Wednesday, August 4, 2010

WW2 Interview Transcript

Interviewer : Nice to meet you granny. Now i am going to ask you some questions relating to the war.


Interviewer : What was your daily life before the war? How was your daily life affected?


Interviewee: I helped my parents look after my younger brothers and sisters and wait for my parents to come home with food. The Japanese patrols around the area and my family members and I will go around hiding and running away from the Japanese.


Interviewer : Have you thought when the war would end? How? and why?


Interviewee : How would I know? If I had known it would have been better.


Interviewer : What was the normal cost of living? Was it high or low?


Interviewee : There was no money to use and no money to spend.


Interviewer : Was food an easy source to obtain? What did you eat everyday?


Interviewee : If it could be found, then my family members could eat, if not we could not eat. I would eat vegetables, sweet potatoes and tapioca and there was no other food.


Interviewer : How did you feel when all of your money became worthless and that you had to use banana money? Vice-versa


Interviewee : I had no money to use. I don’t know Singapore at that time had what money to use. I did not feel angry.


Interviewer : Do you know anyone who died or was captured during the war? How did you feel?


Interviewee : Yes. Once, my friend went to steal rice from the Japanese and was beaten to death by the Japanese. She was very afraid back then and dare not take any rice from the Japanese.


Interviewer : How did you feel about the different treatment to the races during the war?


Interviewee : Yes.If the Japanese see any english people, they will capture them to kill them. If they see anybody, they will just beat them. If they want to capture, they will capture. If they want to beat them, they will beat them.


Interviewer : How did you feel after the war? Did your life revert back to normal?


Interviewee : Got, Got. After the war, there was some rice and some noodles to eat. If there is work, then the family could buy food to eat. It was a bit better.


Interviewer : How did you feel when the war ended?


Interviewee : Happy. Feels that it is good. She could go out to play, and buy food to eat. There was also clothes to wear.


Interviewer : What do you think of our interview?


Interviewee : It is very good. I think you all are quite hardworking and I like talking to you.


Interviewer : Thank you


Interviewee : You’re welcome.