Autobiography of Fumika Yamasaki

I was born in a hospital in Matsue, Japan at 2:32 p.m. on August 15th 1989 to twenty- seven year old Yoshiko and twenty- nine year old Takeshi Yamasaki. I weighed 7.1 pounds. My mom and dad were both working at Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Company in Hiroshima. They were engaged for six months before they got married.

My dad was the son of a carpenter. My grandpa built their house and our house. My grandma is a Japanese calligraphy teacher for approximately thirty years. My mom was the daughter of a public official worker and his wife. My grandpa died 18 years ago.

When I was 9 months old, I left Japan to come to America. I had lived in Loma Linda, California for almost 3 years. I started to walk when I was 1 and 3 months old. I couldn't crawl before I started walking. I was moving while sitting. I don't know when I started to talk but when I was 1 and a half years old I could say some words. I was very shy when I was small because I would cry if I met another person besides my mom.

I don't remember much about Loma Linda, but I remember a little about being in kindergarten in Japan. My earliest memory is digging up sweet potatoes on a field trip in autumn on a field. I remember digging up a big one. Everybody was digging up a big one or a small one. Everybody was dirty including me when we were all done. I wish I could dig sweet potatoes again.

When I was 5, I moved again to Rancho Santa Margarita. I felt sad to leave my good friends at Japan. I remember in first grade, I got my first award. I went up to the stage and everyone was clapping. I shook Dr. Callison's hand and stood on the stage. I was very happy. I also remember in second grade, when we had a Halloween party. It was fun. We had golf, throwing rings, and pin the tail on the donkey. We got a bag with a balloon, a cookie, balls, and toys. In third grade, I remember when we went to Dana Point to go whale
watching. We didn't see the whole whale but we saw its tail splash the water and go down again.

I started to read when I just turned 6 in the summer. The most important event in my life is my birthday and my little brother, mom, and dad's birthdays. The most important thing in my life is my family and relatives, and my friends.

In the future I want to be an author or a teacher. I would like to be an author because I like to write and read stories. I would like to be a teacher because I like working, writing, and helping people that need help with their work.

October 25, 1998, Autobiography-2b