I had a pretty nice Xmas–and New Years too.
nakamura-62	To-day is Wednesday and a half holiday in the afternoon at the store. I've been working in the store for over a month now and I like it very much.	Labour-conditions
nakamura-63	Gosh but I've been going to parties and shows and games so much that I have never slept earlier than 2:30 A.M. each night. Last night was the last one, I hope. We had a grand time at the parties though.	Recreation
nakamura-64	Gosh! Joan, I'm sorry I did not send the parcel sooner. I have to go to work by 8 A.M. and after work at 6, I come home do bit of this and that; have supper and off we go.	Mail
nakamura-65	How are you getting along in school now. How does it feel to be a senior–the Undergrads. Gee! everytime I think of the school I sure sit and dream of what I might have done in the last year.	Education
nakamura-66	I was going to write some more of the story? wasn't I. Well, here I start again on the 2nd half of the 1st Chapt.	Writing
nakamura-67	"The 7th of dec. was on a Sunday. On Monday I went to school wondering how I was going to go through the whole day as if nothing had happened and wondering
nakamura-68	how the teacher and other students would [red text: ?] react toward me. Most of my worries were over that 1st period. The bell rang for the 1st period and quietly we all went to the assigned rooms for Algebra. Our principal taught us that subject. When he came in I could see that he was under some sort of a strain, probably, I thought, as I was. When he got to the desk he looked toward me and said, jokingly. "How did the basketball game turn out?" Knowing that our high school team lost to another high school about 20 miles away; that last Friday evening. He asked me a few more questions and I answered with a laugh as best I could. I knew then that he was trying to ease the tension caused by this suddenly erupted chaos. Words cannot express what those few words did to me and others [red text: who] that were in the same [red text: position] boat as I was. The lesson went over in the usual pattern. For at least a month I went through lessons in a semi-strained way.	Education
nakamura-69	After that life at school was swell for awhile. The reason why I say "For a while," is [red text: that] because in March all the boys like myself "the Japanese-Canadians" were called into a counselling room and were told that we were barred from further participation in the high school army cadet corps. In all my school career that was my first and worst heart-breaking experience. There were thirty of us in that room wondering why we were called here. We laughed and joked till the principal came in and conveyed to us the ill-news. You should have seen the expression on their faces; dumbfounded; and looked as if they were all asking the same question "Why do they have to do this to us?" Then sadly with bowed heads we silently listened. I couldn't imagine such an order coming from a ministry of Education. The Cadet Corps was one subject in the curriculum I loved very much. I liked that branch so much that I studied all the notes that were given me. We drilled and practised quite a lot. The Battalion was divided into units consisting of the First Aid Corps, Signal Corps, and Officer training Corp. All those wishing to become officers and noncoms	Forced-dispersal Education WWII
nakamura-70	were given tests based on what we had learned so far. Out of the cadets who wrote the exams five corporals were picked, of [red text: whom] which I was one. Later we became candidates for officers training. We studied map reading and other subjects which were essential. The whole course was very interesting. I can say very easily that the rest of the boys like myself liked that very much. The action of barring us from participation in the cadet corps put a brand on us in a way. When the rest of the students would be having corps practise we would be doing other things less interesting. Even if it was supposed to be interesting one [red text: could] cannot expect us to like it. Around about this time studying became less and less important to me and to a lot of others like myself. Long before the Easter holiday I hardly ever took my books home and did not prepare my lessons. The time came one April afternoon when we were told that we were going to Alberta. This was the sixteenth day of April 1942."	Forced-dispersal Education WWII
nakamura-71	Well Joan, I'll leave it at that for now. I still have a lot of mistakes and everything wrong with the grammar and punctuation and etc. so you'll have to sort of put it together like a puzzle. If you have time, Joan, I'd like very much if you would re-read the 1st and this last part and sort of fix it up; and tell me where I should fill in more and etc. Will you please? I do not intend this to be a story or an essay–I'd like to sort of have it like a long letter to a friend.	Writing
nakamura-72	This last Friday I met Sonny and Mae in Raymond for the first time in 3 years. Gee! but I was sure glad to see them; I mey Ally too. He came to see me yesterday again and we went to a show and talked after till after midnight.
nakamura-73	By the way Joan, where do Betty and Margie teach? Do you know their address. I sent a card to May Webb but as yet I have no answer. I heard that Dot Kan is still stationed in Calgary so I may see her. I sure wish I could see you, Betty and Margie soon. We may not recognize each other first but after all 3 years or more is a long time. Remember when Betty went past Calgary? Well, I never got the letter in time to know she was going past Calgary and did not know what time and date she'd pass so I couldn't go to Calgary. Gosh! but I sure wished I knew what date and time. I'll write again soon Joan so untill then solong	Mail
nakamura-74	As ever
nakamura-75	Yosh
nakamura-76	P.S. Send me some snaps of yourself Joan. Will you please?	Photographs
nakamura-77	Magrath, Alta.	Letter 5
nakamura-78	Sept. 19/45
nakamura-79	Dear Joan;
nakamura-80	I am really at a loss as to how I should apologize for the long silence. I have to apologize to a number of other people too, cause I did not write for so long. e.g. Masao, May Ohama, May Webb, Bob Inouye, Dott Kan etc.	Writing
nakamura-81	This summer we had to work such long hours and nearly all the Sundays. We worked from 12 to 14 hours a day in the busy times. Now we work between 10 to 12 hours. All summer I only had 2 Sundays off. I really loathe to work on Sabbath day, but it was work that had to be done—irrigating. I am glad, so very glad, that we have finished with it now. After we finish	Labour-conditions
nakamura-82	topping the beets I’ll be happier still.	Beet-farms Labour-conditions Writing
nakamura-83	Had I really wanted to write and made myself write, I could have done so, but in the hot sweltering heat when one works for so long it just drives the energy from your body and after you have supper at anytime between 7.30 and 9 P.M.—sleep and rest is all you think off.	Labour-conditions
nakamura-84	I really should have written long ago but another reason is plain laziness. Shall I come back and start writing a letter? Okay.	Writing
nakamura-85	First of all, how are you Joan? I hope you are in the best of health. Are you going to normal school now? I am still working on the Farm. I do not know if I will work in the store this winter or not.	Joan Labour-conditions
nakamura-86	Yesterday I went to the dentist in Lethbridge and suffered from 11 AM till after 3 PM. I did not have dinner so I got a bite to eat & ran to the bus terminal to catch the bus. Since yesterday morning we have had snow and later rain till this morning. The sun is out now for a change.
nakamura-87	On Sunday we played a baseball game against a Raymond team and won 8—0. I got hit on the nose when I slid into a base. It’s healing now. On the end of August I had my Summer holidays and I went up to Waterton Lakes again. I had a grant time fishing, boating and biking. Gee! Joan, it’s really wonderful to be there for a few days. Even tho’ it’s only once a year.	Recreation Optimism
nakamura-88	The air is fresh and so—well it seems to be free of dust.	Living-conditions
nakamura-89	What have you been doing all summer Joan? Have you seen Betty and Margaret lately?	Joan
nakamura-90	Over a month ago I wrote to a Lieutenant C. Thomas ‘cause he’s the one that was recruiting us Niseis for the Can. Army. He was supposed to come to Alta but he did not so I wrote to him over a month ago telling him that I wished to volunteer in the Army Intelligence Corps. I have been awaiting answer a long time not receiving a reply, I wrote again after hearing that they needed Niseis for the army. I still have no answer yet.	Patriotism WWII
nakamura-91	Since V.J. day I gave up hope but when I read that Japanese-Canadians are still needed for Intelligence I wrote a second time and as yet no answer. Even tho’ the war is finished now, I may be of use if they do accept me. For years now I have been waiting for the war to end, but now that it has ended I am at a loss as to what to do. It seems I have a war to fight from now. A sight that does not need physical energy but mental. Our fight for our freedom as Canadians. We have to fight to make up our minds where we should move to. At present we are not allowed to move to B.C.	Patriotism WWII Belonging Forced-dispersal
nakamura-92	As far as we know now we are free to move to points East from the 15th of November. Even if we do move east on the 15th we are subject to relocation again. It’s all so funny, so complicated. If I were just a lone ranger I would not worry so much but as it is I am a member of a family of 6. So far we have no decided on any place to move. I think we will be on this farm till next fall anyway as far as we know now.	Forced-dispersal Living-conditions
nakamura-93	Gee, Joan, I’d give anything to go back to a place near Westminster. I wonder	Homesickness
nakamura-94	how it is back there. I’ll bet the Maple leaves are red, yellow brown and all colours; Leaves falling down everytime a breeze comes blowing.	Homesickness
nakamura-95	I wish that I was in the East when I first moved—then I might have been in the army intelligence and would have been to Vancouver for advanced training.	Forced-dispersal Homesickness
nakamura-96	Some more of the Japanese-Canadians who have finished their basic training in Ontario have gone to Vancouver on Sept 5 for advanced training—Gee! Joan it makes me almost cry right now—the time is 9:15 and the radio is just bringing forth	Homesickness
nakamura-97	the swellest song “Home Sweet Home.” All the verses too. Golly—it makes a guy feel pretty lonely after not having a real home for 3 ½ years.	Belonging Homesickness
nakamura-98	I’m sorry I ran off the subject. Thanks very much for the Q.E. Vue. It was swell. I was really interested on the two views on the Japanese question. One boy really spoke from a democratic point of view and the other from the general point of view of people who are more or less leaning towards the “expulsion league.” If you can—I’d like to write a friendly letter to both—I’d like to have their addresses. I have a few copies of the pamphlets	Communications Forced-dispersal
nakamura-99	Showing what (1)—The Japanese-Americans did for the war effort. (2) Japanese-Canadians—This pamphlet was written by a Mr. Norman. It answers a lot of questions that are in the minds of the general public. At present I have not any but I’ll get some and send you a copy of each. I want to send a copy to each of those two boys. I think those two boys will appreciate getting true facts on a question they themselves did not know very well. Although what they both wrote, there was a lot of truth in it, yet there were other things that were not.	WWII Forced-dispersal
nakamura-100	A lot of the people such as doctors, Bishops, and well-to-do farmers do not favor us or take our side (and I think that they are really swell) but they do express the democratic point of view, which Canada is following or is supposed to be in regards to the Japanese Canadians.	Forced-dispersal
nakamura-101	I, like hundreds of other Canadian born boys, am officially a citizen of Canada for which I was willing to serve as she wanted me to. I have done nothing bad, yet I am treated as I am.	Patriotism Forced-dispersal
nakamura-102	I am hoping that some day, justice and true democracy will come to me.	Optimism
nakamura-103	Racial prejudice and discrimination are two things that are certainly not a part of democracy.	Belonging
nakamura-104	President Roosevelt made that clear in one of his later speeches. He is my ideal of “Democracy.” He was very fair but stern to the enemy, he was fair and equal to all Americans—be they Negros, Japanese, Chinese or Caucasians. I think that he was the greatest man ever to watch over a nation. Abraham Lincoln ranks with him for he was the father of Democracy.	Belonging
nakamura-105	There I went off again. The hanky I am enclosing is a souvenir of Waterton Lakes Park. I’ll send some pictures soon.	Photographs
nakamura-106	Once again I am sorry that I did not write to you more sooner. Please forgive my not writing. Hoping that I will hear from you sometime. I am	Writing
nakamura-107	As ever
nakamura-108	Yosh.
nakamura-109	P.S. The program that is on right now certainly is bringing a lot of swell songs.
nakamura-110	P.S. The radio is playing “I dream of you”. I do really, and of the rest of the old gang. Some day, even tho’ we be almost strangers, I will visit that way.	Belonging Homesickness
nakamura-111	General Delivery.	Letter 6
nakamura-112	Magrath, Alta.
nakamura-113	July 27/48.
nakamura-114	Dear Joan,
nakamura-115	After a century of silence, here I am once more. Miracles do happen don't they.
nakamura-116	How are you Joan? are you getting tanned on the beaches–those wonderful salt-water beaches? I can almost smell the sea now.	Homesickness
nakamura-117	Joan–it's really difficult for me to write a letter nowadays because I have never written one for years,–well, almost a year. It's been quite a while since I wrote you last (and how) and a lot has happened around here lately too.	Writing Mail
nakamura-118	For example, I am now AC2, Nakamura R.C.A.F. as of July 20. I had been trying to get in for some time and finally after I sent my report cards, references etc	WWII Labour-conditions
nakamura-119	I received a telegram of my acceptance as photographer! I went to Calgary and had to write 5 exams and had a medical. After 2 days on July 20th I was sworn in. And now I am on my way to Trenton Ontario on August 17th. I get 12 weeks basic training there and then I go to Rockcliffe Ontario to train as a photographer.	WWII Labour-conditions
nakamura-120	I was hoping that I could go out to the Coast on my holidays but that will have to wait.	Homesickness
nakamura-121	You may be wondering why I joined R.C.A.F. Well Joan, I just couldn't see any future for myself in working in a store, or working in Alta. I know that I will be able to study and kept our of mischief	Labour-conditions
nakamura-122	in the Air Force. I hope that it will do me a lot of good so that I may be able to do something with myself later on.	Optimism
nakamura-123	By the way, do you see Betty? I am enclosing a pic of myself for you and Betty. Could you give it to Betty? I shall write to her next time.	Photographs Mail
nakamura-124	Last week end I went to Waterton Lakes and spend a couple of days there. It was really swell to get among the trees and hills. I went to the Canyon Church Camp, a camp sponsored by the United Church. We went for hikes, swimming, fishing, climbing and at night we had	Recreation
nakamura-125	dances, skits and sing songs. I had a merry time. I'll have to close for now; it's getting past the wee hours. Will you write and let me know how you and the rest of the gang are doing? Bye for now.	Recreation
nakamura-126	As ever,
nakamura-127	Yosh.

