Japanese American Family

The Japanese Americans were given a number per family, causing many couples who did not want to be separated marry quickly so that they would receive the same number. After they were given their number, they were placed in a vehicle that could be a car, truck, bus or even a train. Arriving at the camp in tense filled air, the Japanese Americans all knew that they would be spending the next oncoming years at this camp. When they exited of of whatever vehicle they were placed on, they were greeted with sand storms and unfinished barracks. Each family was assigned with one or two, depending on how large the family was, barracks where they would sleep until it was time to leave. Many of these buildings were unfinished and poorly put together. Sand
would creep into the holes in the walls, covering anyone or anything that rested inside. The bathrooms had no privacy, nothing that could make any girl feel comfortable. The bathrooms also had a foul smelling odor that lasted for weeks on end because of uncleaned pipes. Sometimes, if they went to go to the bathroom at the wrong time there would be a long line and they would have to walk to a different block to go to the bathroom. Food was also another issue. The mess hall was often a long wait as well, only to receive food that tried to be a replica of many Japanese dishes but tasted nothing of the sort. Eventually, each block had a member come down and cook for everyone; however, most were unskilled cooks and left many people having stomach aches from undercooked food.