Reminiscences/3                   Sr Paschal continues her story

Having been released from camp, but with the war continuing, we were kept under house arrest.  Since there was no room for all of us in Tokyo, I was among those who moved to Karuizawa – where one of our graduates offered us the use of her summer house in the hills (in Ireland, we might say mountains!)

It was the month of November – the coldest winter on record. Of course the local people already had plenty of wood stacked up for burning in the stoves and vegetables etc stored in their cellars. We gathered what sticks we could find in the garden, but these gave off more smoke than heat! We then took a little train to a small forest some distance away, cut wood and returned with heavy packs on our backs. We also had a problem with water as all the pipes were frozen so we had to go to a river some distance away to fetch water. While the cold was unbearable and the tears flowed uncontrollably many times, nevertheless, we were happy to have a roof over our heads.

Then one morning as I was walking along one of the well-worn paths, I suddenly heard a loud whisper over the hedge “the war is over”! It was Fr Joseph, a French Benedictine living in the area. I could hardly believe my ears! But yes, the atomic bomb had been dropped on Nagazaki - I didn’t realise the implications of that at the time – I could only think of the war being truly over.

Having spent 3 full years in Karuizawa, I was sent to Denenchofu where a primary school was being established. From that time, I remained there as an English teacher until my return to Ireland on 28th April 2010 – in my 98th year! Of course I had retired from official teaching in school some years previously. However, I had quite a number of ladies, a few gentlemen and several former pupils for private lessons right to the end.

 

In those wartime years there was absolutely no equipment for teaching; books were out of the question, even a scrap of paper, a pencil or an eraser would have been a luxury. Hence the one and only method of teaching at that time was by ‘direct method’. I remember we did little plays so the children had to learn everything by heart, with excellent results. Quite recently I met 1st, 2nd and 3rd yr high school graduates who still could recite what they learnt in those far off days. Later on when books began to appear, a whole new world opened up for students. It was really exciting to watch the wonder in the children’s faces when they found out words they had heard but never seen written down before! “Oh, that’s how such and such a word is written” they exclaimed!

 

I had always intended remaining in Japan until the end of my days and am still wondering why I more or less suddenly changed my mind! On arriving in Cork, I was very impressed by the warm welcome while at the same time my heart was silently crying out for my beloved Japan, where I had spent the greater part of my life. As time goes by, I am adjusting to the change and am happy to be close to my family who are exceedingly kind to me.

It looks as if I ran away from the dreadful earthquake. If I had known it was going to happen, I would prefer to have been with all my friends to share their deep sorrow and great loss. My biggest consolation, even so far away, is that I can constantly be with all of them in spirit and in prayer. Day and night, night and day, thanks to the marvellous communion of saints, we can be ever united in the Lord. May God bless and protect you all.

We wish Sr Paschal a very happy and blessed 99th birthday this September!

          

 

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