Mototsune19430109

mototsune19430109-1	Box 167,
mototsune19430109-2	Raymond, Alberta,
mototsune19430109-3	January 9, 1943.
mototsune19430109-4	Dear Joan,
mototsune19430109-5	Honestly, I’m so ashamed of myself I just can’t find the right words to tell you how sorry I am for being so long at writing you. But I hope you understand, I and forgive me, please???? To start out with “Hello to you all” and I hope you all had a nice “Xmas” & “A Happy New Year”. (Though I never wrote a letter wishing you so, but I took granted [sic] that you meant it from me anyways.) However, here’s hoping that this letter finds the Gillis’ family in best of health.	Communications
mototsune19430109-6	Thanks ever so much Joan for your lovely present which you sent; it’s just perfect & the thing I needed most. Honestly, I never dreamed of receiving such present as this under the present condition; I never expected to receive anything from you this year so you can just imagine how pleased I was!!! You know, we can’t seem to break the “tie” between us & I hope that we never do. (not on earth, I won’t.)	Joan
mototsune19430109-7	Well, here’s me going back to school for another year. – Really??? but I doubt if I’ll go back again next year (I mean if I am still in Raymond then.) Boyohboy!! I’d give anything to be back at good ol’ Queen Elizabeth. I’m suffering enough as I am now & I don’t think I could stand for another year! After two whole month’s work to catch up, it was impossible for me to	Education Homesickness
mototsune19430109-8	write to you. (I started school on Nov. 2nd, same day as Teruko Ikeda.) I think I really could have written to you if I had tried harder. I don’t know how it happened, but I’m sitting in the Grade X room anyways. French I, Soc. St., English, Health, General maths, Biology I, Home Economics are the subjects I’m taking this year, making a total amount of 30 credits for Grade X. If I go through school in Raymond, I’ll have to come 2 years of Gr. 12 to get all my credits. Credits start from Gr. 10 over here, and by the time you get out of high, you’ll have to have a hundred credits. Only Typing I is given & Bookkeeping I and no shorthand writing. Home Economics & health ends in Gr. 10. Grades 11 and 12 will not have to take health unless they wish to get some credits and take it with some lower grades. It certainly is a crazy way, don’t you think, Joan? I get 11 study periods a week and that’s monotenous [sic] so I wanted to take more credits, but the principle (Mr. Jacobs.) said 30 credits is enough for a late-commer [sic] so I’m still carrying 30 credits. You can’t take more than 35 credits a year. Every Thursday, last period we get a 20min seminary. Mostly everybody out here are Mormans [sic]. I never heard of this religion back in B.C. The	2
mototsune19430109-9	religions are divided into 3 groups; the Mormans, United, and Budhists [sic]. I go to the United, & Mrs. Rolfson’s our lecturer. Did you read an article in the school-paper about Miss Gottenburg being married to Mr. Rolfson? Well, this is our teacher while Mr. Rolfson is a Morman and he teaches the Morman pupils.	3
mototsune19430109-10	There are no lockers in this school, and you just hang the coats up as we used to do in S.W. Public School, except that the coat hangers are way higher. The class-room doors doesn’t [sic] open until a teacher comes along & opens it for us. Do you know why the doors are kept locked? Out here, it seems as if the kids can’t be trusted, & I think this is true! I had a brand new ruler an [sic] pencil and after one week it disappeared right off my desk! Was I mad. After that, I brought another new pencil & this one disappeared also. Now I don’t carry a ruler or a pencil except for my new fountain-pen which I keep it in my jacket pocket and take it around with me wherever I go. On the whole, work is fairly easy and not as much homework as we used to get back in B.C.	Education
mototsune19430109-11	Tests out here seems [sic] just like those oral questions we used to have nearly every day. In June, they have the final examination. $1.50 or $1.70 per test. If I take every one of these examinations, believe me I’ll be broke! They also take a Government examination in Grade 9. Kids say that Government exams are easier than teacher’s exams, but I wouldn’t know	Education
mototsune19430109-12	unless I took one myself.	4 Education
mototsune19430109-13	Oh, goodness gracious!! but are the boys noisy! They (the boys) run in the hall-ways, run up or down the stairs, shout, fight, etc. in the school building and whenever the teacher comes, the teacher passes on without saying anything about behaving! If you’re caught throwing chalks, the penalty is one new box of chalks for the school. The kids are allowed to wear slacks, ‘kerchiefs, skii-pants [sic] or skiis suit [sic], coats, etc. during classes. When they answer the teachers, their reply may be no, yes, sure, etc. And not. — “no, sir”, “yes, sir,” and in cases of a lady teacher, “yes, so & so” or “no, so & so.”	Education
mototsune19430109-14	The kids thought it was funny when Teruko Ikeda or I said “yes, sir” or “no, sir” to a teacher. This shows how much they are mistacken [sic], & not us. Pupils aren’t so co-operative as the ones back in B.C. schools and they think that their school is of a high standard, but not to me. Our building has only two floors, while the Public building has four floors. You see, Joan, High School & Public School are separate buildings. On the whole, public building is larger. Both buildings are made of brick.	Education Homesickness
mototsune19430109-15	For 3 months school starts at 9:30 A.M. because it is so dark in the morning around 9:00 A.M. Lunch is from 12:15 P.M to 1:30 P.M. School begins again in the afternoon at 1:30 P.M. until 4:00 P.M. but there is a ten minute afternoon recess.	Education
mototsune19430109-16	For a month, since we started, we walked to school until December 1, the van from the cheese factory began to run. In the mornings, the van isn’t so crowded as in night because the driver makes 2 trips; but at nights, he takes us all in one trip so you can just imagine how crowded it is inside! The Raymond Highway kids gets [sic] on the first trip (this is us.) and the Stirling Highway gets on the second trip. We reach school around 8:30 A.M. so we asked the principle for permission to play basketball in the mornings. The principle said “yes” so we play in the gym, which is only about 1/3 of 2.E.’s gymnasium. For P.T., girls may wear skirts, dresses, shorts, slacks, or even leather sole shoes because I do. In Lethbridge or Raymond, I went all over the shoe stores asking for girls’ white running shoes, but they don’t have anymore in stock. After P.T. everyone’s supposed to take a shower, but no one ever does, besides there isn’t any time. Well, Joan, I think I’ve talked enough about school, so I think I’d better leave the rest for the next letter.	5 Education Recreation
mototsune19430109-17	The weather certainly changes quick out here. Just last week it was so cold, but now, the temp. is up to 40 degrees. The coldest has been around 20 degrees below. Out here, even if it is 30 degrees or 20 degrees below, you can’t feel it, but just to make people say “Gee, it’s cold today.” Once we walked 5 miles to school in 17 degrees below zero. It was kinda colder than most mornings we	Living-conditions
mototsune19430109-18	thought, but I didn’t imagine it would be 17 degrees below. The van didn’t run at this time yet. When we rush and walk without resting, our body is warm but our cheeks, nose, and chin are just about frozen. There are quite a number of families living at least 5 miles out of town, but I don’t there there [sic] is any family living more than six five miles.	6 Living-conditions
mototsune19430109-19	Almost every farmer has started threshing again since the weather is excellent. My Dad has gone threshing also, except that our owner’s thresher machine is old & gets broken easily; then my Dad has to stay around the machine & fix it everytime. He’s more of a mechanist than a wheat hauler, but he doesn’t mind as he likes the job as a mechanist better. You know, he’s so small & short, he’s able to go under the machine & fix it.	Labour-conditions
mototsune19430109-20	Our beet crop on the whole was satisfactory. It averaged around 11 ½ tons per acre, while most of the other crops yielded 9-9 ½ tons per acre. We harvested ours quite early so we did 5 acres of anothers man’s crop. If we had just finished harvesting our own crop and then went to school, I won’t be so far behind in my school-work. However, I’m getting caught up on it soon.	Labour-conditions Education
mototsune19430109-21	Joan, do you know what I got for my birthday? Guess, — first. I got a pair of black skates!! Just what I had been wishing for the last three years, and now I got my chance to get them.	Recreation
mototsune19430109-22	When I return home again, you & I would go skating to the arena or wherever there is a skating pond. (if you want me as a company.) I think that would be fun. There is a rink in Raymond town which anybody can go in free & stay, as long as they want to skate. I believe it’s open every afternoon until 10:00 P.M. and 12:00 midnight, only on Saturday nights. There is also some music playing from the girl’s changing room. There is also another rink for boy’s hockey square next to the larger skating rink. I practiced skating on Teruko’s skates on the frozen pig lake. Here’s where we go mostly afterschools [sic] because it takes just about 8 minutes’ walk, any anyways [sic] it’s Maudsleys’, so he won’t chase us out.	7 Recreation Joan Optimism
mototsune19430109-23	Well, I’ve written enough for now so I guess I had better close. It’s such a long boring letter that it’ll take at least 2 days to read it, and what a scribble! If you can’t make it out, Joan, send it right back & I’ll rewrite it over again. Perhaps that’ll teach me to be more careful.	Communications
mototsune19430109-24	Hoping to hear from from you sooner than I wrote to you —
mototsune19430109-25	Your pal as ever, Sumi.

