Early impression of America

Deciding to come to America Voyage to San Pedro Getting started in America Early impression of America Learning the nursery business Gardening to nursery Expanding business Next phase Life Philosophy

Transcripts available in the following languages:

When I got a first time job in the Flamingo Company is no speak English. When I jumped in this company, I just walked in but they interview me. Then ask a lot of question but not able to answer, but I'm lucky one, there is a Nisei was there. So he kinda semi-interview, but he not too good with Japanese either, so kind of broken interview. But get by with it and then hired me, the superintendent hired me.

Then I going home, I thought, may be America is some different country. Different than what I've been thinking was because they don't know me - nothing. First time they saw me, then I don't speak English. They don't know how I'm good worker or not. But they hired me. This is something to think of it.

That's why I said in the beginning, first time I thought, may be this is a good country, different type the way the thinking was. So I started to think of it, that was the kind of feeling, first time deeply my heart to think of it about this country.

Date: February 2, 2012
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Chris Komai, John Esaki
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

america jobs migration Shin-Issei

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