Kiyo's 1942 Diary, April 30th 1942

Kiyo's 1942 Diary, April 30th 1942

Diary Entry from Kiyo’s Diary :
Transcribed by Susan (Kimiko) Bower

Thursday, April 30
Rain

Today was one of the worst, if not the worst day I have ever experienced in my life. We awoke early, and after much frantic packing (while Sus went up to the Bank of America), we finally got started to the First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley, Calif. After being delayed there 1 ½ hours, we finally got started at 2:20 p.m. on buses, in pouring rain. We had to wait around some more, getting examined and our hand baggage checked (for contraband material or alcohol) when we reached here at 3:30.

We were assigned to Barrack 14, Room 36, and the sight that met my eyes was sorely disappointing. Our “apartment” is a converted stable, two-room affair, with constant draft and inadequate lighting. There is no broom here so we cannot sweep out the terrible mess. At least it doesn’t smell “horsey” for which we should be thankful. Our baggage didn’t arrive until 10 p.m.—we just waited in the cold, empty room until then. Everything was either damp or soaked in the rain, which made things very uncomfortable.

On top of that, since Kimiko’s formula was with the baggage, I had to feed her regular milk which Sus and I procured from Messrs Watanabe and Hashimoto, two cooks at the Mess Hall. We went to eat dinner late, but these two men were kind enough to serve us some hash, sausage, and bread. After our baggage came, we had to make our beds (we put the two cots together and made a double bed so that we could double-up on the covers—it is that cold here), but poor Kimiko’s mattress did not come, which had us quite worried. We made a mattress for her out of a zabuton, pillow, and comforter, but she did not sleep well at all.

Our boots are now covered with mud because the dirt road is filthy after the rain. We are hoping that we will not have to spend another day like this. The lavies, by the way, are something terrific if the one I visited today is any criterion. It smells terribly, the water doesn’t flush well, and there is no privacy. We would much rather use our little covered pail than to go to the ‘back house’. Today, there were two men and two ladies sitting in a 4 toilet lav. No “Men” or “Women” signs were outside—just “No Solicitors Allowed”—hence I don’t know who was in the wrong room. Anyway, I’ll have to investigate a bit to find a cleaner and better throne. Good thing we brought Kimiko’s old crib, for the rough handling has broken off one wheel, and the sliding panel of one side does not work.