Mototsune19450604

mototsune19450604-1	Box 167,	1
mototsune19450604-2	Raymond, Alta.
mototsune19450604-3	June 4, 1945.
mototsune19450604-4	Dearest Joan;
mototsune19450604-5	I’m so ashamed of myself, I don’t know how to start this letter. Let me see …. When was it when I last wrote to you? It’s been so long I haven’t the faintest recollection. Well, anyways, I hope you will forgive me, Joan. I was so busy ???????? etc.	Communications
mototsune19450604-6	Dear me, we started thinning our beets this morning and the rain ruined our first day.	Labour-conditions
mototsune19450604-7	Here we are at home, 10:45 A.M., and I decided to write and tell you I am safe and sound. Hope you and the rest are all well. I didn’t know that we were out of ink, so please excuse the pencil. Don’t mind my scrawl as I am in a hurry, for	Communications Labour-conditions
mototsune19450604-8	we’ll be going out this afternoon again.	2
mototsune19450604-9	Do you know, I’m writing five government exams this year? I’m so thrilled — only I hope I don’t flunk any of them. I’ll be writing three of teacher’s exams before June 27th. I hope I could go back for a week’s review. When do you get your exams? When will you be out of school? I write my last exam on July 6th. [Ill.] that horrible? It’ll be so hot then, that I don’t think I could think.	Education
mototsune19450604-10	How did you celebrate V E Day? On Monday we had a holiday from the afternoon and on that night we had a thanksgiving service from 8:30 P.M. and after the service we had a bonfire (rotten railroad ties and salvaged rubbers) and after the bonfire we had a free dance at the Opera House. Oh yes, I forgot to tell you, we burned Hitler (dummy)	WWII
mototsune19450604-11	in the bonfire. It was awfully cold that night but the bonfire certainly warmed us up. A huge crowd had gathered that night. Aren’t you glad war’s half over at least?	3 WWII
mototsune19450604-12	We have two of the cutest whitest kittens. Honestly, I don’t mean to boast, but I really think they’re cute.	Recreation
mototsune19450604-13	I believe your brother’s cute too, if he took after you. I wish I could see him. How old is he now? Here’s a small boy at the place where Kay was working. He’s only five but he’s quite clever. I think he’s sort of cute too.	Joan Homesickness
mototsune19450604-14	I ran out of writing material so I guess I had better close for now. Please write soon. I’ll be waiting for your reply. Send me love to all and especially “to Little Kenny” —
mototsune19450604-15	With loads of love
mototsune19450604-16	from Sumi.

Mototsune19450820

mototsune19450820-1	Raymond,
mototsune19450820-2	Alberta.
mototsune19450820-3	Aug. 20/45.
mototsune19450820-4	Dearest Joan:
mototsune19450820-5	I don’t know whether I should congratulate you first or tell you I’m sorry for not writing sooner.	Communications
mototsune19450820-6	At any rate, Congratulations, Joan, and I hope you all the success in the world. I’m awfully glad you graduated and for being the most proficient girl student. You well deserved the title.	Joan
mototsune19450820-7	Thank you for the Q. E. VUE and the pretty photo. You look so charming and mature. Everybody says you are so pretty. If ever I take a picture of myself, I promise to send you one. I could not find a suitable card so I just bought one which was the most suitable. What I sent to you about a month ago is just a small appreciation for your kindness and to show how glad I am you graduated.	Communications Photographs
mototsune19450820-8	It’s nothing much —.	2
mototsune19450820-9	I bet you didn’t worry half as much as I did. My gov’t exam results came a week ago last Monday. Honestly I was scared stiff even to open the envelope. I won’t tell you my marks in number, but I got an A in every subject. You should have seen how surprised I was because I had expected D’s & failures. My teachers’ exams results – Psychology, Alg. I, Law – have not arrived yet but am [sic] expecting them soon. At least I know I passed Soc. St., Eng., Chem., and French, thank heavens! Now I have only 7 more credits to complete my 100 cr. and I’ll get my sen. matric next year. (ie. I hope!!!) Since I missed a month’s review (from June 4th – 28th) I thought for sure I was going to fail, but luck certainly was with me. I wrote my	Education
mototsune19450820-10	exams from June 28th – July 5th. It’s a choice between writing or failing flat, so I thought I’d write, and I certainly am glad I did. Teruko Ikeda wrote only her Eng. Exam and didn’t write the rest. She found the exams too tough. You should have been with me the night before the exams. With such a clever girl as you, I might have got something in my dull mind. I used to come home about 6:00 P.M. and study steadily until midnight – sometimes even until one. I didn’t like to go home while the rest were out in the field working, but I could not help it. Trying to study a year’s work in six or seven hours is quite difficult for me. (of course, it would not be so with you.) When the next morning came, my mind was a complete blank. I’m still surprised how I even passed my exams.	3 Education
mototsune19450820-11	You are fortunate to graduate in a formal, banquet, dance and everything. It was always my dream to graduate that way, but it seems as if my dream has vanished. Over here, it is really dull for graduates, although I am not one this year.	4 Homesickness Education
mototsune19450820-12	You’ll make a very good teacher (even if I say so) and I am sure you will succeed as one. If I had as much brain as you, I will definitely go in for teaching.
mototsune19450820-13	Congratulations to Donalda, too. With such pep, energy, cleverness and a leading ability she will make a school term successful and lots of fun. She is a lucky girl.
mototsune19450820-14	Thank you for the Q. E. Vue I read every word in it and it surely was interesting. There aren’t very many students left by the time they reach Gr. 12, are there? There were about 24 in our	Homesickness Education
mototsune19450820-15	Gr. 12. last year.	5
mototsune19450820-16	I am glad the war is over for good. What did you do to celebrate? In Raymond there was a bonfire and a free dance. I can hardly believe war is over.	WWII
mototsune19450820-17	Have you seen “National Velvet”? I saw it last [ill.] night. It’s good. Marion (she is the baby of our family) went to see it twice. She is so crazy about horses – all day long she does nothing but draw horses and Margaret O’Brien. She wants a colt for herself but we’ll have to think of our credit first.	Recreation
mototsune19450820-18	Right now I am doing nothing. Just loafing or else canning. On Sept. 15th I promised a lady I will come and help her clean the house they are going to move in. It is a big Gambling house – 3 floored and lots of rooms. It was formerly owned by	Living-conditions Labour-conditions
mototsune19450820-19	Dr. Hall (dentist) who moved to Vancouver last winter. I have decided to stay with her this winter — going to school part of time and helping her part of time and getting paid. Her husband is a manager of the Bank of Montreal. They have only two girls — a six year old and a two year old.	6 Living-conditions Labour-conditions
mototsune19450820-20	How is everybody? Well, I hope, as we are all in good health.
mototsune19450820-21	Government exams are tough, don’t you think so? Every exam is 3 hours long. Of course, those who made up the exams do not expect you to finish the paper. Some papers, such as French contain as much as 22 pages. Chemistry had only 19 pages. It had the least.	Education
mototsune19450820-22	I don’t know where Tori is but Mitsuro is in Man. If you want his address,	Homesickness Communications Forced-displacement
mototsune19450820-23	it is Box 365, Emerson, Manitoba. Did you know that his sister (the one just below him) passed away almost two years ago?	Homesickness Communications Forced-displacement
mototsune19450820-24	The weather over here is not so hot as it used to be, which proves that autumn is near and that means beet topping. I even hate to think about it. I don’t like farm work but I like a [sic] business work. I wish I could go to a business school but I guess that’s out. Our credit, you know.	Living-conditions Labour-conditions
mototsune19450820-25	I think I have written a lot for now. Please excuse my scrawly writing as I got sleepy and scribbled just to get through quicker. I hope everything is okay your way. I might be a bit late, but just the same, congratulations and good luck! Thank you ever so much for all what you	Communications
mototsune19450820-26	sent me. I can’t thank you enough. Many success in the future.	7
mototsune19450820-27	Love, Sumi.

Ohama19430228

ohama19430228-1	Rainier, Alta.	1
ohama19430228-2	Feb 28, 1943
ohama19430228-3	Dear Joan,
ohama19430228-4	Hello there. Just thought I’d drop a line. I’m not quite sure of the last time I wrote, but I rather imagine that it was none too recently.
ohama19430228-5	Well, how are you doin’ these dismal days? How’s school? Boring or interesting? Sonny tells me you kids have to go to school on Saturdays, too. Is it true? Too bad if it is. Gosh, you may be too busy to
ohama19430228-6	write to me. And that would be unbearable. Really. Well, I’ll just hope for the best.	2 Joan
ohama19430228-7	How are you making out with that “certain guy”? If he don’t wan give you a glance, he ought to have his head examined. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that seeing how you like him so. You’ll have to pardon me.
ohama19430228-8	How are your other dates coming along? Surely you don’t devote all your time to this guy! Do you have
ohama19430228-9	lots of fun or do they bore you to death. Seems you have lots of fun. Well, that’s the right and only way.	3
ohama19430228-10	Is the school the same? How are the girl cadets getting along? Do you manage to keep in step with all the other [???]! Or do you like to be different!	Education Homesickness
ohama19430228-11	How are the teachers? Still the same? Tch, tch! You kids seem to have raw? Times with Mr. [???].	Education
ohama19430228-12	He sure must be patient with you taks, but that’s what makes a good teacher. Agree?	Education
ohama19430228-13	How are you Dad and Mother? How’s Donnie? Hope they are well. And of course that goes for you, too.	4 Joan
ohama19430228-14	Well, Joan, theren’t not much to write about over here, you know that. The days still come and go. ‘Tis a sad world!	Living-conditions
ohama19430228-15	I don’t want to bore you with all my “buffing”[?] So until something pleasant happens I'll say,
ohama19430228-16	So long for a while
ohama19430228-17	Your loving pal,
ohama19430228-18	Al.

