Letters

The letters that my group went over in class focused heavily on life in the Gila internment camp and life shortly thereafter. Although Amy constantly kept a positive attitude in her letters another Japanese-American individual described their experience much differently, "We were treated more like enemy aliens than American citizens. And now this [the loyalty questionnaire]." (Takaki 398). In addition to this Doug elaborated on the harshness and cruelty of the internment camps and what Amy truly went through it is even more inspiring that she was able to say such kind and uplifting words in the letters. After their days in the internment camps the new family followed Tomio across the country to new lands where different hardships awaited them. Although this was different than other scenarios because of Tomio's education and service, the newlyweds still found themselves struggling to find work and even working at a chicken farm. This constant moving was similar to the relocation encouraged to spread the Asian-Americans thinly so they would not influence the culture or have cultural centers.
Similarly the experiences that Amy describes, in Nebraska specifically is reminiscent of a line from Yamada's Cincinnati where is it stated "Everyone knew me" (Yamada 82). Although many of her neighbors did not personally know Amy they were aware that she was Asian-American and therefore made assumptions about her and family and gave her strange looks in a grocery store. This would have been extremely hard to deal with personally let alone share with family and her white best friend.