Nagamori

nagamori-1	P.O. Box 23	Letter 1
nagamori-2	Headingly, Man.
nagamori-3	July 5 /42
nagamori-4	Dear Joan,
nagamori-5	Well here I am, back in B.C. to talk with you (I hope I was.).	Homesickness
nagamori-6	Thanks for your kind and most welcome letter, I received it on the 2nd.	Communications
nagamori-7	I intended on writing sooner but since we’re kinda late in thinning the bees I just couldn’t find time to write. This is one letter I had enough ambition to walk four miles to get it.	Communications
nagamori-8	I couldn’t walk or ride a bike on this sticky road so I took the C.P.R which runs right through Headingly.	Living-conditions
nagamori-9	I was sure glad you understood my letter and besides I was wondering if you still remember me because it was a long time since we seen each other.
nagamori-10	Gosh I hate to be outside now, the mosquitos are buzzing outside like the bee buzzing around its hive. Ooo that one bit me in the forehead. I’ll get revenge with him yet. Oh. That reminds me, have you ever seen a	Living-conditions
nagamori-11	“firefly,” If you like I'll send you one. If I could grab hold of one. Oh boy, they sure give off light for the size of itself.	Living-conditions
nagamori-12	“Roses,” there are millions of it here. Joan its a swell time to come and see me now. The roses are in full bloom, the oaks, ash, poplar, ect. [sic] are just loaded with bright green leaves.	Living-conditions Joan
nagamori-13	When we first came ot the prairie everything just didn’t look right.	Homesockness
nagamori-14	This here country right now isn’t too bad at all specially if your [sic] here Gosh if I had enough money now I’ll pay your fair [sic] in. There are hundreds of horse-back riders here. Gosh I sure like that, do you?	Joan Living-conditions
nagamori-15	About 10 days ago we were moved from Headingly to a place called West Winnipeg, which is about 5 miles south of where we use to live. This is between two tracks the C.P.R + G. N.R. It’s a good thing we have trees around our house because we have lots of strong wind here.	Living-conditions
nagamori-16	Talking about sunburn Gosh you ought to see me, I’m darker than a n----- seen in a dark, since I started on the [beet?].	Living-conditions
nagamori-17	Gosh I hope the sun don’t burn you up too much. What I think would be good when your [sic] picking strawberries are those wide brim hat [sic].
nagamori-18	Sure, I’ll tell Yoshiyaki that. I like to see and talk to him now but we’re both busy. I have written one to him just the day I sent you one I think, but he never wrote to me since. I know his dad’s in a pretty bad health now.
nagamori-19	Sure I’ll write to you as long as we’re apart.	Communications
nagamori-20	I know you were a swell letter-writer, I heard you were one of the best in QEHS. Before I forget Joan, I like to a picture of yourself so I won’t get so lonesome here.	Joan
nagamori-21	Well it’s getting on to 12 so I guess I’ll sign off here. Hoping to hear from you soon. Bye.
nagamori-22	I remain
nagamori-23	Yours sincerely
nagamori-24	Tad.
nagamori-25	P.S. Please give me best regards to Kirky (Booo)	Homesickness
nagamori-26	P.O. Box 23	Letter 2
nagamori-27	Headingly Man.
nagamori-28	Aug. 3, /42
nagamori-29	Dear Joan--
nagamori-30	Many thanks for your most welcome letter. I received it with greatest pleasure on the 24th. Every letter we’re getting now is cencored [sic] and just to send a letter 30 miles it takes over a week, because every letter we write goes back to B.C. to be cencored [sic].	Communications
nagamori-31	Thanks for the compliment of my letter I didn’t know I write such a letter myself Gee but I sure adore your heavenly letter	Joan Communications
nagamori-32	To-day we have just finished our thinning and at last I’ve found time to scribble few lines	Labour-conditions Communications
nagamori-33	We have had one terrible weather for a spell One afternoon the thermometre [sic] climbed over 100° then that evening we had a painfull rain and wind storm. But now the weather have seemed to have settled down.	Living-conditions
nagamori-34	The strawberries and cherries are very scarce out here. The price we pay for a lb. of cherry here is 25 cents. I wonder how the farms are like now. I heard the government have	Living-conditions Homesickness
nagamori-35	sent [mind-nites?] over to take our place on the farm.	Labour-conditions
nagamori-36	The government is now planning on sending more Japanese from the coast for the harvest here. Even the farmers now are getting called up, they are taking mens to about 37.	Labour-conditions
nagamori-37	To tell you the truth, the most I’ve earned in a single day was $10.00 for hoing 3 1/3 acres. There are five of us looking after 60 acres.	Labour-conditions
nagamori-38	Boy I bet you raked up fat dough in picking strawberries I heard it was 40 cents a crate for picking and 40 cents for loose packing.	Joan
nagamori-39	The mosquitoes are quite bad yet - especially just before and after rain.	Living-conditions
nagamori-40	It must have been a fair size mosquitoes to bite right-throw [through] your underthing. Yes it does get you sore when it gets that fore, doesn’t it.	Joan
nagamori-41	Oh yes we got a privilege to own a radio and a camera here. We had both radio and two cameras there but we had to leave it in the hands of the R.C.M.P. I believe the custodian is now looking after it. That radio wouldn’t be in any use here I don’t think because the dials are different here	Photographs Living-conditions
nagamori-42	We have sent for our camera about two weeks ago but it still hasn’t arrived There both swell cameras too. One takes a card size picture and the other takes 1 1/4 x 1 3/4 picture They both had a nice leather case to it. We have bought one lately to take souvenir pictures and we have already taken 5 rolls of it. This is a bullet type camera that takes a picture size approx 1 3/4x 2 1/2. Soon as we get these rolls developed and if it turns out O.K. I’ll send it.
nagamori-43	Gosh I’m just waiting for your glamorous picture. Boy but I’ll bet you had a good laugh at my school-day pictures We’ve got piles of those old school pictures too.	Joan
nagamori-44	Dancing would be fun with you Joan, if I know how to dance. My brother took a lesson at [Lallas Moors?] in Vancouver late last Autumn. He tried to teach me then but I wasn’t crazy over it so I couldn’t quite get to dance. Gee but I’d like to know how now.	Recreation
nagamori-45	One trouble is we haven’t any radio yet.	Living-conditions Recreation
nagamori-46	Your [sic] more up to date in show than I am, the last time I seen one was almost	Recreation
nagamori-47	three month [sic] ago when we were stationed at the Immigration Hall. We stayed at this place for about a week and we sure used it went to a show almost every day I think every picture Vancouver gets comes over a month or two later here in Winnipeg.	Recreation
nagamori-48	Do you like the Hawaiian Guitar. This is one instrument I wanted to learn for a long time. Gee I’d like to start in on it this winter. Can you play any instrument? I’d like to have some kind of a music around. Gee I bet you just love singing. I like to have you here just to sing for me. I can play a mouthorgan, this is what I learned when I was a small kid.	Recreation
nagamori-49	This song (“I like New York in June, How about you?”)	Recreation
nagamori-50	I think I could remember Judy Garland sing this in the show called (“Babe on Broadway”)	Recreation
nagamori-51	You asked me what the last two pages in your letter reminded you of. The closest I could get to it is. The one you Love. No I can’t think of anything else.	Joan Recreation
nagamori-52	Gosh I sure do enjoy the Union steamship. I’ve been on one of these This was on a B.+A. picnic to Bowen Island. It sure is nice along the coast -- isn’t it.	Homesickness
nagamori-53	Right here you see nothing but a wide piece of land with few houses here and there.	Living-conditions
nagamori-54	When I think of the B.C. I really don’t feel like staying here for the next minute.	Homesickness
nagamori-55	About that firefly I was going to send you. Gee I’m sorry I promised you but it doesn’t seem to be flying around now. Gosh but I should have saved one for you before. I just went out to look for one but all I could see is the stars. And boy the moon is out nice and bright.	Living-conditions Joan
nagamori-56	Joan you write a swell letter. I’m just wondering why I can’t write any better than this.	Communications
nagamori-57	Your letters getting more and more interesting and I’m glad you like writing to me too. Well I guess I better close here for its past midnight. Bye.
nagamori-58	Yours As Ever
nagamori-59	Tad
nagamori-60	P.S. Hoping to hear from you soon I’ll be expecting your picture at the same time	Joan Photographs
nagamori-61	I hope you didn’t mind my poor grammar and cross-outs ect. [sic]	Communications
nagamori-62	About that drawing, I aint much of a drawer but if you can stand it to have it around I’ll try and do one for you.	Recreation
nagamori-63	P.O. Box 23	Letter 3
nagamori-64	Headingly Man.
nagamori-65	Oct. 4, /42
nagamori-66	Dear Joan:
nagamori-67	Please forgive me for not writing any sooner. To tell you the truth this is the first chance I got to write after I got home from threshing. I’ll promise you I’ll write sooner the next time. Gee why but come to think of it its almost two month ago I wrote to you isn’t it.	Communications
nagamori-68	Well anyway how are you and the rest? All in the best road of health I hope. As for me I’m just swell, beside I’ve gained five pounds since we came out here.	Homesickness
nagamori-69	We’ve had some nice cold weather out here for a while. The first sight of Jack Frost was seen on the 23rd of Aug. After that we had some cold days for about two wks. Once I went for the milk to our neighbors in the evening nearing 7:30 and the thermometer reading 30 degrees. Boy! But was I surprised to see this Gee whiz and the first snow flury [sic] came	Living-conditions
nagamori-70	down on the 23rd of Sept. It snowed a little for 3 days in succession. On the last day we had a blizzard for just five minute. It just came and went like a lightning. I was sure surprised how the cold weather comes around here, but now the hot weather seem to have came back again. I guess this is what they call Indian summer. How’s the weather back there I suppose you haven’t met up with Jack frost yet have you?	Living-conditions
nagamori-71	We have just started on our beet harvest about a week ago. Boy I found this job really miserable specially when your shaking the dirt off. The only thing the owner does at harvest is come along with a tractor and loosen the beet out of the heavy gumbo soil. Then we go up 2 rows a piece throwing 8 rows of beets into one row shaking the dirt off at the same time. Then we go back up the row topping it this time soon as we make a pile of beets we throw the leaves over it in	Labour-conditions
nagamori-72	case it freezes before them come to collect. To topp [sic] this sugar beet we use a heavy knife with a curved hoot at the end to pick it up. This we could only do about 1/2 acre a day or less. To every ton of beets topped we get $1.25 to 8 tons of beet topped and to anything over 8 tons an acre we get 1.00 per ton.	Labour-conditions
nagamori-73	I suppose you’ve heard or read about the mon eclipse on the 25th of Aug. Boy! That was really clearly seen. The sky was clear and besides the moon was in full then.	Living-conditions
nagamori-74	Talking about radio. About a week ago my brother bought a brand new portable radio. It can be brought to any place and we played. We’re using battery now. Its made for both battery and electric.	Recreation
nagamori-75	At least I’ve got one picture of myself thats not too bad. I had it taken on a Millionar’s Farm while I was threshing there. I’m gonna get coupla reprints of this one so in the next correspondence you can expect it. So please try and	Photographs
nagamori-76	get one of yourself for me will you	Joan Photographs
nagamori-77	By the way Joan I’d like to read some of your wonderful poems can you write one just for me? I’ll be waiting for it.	Joan
nagamori-78	By the way you haven’t heard about Oki’s dad have you? He passed away on the 28 of Aug. Gosh that sure was a shock to all of us here.	Homesickness
nagamori-79	Well I guess this is all I can write this time so I’ll close here. Bye for now.
nagamori-80	As Ever
nagamori-81	Tad
nagamori-82	Here is a drawing I have done this afternoon. It took me an hour and a half to draw and paint this. This ain’t nothing wonderful but since I drew it I thought I might as well send it to you.	Recreation
nagamori-83	P.S. please write soon I’ll be waiting
nagamori-84	Lorette	Letter 4
nagamori-85	Manitoba
nagamori-86	Jan 9, 1943
nagamori-87	Dear Joan --
nagamori-88	Hellow Joan, It’s been quite a while since I heard from you last isn’t it.	Joan
nagamori-89	Well anyways I resolved to answer every letter sooner, especially yours.	Communications
nagamori-90	Here’s another year, greeting us with Luck and Happiness. I hope.
nagamori-91	First of all I guess I’ll tell you of our transfer into Lorette. This was made in the middle of November. We moved out of Headingly because of our poor living quarter. Right now we have all the convenience although the post office is three miles away.	Living-conditions
nagamori-92	Our boss (Joe Gregorior) has a farm of his own, has a dairy, and runs a general store, and above all he owns about 17 children. He just lives across the highway from us, and the school is about same distance away.	Labour-conditions
nagamori-93	This highway which runs between us in the NO12, or some peoples call it the Dawson Rd
nagamori-94	How’s the weather like back in good old B.C. now? Have you had any snow yet?	Homesickness
nagamori-95	Right here we have an average of 8 inches. Some places like along the edge of the brush or fence the snow is banked about 2 ft. The highway in this country is banked up quite high so soon as the powder snow lands it is blown by a puff of wind, and the speed of the traffic.	Living-conditions
nagamori-96	The toughest day we had out here was about 30 degrees below with a wind that almost tore our skins apart from our bones. This day me and my dad went out a mile to get beet leaves for our boss’s cattle. The beet leaves were stuck tight together so we needed a pick to separate them from the ground. My dad had 1 1/2 inches of icycle [sic] on his mustach when we came back with a load.	Labour-conditions Labour-conditions
nagamori-97	If you stand out in this weather for an hour you’ll be chilled right through your marrow.	Living-conditions
nagamori-98	Boy but the river was really well for a coupla weeks last year for skating. This Seine	Recreation
nagamori-99	River was a playground for almost every one around here, on Sundays specially. Last year was my first year on ice and I made out pretty good one day I tried out my speed and proved to go 9 miles in 3/4 hr. this is nothing to what most does [sic].	Recreation
nagamori-100	Most of the Japanese sugar beet workers have now gone to the [???] work camp or to Ontario to cut pulp wood and few have landed swell jobs in Winnipeg. My eldest brother has gone to Ontario to cut pulp wood but just a day before Christmas he broke his ribs and he is now at Fort William.	Labour-conditions
nagamori-101	Most of the girls here have work in Winnipeg doing house-work, working in hat-factories and even few of them are smart enough to work as a stenographer.	Gender-dynamics Labour-conditions
nagamori-102	I’ve got some more to write but since its getting to [sic] long I think I’ll cut off here.
nagamori-103	Darn this evacuee business I’m getting tired of it can’t seem to get settled.	Homesickness
nagamori-104	Well anyways here’s sending you--
nagamori-105	Best Wishes and Luck for /43
nagamori-106	Write soon please
nagamori-107	Always
nagamori-108	Tad
nagamori-109	Lorette Manitoba	Letter 5
nagamori-110	Feb. 14 /43
nagamori-111	[doodle of two hearts impaled by an arrow]
nagamori-112	Dear Joan:
nagamori-113	Hellow Joan, thanks for the very welcome letter I received on the 1st of Feb.	Communications
nagamori-114	How are you and the rest All fine and dandy and I hope you didn’t catch a cold during the sub-zero weather you had out there. I was glad to hear you had received my letter on your birthday and besides it was on my sisters birthday I sent it.	Homesickness Joan
nagamori-115	I hear it went down as long as 45 degrees below in the North Fraser Valley. Is that true? I suppose you have coupla foot of snow there now. My friend in the interior of B.C. says they had 3 ft of snow, but out here we only have 18 in. average.
nagamori-116	In places there are about 5 ft of snow frozen hard enough to keep us up. One of our boss’s son [sic] recently went trucking up in Alaska and he says its 80 degrees below there. Boy the fuel cost went sky high these days hasn’t it This winter sure	Living-conditions
nagamori-117	fooled many citizens. I heard in the prairies they’re burning their own houses for fuel. There’s so much snow there the roads are all blocked up. Quite a few highways in Manitoba are blocked up. The peoples around here says this highway’s about the last to get blocked. There are snow plughs working on the highways but it doen’t do much good because the wind out there are too strong it blows the snow around 30-40 feet up in the air.	Living-conditions
nagamori-118	My brother came from Fort William. He is perfectly well now and at present he is in Winnipeg looking for more profitable job [sic]. The fellas that went to Ontario to cut pulp wood says the trees there are no bigger than a raspberry cane. My brother brought home a piece of birch bark to write letters on It’s almost as smooth and thin as an ordinary writing sheet. He had about foot square of it. He says, Ontario quite similar to B.C. of course there are no	Labour-conditions
nagamori-119	high mountains.
nagamori-120	'Lorette Village' as they call it is a French settlement. The people living in this district are almost all French. The most outstanding building here is the Catholic church about 1 1/2 times the size of the Lutheran church at Annivial[?]. Theres a nun’s school, Public school with high school, 3 general store one with Post Office, Hall, Hotel, 2 garage and a pool room. In this town are six Japanese families one of them being our neighbor back home. The Manitoba Sugar Beet 60 intends to put 10 more families in this Area. We live 3 miles away from the Village.	Living-conditions
nagamori-121	But our boss owns a small general store so we don’t have to cycle in for our groceries There’s a small school right across my place that holds about 50 pupil Theres one 23 year old teacher teaching 40 pupils, grades 1 to 10. It is exactly 50 miles from Lorette to Newton Siding Our boss owns 16 kids The eldest about 25 He lost 4	Labour-conditions
nagamori-122	He expects to get another soon. Theres only nine home now and the eldest is only 16. Our neighbor just across the river from us has a family of 13 and majority of them are girls. They all say the French have a big family. They all seem to be friendly towards us at least they have no hatred towards us. Is this true about Glen that he’s a student of the University of Washington? And about the barge balloon they’ve got up around Vancouver? Have you seen it yet?	Living-conditions
nagamori-123	Is this true about Glen that he’s a student of the University of Washington? And about the barge balloon they’ve got up around Vancouver? Have you seen it yet?	Homesickness
nagamori-124	Last night the Japanese Girls in Winnipeg held a party at the I.W.A.	Recreation Gender-dynamics
nagamori-125	Well this is about all I can think of so I’ll close here
nagamori-126	Always
nagamori-127	Tad
nagamori-128	P.S. I’ll be waiting for your swell picture	Photographs
nagamori-129	[doodle of two hearts impaled by an arrow]
nagamori-130	Lorette Manitoba	Letter 6
nagamori-131	April 11 /43
nagamori-132	Dear Joan:
nagamori-133	Hellow there, Many thanks for the most welcome letter I received quite awhile ago and Gosh!
nagamori-134	Was I glad to see a snapshot of yourself enclosed. Thanks a lot, Believe it or not I’ve got two snapshot of you now	Photographs
nagamori-135	The other one was taken in your victory garden last year.	WWII Photographs
nagamori-136	The weather we’re having these days isn’t too bad The snow is practically all gone making things look more like Spring The Seine River has expanded 15 times its	Living-conditions
nagamori-137	width because this river hasn’t much of a bank This water has reached within 15 feet of our house. They say last year it was the worst since 1910 on this river The wheat fields are a sight now huge patches of water here and there deep enough to hold a couple on a light dinghy	Living-conditions
nagamori-138	Maybe you have heard this In the middle of March we had a blizzard for 3 consecutive days 60 hrs. Behind our house the drift came as high as 9 ft. Yosh says he had a drift 15 ft high behind their	Living-conditions
nagamori-139	house
nagamori-140	How’s the good old B.C. like these days more like summer than spring I suppose.	Homesickness
nagamori-141	During the last week of March we have done some skating on the rivers and fields.	Recreation
nagamori-142	To date we’ve only had few drops of rain which came just recently.	Living-conditions
nagamori-143	Last Friday I happened to meet up with Yosh in the bus. For a while there I was puzzled there I couldn’t recognize him right away. He had a glass on which I’ve first-seen him with, and besides he has grown a lot fatter. He and I went in to see a show It was of this	Recreation
nagamori-144	title “Spring-time in the Rockies” It was a nice show in technicolor.	Recreation
nagamori-145	I heard from Yosh that you and few other girls an boys are comming [sic] over to see him this summer Is this on the level?	Joan
nagamori-146	Since the last time I heard from you I have made over half a dozen toy planes I’ve made this as my hobby from now. I sold few to our boss He says, he never seen anyone make a better toy plan He said there were few that were worth about 3-4 dollars length are only a foot long.	Recreation
nagamori-147	In the last letter you asked me if I’ve been to Newton Siding I haven’t been there once since we came over I like to tho’ it’s pretty hard to get the permit.	Recreation
nagamori-148	Any time we hop on a bus we are questions if we got our permit.	Living-conditions
nagamori-149	I’m enclosing a snap-shot which was taken almost a year ago I’m sorry but this is the only one I got of myself My height is I am a little shorter than Yosh.	Photographs
nagamori-150	Always
nagamori-151	Tad
nagamori-152	P.S. I hope you haven’t passed out by my picture
nagamori-153	c/o Dryden Paper Co.	Letter 7
nagamori-154	Camp 29,
nagamori-155	Dryden Ontario,
nagamori-156	Jan 16, /44
nagamori-157	Dear Joan:
nagamori-158	Hellow honey, I’m really sorry for this terrible long delay. The reason why I didn’t answer you letter sooner was because I was way up north of Winnipeg working in a lime quarry, and the fellas at home forgot to send the letter up to me till two month later. After this long delay I felt kind of shy writing back, and it came hard and harder for me to write. But since you encouraged me this Christmas to write I am sincerely glad to do so.	Communications
nagamori-159	By the way I received your Christmas Card on the 28 and I really loved it just as much as I love you. I sent one to you on the 20th I hope you received it because the mail only go out once or twice a wk at this camp.	Communications Joan
nagamori-160	Well how is the climate like back there in B.C. this winter. I guess its mild there too. Over here it only went as low as 30 below yet and usually it goes 50 below. I heard in part of Saskachewan it rained on the Christmas day. Right now we have foot and couple inches of snow. In Winnipeg I heard they	Living-conditions
nagamori-161	have only about inch of snow.	Living-conditions
nagamori-162	Its almost 2 month since we came to work here. I am here to work another two month but I don’t know how I can stand it here. I believe you like to hear a little about over here in Ontario. So far we have only been 100 miles into Ontario so I really haven’t much to tell, but I could say we came across hundreds of small lakes. The trees around here only average 50-60 ft. mostly all evergreen. I haven’t noticed any high mountains yet, but where ever you go is a hill. I like to send some pictures to you of this camp and scenery but it is almost impossible to get films now.	LabourConditions
nagamori-163	To tell you the truth I think British Columbia is the best place to live and enjoy scenery.	Homesickness
nagamori-164	I hope i was in the interior of B.C. now where you can come over now and then to see me. Gee but won’t we have lot of fun then Well anyways I’ll hope there’ll be a day when we get together in a near future and have a good time and a good talk with you.	Joan Homesickness
nagamori-165	Well here’s hoping I'll be hearing from you soon. Till then Cheerio! Honey
nagamori-166	Friend
nagamori-167	Tad.

Takahashi19420510

takahashi19420510-1	c/o George C. Card.	1
takahashi19420510-2	Magrath, Alta.,
takahashi19420510-3	Sunday, May 10, 1942
takahashi19420510-4	2:00 P.M.
takahashi19420510-5	Dear Joan;
takahashi19420510-6	I received your letter on the fifth day of May but I didn't get it until the next day for I was out working somewhere else for a couple of days. We have been here 18 days. On the 8 and 9th my brother and I started planting the garden. Boy! What a place to make a garden. Clumps of hard dried dirt all over and the ground hard as stone. We had to plant the garden for there isn't no body else to do it.	Labour-conditions
takahashi19420510-7	Last night it rained and thundered and lightning flashed so bright that things could be seen plainly. This morning it was still raining. Boy! You should come down here and walk around. Mud about 2 inches. Go out side and you get mud all over your shoe. All we can do is sit in our little wee shack which is only about 10’ by 20’. No radio no nothing in fact no room to move. Yesterday it was so darn windy that your had, paper, cans, pails, and every thing was blown around. The wind made a terrible noise around the corner of the house. Gosh! I'm getting sick and tired of this country. Gee wiz the wind is starting to blow again. Anyways maybe it will dry the ground so a person could walk around with out getting a new sole on your shoe. Friday night about 11 o’clock the irrigation water came down the ditch which is along the side of the road right near our house. The water comes from a mountain in the United States. I haven’t told you about the surrounding yet. Well towards the north the land is quite level without large trees like B.C. Towards the east and south there is a high hill which is about 600ft higher then [sic] where we are. On the	Living-conditions
takahashi19420510-8	side of the hill strips of green and brown can be see. From near our home if we look westwards we can see part of the Rocky. From Yoshio’s place which is SW of our place and much higher we can see part of the sugar factory at Raymond which is about 18 miles away. From there we can see about 4 train stations. We can tell if there is a station for we can see grain elevators.About a mile east of our place there is a low steep banked river or a creek running. This is a nice place, clean water down below and small trees and green grass.	2 Living-conditions
takahashi19420510-9	One thing I miss is the big trees. Out here you pay 50 cents for a spruce tree about 2 ft tall.	Homesickness Living-conditions
takahashi19420510-10	There isn't nothing to do at all around here but go see your friends or catch goffers [sic] or try to. Riding a bike isn't much fun when the wind is blowing against you. I don't mind the rain but darn the wind and rain.	Living-conditions recreation
takahashi19420510-11	But soon I guess I will be saying gosh it’s hot I wish the wind will blow. The darn wind blows dust around the place and into your eyes. When the sun shines it gets too darn hot and dry.
takahashi19420510-12	In another two weeks time we will be working on our good old sugar beets for some are out all ready [sic]. Boy! Oh Boy! You can think of us bent over sweating and thinning the beats. Gosh!	Labour-conditions
takahashi19420510-13	I feel going to school but they told us not to consider school till September.	Education
takahashi19420510-14	And about your hope. The letter you wrote came to me with black letters reading “examined by censor.”	Communications
takahashi19420510-15	Gosh I will miss the cherry and other fruits and even the flowers. Anyhow I remember seeing a tulip before I came here.	Homesickness
takahashi19420510-16	I am fine and I wish you are too. Well Good-bye till I write again.
takahashi19420510-17	Yours
takahashi19420510-18	Jack Takahashi
takahashi19420510-19	P.S. Where you get the idea that I write interesting letters

Mototsune19430718

mototsune19430718-1	Box 167,
mototsune19430718-2	Raymond,
mototsune19430718-3	Alberta.
mototsune19430718-4	July 18/43.
mototsune19430718-5	My dearest Joan,
mototsune19430718-6	It was a pleasure hearing from you after a long time. I was terribly worried if you had stopped corresponding with me, but I knew it couldn’t be true because you’re not the type of a girl who would so such things. Well, anyways, thanks a million for your ever-welcomed letter and I was certainly glad to hear from you again.	Joan Communications
mototsune19430718-7	How is everybody in your family back home? Well, I hope, as we all are also.
mototsune19430718-8	School’s over, and here I am at home. I stayed out almost three weeks from school on account of beet work and went back on the day before our June exams. That was June 18th, and the following week from Monday to Thursday I went to take my tests. So I got out of school on June 24th.	Education
mototsune19430718-9	Teruko (Yr. 8) got out on June 21st and went back on the 22nd to get her report card. My smallest sister, Marion, passed with honour, so she got out from school on June 16th. Lucky thing, she gets out the earliest and doesn’t have to do a bit of work in the beets. She’s just a spoiled kid in our family who never “grows up.” Gee, I was boiling mad the day I went back to school our health teacher gave us our Health Exam and I didn’t even glance over my notes. I still think it was her fault because Health Exam was scheduled on June 25th and I was expecting it on that date. I don’t know whether I passed or flunked in it (most likely flunked!) because we get our results mailed to us around middle of August from the Department of Education. On the same day we also got Home Ec. Exam and a little Soc. St. test. I don’t think I have to say much	2 Education
mototsune19430718-10	about that! All I have to say is that I fail my grade, I intend to quit school and go out working. Probably house-working in winter and farming in summer. That’s about all the work there is for girls out here. Well, I hope I passed (because I prayed to God about it) because I still want to continue with my schooling.	3 Education Gender-dynamics Labour-conditions
mototsune19430718-11	All in all, we did thirty-four acres of thinning beets this year, (we have only twenty-six acres of our own.) and about forty acres of hoeing beets. Dad helped us hoe about half of our beets and then he went to work for our boss. So the rest of the family – Kay, Teruko, Sam & myself finished our beets and did fourteen acres of a man’s down at Stirling. Mom did washings and cooking for the family, making lunches and caring for the house. Marion would stay all day at our boss’s and just come out to the field when its [sic] time to eat. She wouldn’t miss her share of the lunch for	Labour-conditions
mototsune19430718-12	anything. This year, we worked shorter hours; from 6:00 A.M – 8:00 P.M. We were all really surprised to find ourselves working faster this year. Last year, we worked longer hours and did only around 1 ½ acres, while this year, we worked approximately three hours shorter and do almost three acres a day. It rained quite a bit this year, but not as much as last year.	4 Labour-conditions
mototsune19430718-13	Whenever it rained, I stayed home and rested. Heck, who wants to go to school when they’re tired? If I did go to school, I’ll be sleeping during the classes.	Education
mototsune19430718-14	We finished our hoeing thinning on Friday, June 25th, one day after I finished my exams. We started on our hoeing on June 28, rested on 30th because it rained, & also on July 1st, (Stampede Day) and finished on July 8th. Last year, on July 8th we just finished our thinning beets. The weather plays a large part in our work, I’ll say.	Labour-conditions
mototsune19430718-15	Gee, Joan, I wish you were with me or I with you. It’s a shame war can endure in this civilized	Homesickness Joan WWII
mototsune19430718-16	world, isn’t it? I hope we can meet all over again just once more in the near future.	5 Optimism
mototsune19430718-17	Dad has gone to the Church Service to-day [sic]. Since we came out here, I haven’t gone to a service but once. Back at the coast, we used to go to Sunday-School every week, but out here, it’s so inconvenient – no bus, or no tram to take. Walking nine miles (both ways) every Sunday over a gravel road is too far, so we stay at home and tune in a service over the radio. Sam takes his bike and goes to the Sunday-School in the morning and Dad takes the bike for the afternoon service. The could take turns between them, but the girls can’t, so we ordered another bike among us.	Recreation communications
mototsune19430718-18	Dad is looking for a car which he wants to buy, ‘cause it’s too inconvenient from town and we don’t want to walk half mile [sic] to our beet field (one way) every day.	Labour-conditions
mototsune19430718-19	Everybody in our family went to the Stampede so I tagged along	Recreation
mototsune19430718-20	with them. This year we went on the 1st instead of 2nd, so we saw the parade. For such a small town as Raymond the parade was really quite good. The stampede programme was same as every year and I didn’t enjoy the programme part, but otherwise I did. After the stampede we went to a Buck Jones’ picture. The theatre was so full they had to close the wicket for a while. I never saw such a crowd of people in Raymond since I came here. Streets were crowded and cafes were just packed full. To get an ice-cream cone, I had to wait approximately twenty to thirty minutes. There was [sic] at least 18,000 at the stampede. (so it says in the “Raymond Recorder.”) Lucky for us, we had a good chance and got a ride home it was around 10:00 P.M. when we arrived home. Next day we worked Fiddle-sticks! It seems to me that I get more tired when I	6 Recreation
mototsune19430718-21	rest instead of working steadily day after day. I believe it was on June 22nd, I wasn’t intending to go to Shirley Temple’s “Miss Annie Rooney” show, but I went anyways, in spite of the tests the day after. I had to refresh my memory by going to a show. Oh! my! I forgot! ……	7 Recreation
mototsune19430718-22	Congratulations, to you, Joan & I hope you find your next grade as simple as you did this term. Don’t worry, you’ll always pass your grade with the highest honour, and if you don’t, nobody will. But that’ll be the day! You’ve always did and always will! To me, you’re the brightest student in the whole school.	Joan
mototsune19430718-23	Father will be starting on [sic] Mr. Jensen’s chicken-house tomorrow. Mr. Jensen is the manager of the Social Credit Bank in Raymond. Chicken-houses are a nuisance to him.	Farm-owners
mototsune19430718-24	He wants to build boats, the ones he was building back at the coast; but I’m afraid he won’t get any chance to build one out here on the prairies.	8 Homesickness
mototsune19430718-25	We decided to raise chickens, but we can’t as the hawks & weasels gets [sic] them. Then we decided to raise pigs, but we also find it a great problem to solve.	Living-conditions
mototsune19430718-26	I’m afraid, Joan, I can’t write such interesting letters as you could. There’s nothing interesting to write about, and even if there is, I can’t write it as you do. I guess I had better close as this letter will, no doubt, be boring you, so I will close with love and hoping to meet you very soon,	Communications Optimism
mototsune19430718-27	I remain,
mototsune19430718-28	Your affectionate friend,
mototsune19430718-29	Sumi.
mototsune19430718-30	P.S. Excuse me for the water blotches on the letter.
mototsune19430718-31	P.S. Please write soon as possible [sic].
mototsune19430718-32	P.S. Mother send her best regards to you and the rest of your family. Love – S.

Ohama

ohama-1	Hi Joan!	Letter 1
ohama-2	Having swell trip. Lots of people but not crowded. “Not alone but lonesome”. Trains awful jerky.	Optimism
ohama-3	I will write later. Beautiful scenery.
ohama-4	Sure miss the old gang.	Homesickness
ohama-5	Al Ohama
ohama-6	July 4, 1942	Letter 2
ohama-7	Ranier, Atla.
ohama-8	Dear Joan:
ohama-9	Hello there! I just received your letter last mail-day. Gee it was swell to hear from you. Thanks a million for writing.
ohama-10	Gosh, I’ve been a terrible pal. You’ve got all the right in the world to be angry with me, Joan. I love being busy -- but not so busy that I should neglect writing to you. Gee, Joan, I’m awful sorry, I guess I was never cut-out to write letters. But from now on you can be sure you’ll hear from me often--	Communications Joan
ohama-11	maybe too often. I hope you don’t think I’ve forgotten you. Do you? I was swell of youto write -- and -- gosh',' I just feel awful about it. Anyway we’re writing to each other now-- and thats what counts. Isn’t it? I still feel terrible and I guess I always will--unless you Say you’ll forgive me. Please!	Communications Joan
ohama-12	Well to change the subject to something much more important, how are you, Joay[?]? How are your Mom and Dad? And little Donnie? I just know everythings all right. How are all your friends?	Joan
ohama-13	I hope I’m still one of them. Let’s talk about you, Joan, shall we? Say, did you know you are a beautiful little flatterer? You had me “redder than a beet.” Really! But really Joan, you’re so understanding and everythin’, I think your [sic] swell. Honestly!! And, gosh, where did you learn to write so well. Honestly, when I read your letter, I think I’m sittin’ right next to you.	Joan
ohama-14	Are you enjoying your holiday? Wasn’t that last minute of school, a grand and glorious Feelin’? I can just picture you, Joan, slamming your	Homesickness Education
ohama-15	books in your suitcase and probably giving a shout of joy. I bet you made faces at the teachers you disliked. Say for instance,	Homesickness Education
ohama-16	“Jackie Hockin[?].” Gosh, Joan, I hope and pray you didn’t have her next time. She’s just like you said, “Stupid,” and gosh I mean stupid. She’s the most ignorant person I know. I ought to know. She taught me for a couple of years and look what she done to me. Ha ha. Honestly though, I think she’s not fit to teach. But then, who am I to judge?	Education
ohama-17	I am sorry to hear Mr. [???] is leaving you. He was swell to us. I haven’t much To say for Mr. Sanford. You won’t lose much by his going -- but Keatley! Ye gad! What a prize-sop[?]! Phooey on him!	Education
ohama-18	Gee isn’t it terrible weather we’ve been havin! I guess it’s the same here as in Surrey, coz we’ve been havin' rain, rain and more rain. Honestly the last week (4 days) was the only “hot” days we’ve had since coming out here. Gosh! but was it hot. Whew! I never seen nothin’ like it.	Living-conditions
ohama-19	I think I could fry an egg on a chunk of iron (we have no sidewalks).	Living-conditions
ohama-20	At present we’ve been haying, and gosh is that a job. We’ve got some 30-odd acres of hay to put up. We cut it last week and now we are Bringin’ it in our hay-racks. We are blowin’ it into the barn loft with a grain separator. Gee this is the hardest job yet -- Oh! come to think of it, I hate fixin’ fence themost and we spent about 2 weeks fixin’ about 10 miles of fence. Gee that’s a job and	Labour-conditions
ohama-21	I’ve got plenty of scars to show you, Joan. That darn barb wire can sure make some really nasty cuts.	Labour-conditions
ohama-22	Say, by the way, now that you’ve got your holiday, what are you doin’? Are you workin’ somewhere?
ohama-23	And, Joan, will you do me a favor--eat plenty of cherries for me--but don’t eat the green ones, I don’t want you to get sick. Gosh, I like cherries, don’t you?	Homesickness
ohama-24	Joan, have you been in [???] swimmin’ lately? I guess we are pretty lucky ‘coz we’ve got a swell lake to swim only a few steps from the house.	Recreation
ohama-25	Which reminds me, you ask about	Labour-conditions
ohama-26	the farm so I’ll tell you about it. I guess Sonny has told you most of the things though. Well it’s not such a big farm as compared to some of them a round here, it’s got 3/4 [???].	Labour-conditions
ohama-27	(I guess it’s large compared to our 10 acres back home -- but it’s far from being home.)	Homesickness
ohama-28	You see we’re running the farm for a Mr. Burnett. He moved out to Calgary, so we’ve got the whole farm to ourselves.	Labour-conditions
ohama-29	I guess we are pretty lucky at least I sure hate to work sugar-beets. It’s such a monotonous job. Well, anyway, we’ve got lots of cows (2), only 3 are milking cows.	Labour-conditions
ohama-30	By the way, Sonny does all the chores. He milks like an “old maid” now. We have lots of horses about 25 but only 8 are working horses the rest of them are wild and they just romp around in the pasture back of our fields. We have two swell ridin’ horses. Gee, their [sic] beauties. I fell off once when I was too lazy to put on the saddle. (I couldn’t catch the horse again so I had to walk)	Labour-conditions
ohama-31	I’ll send you some pictures of them and the farm as soon as I can.	Photographs Labour-conditions
ohama-32	And Joan, remember those pictures you took when Sonny	Photographs Joan Homesickness
ohama-33	Was over to your party, well he’s got them developed and he’s gonna send them to you -- but not until I get some prints. Some of them are swell.	Photographs Joan Homesickness
ohama-34	Well, back here on the farm, all our crops are in, and they are coming along swell. We’ve got acres and acres of grain, and lots of spuds and vegetables like that. Gee it sure is some job keeping them clear of weeds.	Labour-conditions
ohama-35	Say, Joan, how is your “Victory Garden” coming along? Swell, I hope.	WWII
ohama-36	Say, Joan, one funny thing that I learned out here is that back home we cleared trees to plant	Labour-conditions
ohama-37	things and out here we plant trees to get a wind-brake and to have some shade. Funny isn’t it?	Labour-conditions
ohama-38	Oh yes! You asked how Rainier was. (I think you wrote RANIER but its Rainier) Anyway you won’t find it on the map its such a small dump. Its only our P.O. and our store and garage.	Living-conditions
ohama-39	We get mail 2 times a week. By the way how long did this letter take to get to you? I ask because all mail coming in takes from two to three weeks! I only realized this a few weeks ago when my Brother brought it to my attention.	Communications
ohama-40	Well, to get back to Rainier	Living-conditions
ohama-41	as I said before it’s a dump. Its 3 miles away. Brooks is the nearest town it’s about the size of Cloverdale. I’ve been there only once. It’s about 25 miles away. We are about 140 miles South of Calgary. 80 miles from Lethbridge. So you see we are away from civilization. Ha! Ha!	Living-conditions
ohama-42	I guess I’m just pushin’ words along so I guess I’ll say good-bye but before I do will you please give my best to your Mom and Dad and Donnie?	Homesickness
ohama-43	Well take care of yourself, Joan, and be good.
ohama-44	Good-Bye and Good Luck!
ohama-45	Albert Ohama.
ohama-46	P.S. c/o of Mr. Bennett is not necessary. Call me whatever you like, Joan. I could add a lot more of nick-names to your list but anything will do. I ain’t fussy -- much. Ha! Ha!	Communications Joan
ohama-47	Al.
ohama-48	P.P.S.
ohama-49	Please excuse my hen-scratch. I know I’m a terrible writer. We have hens but they didn’t help me! Ha! Ha!	Communications
ohama-50	Al.
ohama-51	August 12, 1942	Letter 3
ohama-52	Rainier, Atla.
ohama-53	Dear Joan,
ohama-54	Hel-lo! How’s the thrill of Scott Hill? Thanks for your very nice letter. I certainly enjoyed hearin’ from you. Jesus, Joan, don’t let writing long letters bother your sweet conscience, ‘cause I love ‘em. I love to (as you say) “wade through ‘em,” too.	Joan Communications
ohama-55	Well, Joan, what are you doin’ this bright and cheerful morning? Oh! Good morning, Joan. Sleep well? (I hope you read this in the morning)
ohama-56	Well, anyway, how are you Joan? None the worse after that “horrible” weekend, I hope. It sounded like lots of fun to me. And say, I don’t mind being your “it”.	Joan
ohama-57	Now for more about your letter: About the work over here; holy ??? but I must of put it on thick. Of course I have time to eat! I’m usually first at the table and last to leave. Boy, but do I love the dinner call! Not because I’m hungry but because we can rest - ah!	Labour-conditions Living-conditions Optimism
ohama-58	Beautiful rest! Seriously, though, Joan, I’m not working that hard. The work has been hard but I’m getting use [sic] to it now. We’ve finished all the field work and there’s really not much work to do now. But there’s enough to keep us busy -- darn it. But don’t worry, Joan, I’m not working myself to death. Here pinch my arm. See, I’m alive. Ouch. (You pinched me too hard). Silly, ain’t I?	Labour-conditions Optimism
ohama-59	What do we do in the winter? Nothing! Nothing ‘cept the chores. My brother and I may try to find work elsewhere--but not till I have a vacation. Gee, I wish I could go home for a visit, even for a few days. That’s day-dreaming, though.	Homesickness
ohama-60	Music? I think I like Bing the bestest. I like smooth lingering music. Of course I classical [sic] -- but not too classical. One thing I don’t like --yet is that corny cave-man music (racket -- I mean). It actually drives me nuts.	Recreation
ohama-61	(Of course that’s taking for granted that I’m sane--which I’m not out here)
ohama-62	Of course everyone has their own particular
ohama-63	likings but I like Bing everytime. He drives me nuts, too--in a different way.	Recreation
ohama-64	So you were building castles in the sands? How romantic? Oh, I forgot. There were children with you. How horrible! I pity you, but I bet you did have some fun, huh?
ohama-65	A working woman, are you? School’s your job. Stick to it. I would if I could.	Education
ohama-66	Which reminds me, school begins soon again, huh? Tech, tech, how time flies. More books and scraping with the teachers. When I think of school now they seemed lots of fun.	Education
ohama-67	You mentioned disagreeable odours of fish. Phooey! I met a skunk the other day and I thought it was very cute. Seems he doesn’t think the same of me, anyhow, i got the worst of him and he got the best of me. I’ll leave it to your imagination as for what happened. Anyway, the dog killed him and I went on my way. Well for the next week the dog and I were both in the dog house. I wouldn’t attempt to describe the odour. Phew!	Recreation
ohama-68	The moon? I don’t think I’ve ever stopped to admire it. (What-they-hay just about dark)
ohama-69	The sunset is pretty out here, considering the fact that there is nothing but bold-headed prairie hills to give it a beautiful atmosphere. I think the other kids will back me up when I say that the sunset is very beautiful.	Living-conditions
ohama-70	I work in my birthday suit so I have a pretty fair tan--but if I keep this up much longer I’ll be burnt to a black crisp. Boy, it sure has been hot on some days, the last two weeks for instance. But today was cold! Can you imagine that? In mid-summer, too! Cold today -- hot tomorrow! Gosh, what goofy weather! How is it out there?	Labour-conditions Living-conditions
ohama-71	Did I leave any questions out?
ohama-72	Well what are you doing these days? Working in the peat-plant or are you taking care of the husband with the sick wife? Oh yes, there’s a baby in the family too, isn’t there? (I ain’t a bit funny am I?)
ohama-73	How are Donnie and your folks? I hope they’re all well. And you. Are you taking good care of yourself?
ohama-74	Say Joan, do you see many shows? Gosh, I haven’t seen one for so long, I forget what they’re like. Honest. I haven’t gone to Calgary yet, but I expect to some time	Homesickness
ohama-75	during the month. My brother took a truck laid of vegetables in last week. He’ll be goin’ in quite often now and I hope to make one of the trips with him. I honestly wouldn’t mind seeing Calgary again. I can still remember some of the old haunts where I used to play and get into a lot of mickey. After all it’s only been about ten years ago.
ohama-76	Gosh! Here I’m talking about nothing -- I guess I’m boring you, huh?
ohama-77	Take care of yourself, Joan. And give my love and best wishes to your folks and of course Donnie.
ohama-78	Good-bye till next time -- and don’t worry about us ‘cause we’re all fine.	Optimism
ohama-79	Yours,
ohama-80	Alby
ohama-81	P.S. ------
ohama-82	P.P.S. Imagine that! No P.S.
ohama-83	Bye, Alby
ohama-84	(Oops! Over)
ohama-85	Joan will you tell me how long my letters take to get to you. This letter will leave Ranier on the 14th one of the two mail days we have.	Communications
ohama-86	Thanks
ohama-87	Alby.
ohama-88	Rainier Alta.	Letter 4
ohama-89	Nov 14, 1942
ohama-90	Dear Joan,
ohama-91	Hello honey, what’s a cookin’? Alright don’t tell me! It’s only me dropin’ [sic] a few liners from out Rainier way, so don’t keel over.
ohama-92	(About time huh?) I’m really sorry I didn’t write to you sooner -- how many “weeks” or months I should say -- am I behind time? How can I make up for it, Joan? Please tell me. Anyway, please for give me, won’t you? Please!!	Communications
ohama-93	Gosh! And all the swell letters and pictures -- gee, do I feel terrible! I should have thanked you ages ago! Gulp! And your Q.E. Vue arrived sometime ago too. Thanks, thanks, and a million more thanks, Joan! The pictures were really great. We all enjoyed them very much. And the old school paper -- boy it was good to read about old names again.	Homesickness Joan
ohama-94	Say, you’re sure doin’ swell at school, aren’tcha? Your name’s on most every page. You adn the kids are sure making things buzz at the school aren’tcha? I guess you like school better’n ever now huh? Well,	Education
ohama-95	whatcha say, Joan. Oh, how was the mixer? Gee, I bet you had fun. I bet you danced every dance. Ahem, who didya dance with the mostest, Joan? Oh, for the “love of Pete,” Joan, you dont’ have to answer if you don’t wanna (ahem). I bet you did have lots of fun, huh? I sure wish I could have been there -- you’d really be tired after the dance.	Homesickness Joan
ohama-96	I see by the paper you still have house games. Boy, they were lots of fun. How about clubs? Still have ‘em?	Homesickness
ohama-97	Say, how are you? Taking good care of yourself? Swell! Have you been skating yet? I don’t suppose there’s ice yet other than the [???] ?
ohama-98	Well, out here in Rainier, life’s getting duller and duller. We’ve finished work now, at last. We finished up thrashing about 4 days ago -- right now we’re recuperating so that we can now have some fun. I went to Calgary the other day -- I didn’t	Labour-conditions Living-conditions
ohama-99	have much fun ‘cause I went by myself. I saw “Bambi” and “Iceland” at the shows. They weren’t too bad. By the way, the theatres were terrible compared to those of Van. The first time I went to Calgary I seen “Mrs. Miniver” and “Fantasia.” I was so lucky because they were the best pictures I wanted to see. It sure was lonely in town. I didn’t do much but I did listen to the juke-boxes. Didya ever hear Bing sing “White Christmas”? (sigh). Now I’m being silly, ain’t I?	Recreation
ohama-100	Well we had a cold spell about three weeks back and we were able to skate for a few days, but now we are having very warm weather -- really.	Recreation
ohama-101	For the last several days a chinook wind has been blowin’! And it sure melted that ice in a day. We never had chinooks in B.C. but they come quite often out here. It’s a warm south wind comin’ from Montana-way. I bet you think we’re shiverin’ in our skins now huh? This weather sure surprised me. By the way we had	Living-conditions
ohama-102	And Indian summer here this year, too. I’m already for the winter weather though. Hope to get lots of skating and skiing this winter. That’s what I say now but I becha I’ll be sitting around the stove in the house as soon as it drops below zero. Our neihbors say it gets as gold as 60 below. Hope I don’t see any of that kind of weather.	Living-conditions Recreation
ohama-103	Well it’s getting late and I’m wandering around in circles so I had better close. Say hello to your folks and Donnie for me.
ohama-104	G’bye now
ohama-105	Love Al
ohama-106	Ps. Hope to get this off from Calgary. I’ll be skiing. Your Al.	Recreation
ohama-107	Rainier, Alta.	Letter 5
ohama-108	Jan 28, 1943
ohama-109	Dear Joan,
ohama-110	Thanks for all the swell letters. It’s awfully nice of you to write so often -- and such nice letters, too! Gee, ain’t I lucky! It ain’t everybody that has someone to write to him on Christmas Eve at 11:30 P.M.! You’re really swell, Joan!	Joan
ohama-111	Being your “victor” is swell, Joan!	WWII
ohama-112	You know, three weeks after Christmas Eve, when I got your letter, I spent it all over again -- in your house! Boy it was swell! I’m glad you liked the gift.	Joan
ohama-113	So you had a party. Gee, I bet the fellas and gals had lots of fun -- and why shouldn’t they, when they have a swell hostess like you!! Poor you, hunny, to clean up the mess!
ohama-114	Say, these two little cousins of
ohama-115	yours sound very interesting you’ll have to introduce them to me sometime. Billy -- the one who wields the pencil -- must be a real card.
ohama-116	Remember you asked if anyone out here raised bees ? Well, yes! There’s a couple of big apiares [sic] out here. Ho! It couldn’t have been our name on it -- although we have a hive ‘neath our house. ??? ??? says he gets ‘bout 300lbs out each year but we didn’t get around to it (that’s how busy -- or ignorant we were.) I guess the bees have eaten it all by now!	Living-conditions
ohama-117	Oh, another thing, you seem to remember Kay and Juke very well -- better than I infact! They and their dad, were down here last summer and then they returned to Lethbridge. That’s where my brother works! Mother and May just returned from this place and they say they are getting along very well!
ohama-118	Christmas would have been perfect if my
ohama-119	Brother and his family could have been with us. We sent them lots of things for Christmas though.
ohama-120	Well, enough of this sniffing and drooling! What chou doin’ these cold days? I hear and read that you’re snowed in! How does it feel to be cold? At least it’s a change from that lousy rain and drizzle! (Aren’t I mean!) What’s the best a foot of snow or six inches of mud! I hear there’s a shortage of fuel! Well I hope your family has lots -- as if my hoping would do any good when you can’t lay your hands on the stuff!!
ohama-121	I hear also that dear old Q.E. got mad and broke a few pipes! What luck, huh?	Homesickness
ohama-122	Listen, who’s suppose to be telling me of home -- you or me!	Homesickness
ohama-123	I guess I should tell you a little, anyway, of what’s happening down here.
ohama-124	Well nothin’ much ever happens
ohama-125	out here! The days just come ‘n go. What a life! Had a blizzard last week. Had to work ‘cause I was workin’ for someone down the road. The rest of the family stayed indoors that day. The roads were blocked by drifts and the mail truck didn’t get through, fortunately it came the next day though.	Labour-conditions Living-conditions
ohama-126	Oh, Christmas and New Years were swell! We all had a grand time. So help me, the Christmas turkey never tasted better -- maybe because we worked up a hefty appetite by skating. The weather was just like B.C. in Winter. There was no snow ‘till late Christmas night. We (the younger Ohamas) went to our neighbors’ party. Stayed ‘till two and had a swell time.	Recreation Living-conditions
ohama-127	New Years was a little different. We had snow and it was a little colder. New Years Eve we planned to go to the hall shin-dig, but the car broke down at the last minute. (The same thing happened when we started out for the local school concert! Wotta lousy jalopy! They said, after it was all over, we really missed somethin’) Well, anyway, we managed to ??? over one of the neighbors and his family. Boy, did we have a lot to drink -- pop, of course! (Don’t worry, Joan, all us boys were sober!)	Recreation Living-conditions
ohama-128	I’m boring you so I’ll close -- while I got the chance -- ‘cause I’ll just go on and on.
ohama-129	You be hearing from me soon.
ohama-130	Take care of yourself and bundle up and be good!
ohama-131	Yours Al
ohama-132	Over
ohama-133	P.S. Thanks for the lovely card! Keep the home fires burning! Al.	WWII
ohama-134	Rainier, Alta.	Letter 6
ohama-135	Feb 28, 1943
ohama-136	Dear Joan,
ohama-137	Hello there. Just thought I’d drop a line. I’m not quite sure of the last time I wrote, but I rather imagine that it was none too recently.
ohama-138	Well, how are you doin’ these dismal days? How’s school? Boring or interesting? Sonny tells me you kids have to go to school on Saturdays, too. Is it true? Too bad if it is. Gosh, you may be too busy to
ohama-139	write to me. And that would be unbearable. Really. Well, I’ll just hope for the best.	Joan
ohama-140	How are you making out with that “certain guy”? If he don’t wan give you a glance, he ought to have his head examined. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that seeing how you like him so. You’ll have to pardon me.
ohama-141	How are your other dates coming along? Surely you don’t devote all your time to this guy! Do you have
ohama-142	lots of fun or do they bore you to death. Seems you have lots of fun. Well, that’s the right and only way.
ohama-143	Is the school the same? How are the girl cadets getting along? Do you manage to keep in step with all the other [???]! Or do you like to be different!	Education Homesickness
ohama-144	How are the teachers? Still the same? Tch, tch! You kids seem to have raw? Times with Mr. [???].	Education
ohama-145	He sure must be patient with you taks, but that’s what makes a good teacher. Agree?	Education
ohama-146	How are you Dad and Mother? How’s Donnie? Hope they are well. And of course that goes for you, too.	Joan
ohama-147	Well, Joan, theren’t not much to write about over here, you know that. The days still come and go. ‘Tis a sad world!	Living-conditions
ohama-148	I don’t want to bore you with all my “buffing”[?] So until something pleasant happens I'll say,
ohama-149	So long for a while
ohama-150	Your loving pal,
ohama-151	Al.

Takahashi19420724

takahashi19420724-1	Magrath Alberta,	1
takahashi19420724-2	July 24, 1942
takahashi19420724-3	8:00 PM
takahashi19420724-4	Dear Joan,
takahashi19420724-5	I thought I’d better write this letter before I forget again. I'm just fooling around now.
takahashi19420724-6	We finished thinning on Tuesday, July 1 around 4 P.M. We went up to Yosh’s place to help them thin their beets for a couple of days. On Monday 13th I've started hoeing, that is, taking out the grass around the [???} beets that were left. On Wed. I think it rained so we couldn’t work for a couple of days. We just about finished Wed. that is day before yesterday but when we were all on our last row a big black cloud came over our head. It started thunder and lightning and started to drip. We started on our way home as fast as we could. (We had about 1/2 mile to go). Just as we started it started to pour. It kept up getting worse and worse. Soon it began to hail too. We were all in our shirts soaking wet before we even reached half way home. The wind was blowing from the west and oh boy I really felt the hail as it bounced off my bare arms. I couldn't see about 500 ft in front or around me. When we got home we all were dripping wet. The rain even went through my boots. That sure was a rain and it taught me to run when ever I see big black clouds coming. We just finished having another storm a half an hour ago worse than the other but it was shorter. I thought the cloud would miss us but the wind changed and the cloud came towards us. I’d say it was the blackest clouds I'd ever seen yet. It was as black as coal. When I saw the clouds	Labour-conditions Living-conditions
takahashi19420724-7	our way I wasn't dumb enough to stay out this time but I just got in the house in time. The rain was more like snow for its blown all over by the wind. It’s the first time I'd ever seen rain like that. A couple of miles out from our place they had hail bigger than marbles the other day. Lucky we didn’t. These storms come all of a sudden that you aren't even prepared for rain. Today till about 1 it really was hot.	2 Living-conditions
takahashi19420724-8	They celebrated the birthday of Magrath (I don't what birthday [sic]) to-day at the town park. It isn't what I'd call a park it’s just a play ground with a grand stand. I didn't go although I was playing. They all [sic] kinds of sports and broncho [sic] riding, milking wild steers, that is, they let out a herd of steers out and cowboys lasso them and others on foot carry a milk bottle and try to get some milk the first to get milk gets the prize. They had a parade too. I don't know how that was but I guess it couldn’t be so bad.	Recreation
takahashi19420724-9	I went to the Raymond Stampede on July 1st. There wasn't much to see but they charged me 50 cents. All they had was milking the wild steer, lassoing and typing up calf (the first one to tie a calf wins) decorating a steer by leaping off a horse onto a steer and put a ribbon on its horn. They had wild broncho [sic] riding, steer riding, 3 cowboys saddling a wild broncho [sic] and riding to the opposite end of the ground. They also had horse races. It sure was hot that day and I had to sit in the sun. A seat in the Grand Stand was 2 bits and I was full anyway. I rode both ways on my bike and did I sweat. That was about 30 miles all together.	Recreation
takahashi19420724-10	From the beginning of July we have had hot weather but we have rain about 4 times this month all ready. July seems to be	3 Living-conditions
takahashi19420724-11	the month of hot weather and storms.	Living-conditions
takahashi19420724-12	We finished thinning on Tuesday, July 1 around 4 P.M. We went up to Yosh’s place to help them thin their beets for a couple of days. On Monday 13th I've started hoeing, that is, taking out the grass around the [???} beets that were left. On Wed. I think it rained so we couldn’t work for a couple of days. We just about finished Wed. that is day before yesterday but when we were all on our last row a big black cloud came over our head. It started thunder and lightening and started to drip. We started on our way home as fast as we could. (We had about 1/2 mile to go). Just as we started it started to pour. It kept up getting worse and worse. Soon it began to hail too. We were all in our shirts soaking wet before we even reached half way home. The wind was blowing from the west and oh boy I really felt the hail as it bounced off my bare arms. I couldn’t see about 500 ft in front or around me. When we got home we all were dripping wet. The rain even went through my boots. That sure was a rain and it taught me to run when ever I see big black clouds coming. We just finished having another storm a half an hour ago worse than the other but it was shorter. I thought the cloud would miss us but the wind changed and the cloud came towards us. I’d say it was the blackest clouds I’d ever seen yet. It was as black as coal. When I saw the clouds	Labour-conditions
takahashi19420724-13	No the [???] family aren’t very close to us for their [sic] about 13 miles from here. The whole family was up at Yosh’s place today but didn’t come here at all.
takahashi19420724-14	Yes, I received a copy of the June Q.E.Vue and it wasn’t bad for I found out how the school was and how the time ended. I really enjoyed reading the paper.	Homesickness Education
takahashi19420724-15	It’s the first time I ever wrote such a long letter so I better quit now before I keep writing all night.
takahashi19420724-16	Sincerely Jack.
takahashi19420724-17	P.S. I didn’t seal the envelope last night so I thought I’d tell you how Magrath town took the storm last night. My brothers went to town and told me about it. In town they really had a storm for big hail poured down. The windows on the north end of most of the building and house were all broken to bits, the grain around town that is east and north of town were all knocked down, beets that got hit were all knocked over and they say it	Living-conditions
takahashi19420724-18	Looks as if they (the leaves) were all chopped up. We were lucky only a little of our beets were hit although not so badly damaged. To-day we can still see hail piled up a little out of town from here. The wind even blew over big trees and took a roof of [sic] a house or barn near town. We were one of the lucky ones but maybe we may get one next time. I hope not anyway. Well so-long!	4 Living-conditions Labour-conditions

Takahashi19420425

takahashi19420425-1	c/o George C Card	1
takahashi19420425-2	Magrath, Alta.
takahashi19420425-3	Saturday, April 25, 1942
takahashi19420425-4	Dear Joan;
takahashi19420425-5	On Wednesday we reached our new home after 2 1/2 days 2 nights. We left New Westminster around 9 Mon. All the time along to Kamloops we had our heads poked out of the window looking at the scenery but [once?] there it was night. During the night we stopped at Salmon Arm, Revelstoke. The next morning April 21 Harding [???] and I were up from 3 am walking up and down the train and watching the scenery throw [sic] the pass. There it was so cold that the Kicking Horse River had ice around the banks and streams were frozen. In daylight we reached Frields where we put our time ahead one hour. Later we reached Banff. Along the way between Fields and Banff we saw many elks and a moose. Near noon we reached Calgary where we spent the rest of the afternoon till about 7.	Forced-dispersal
takahashi19420425-6	There we saw the show “Babes on Broadway” and we walked about the town. About 11:00 PM we reached Lethbridge and spend the whole night there. From about 4 AM I roamed around the station the town. About 5 AM Yoshio and I and some girls at breakfast at [Lethbridge]. We started again for Raymond at 8:20AM. We reached Raymond at 11:30.	Forced-dispersal recreation
takahashi19420425-7	Afternoon we took our own baggage off the freight and load [sic] it on trucks to our new home which is 18 miles out of Raymond. Our home is about 2 1/2 mi apart from Yoshio’s home but bout 20 miles apart from most of our friends. I find it quite different over here for it is colder, windy, no trees and the place is so rolly and places level. On Thursday	Forced-dispersal Living-conditions
takahashi19420425-8	April 23 when I awoke I found out that it had snowed about 2 inches. Today the wind is so cold that your hands and face turns red and purple from the cold.	2 Living-conditions
takahashi19420425-9	I bet Surrey is so warm that you could go out with no sweaters and I bet you sweat while we freeze.	Homesickness
takahashi19420425-10	We are all healthy and happy and I wish you are too. I wish you would write for I would like to know how you are getting along and know your and my school pals are getting along.	Communications
takahashi19420425-11	This is all I got to say so I wish you will write for me to read at lonely nights.	Communications Homesickness
takahashi19420425-12	Your School Pal
takahashi19420425-13	Jackie Takahashi

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