User:Alllyssssa/sandbox

Life was made more tolerable at the Merced Detention Center through recreation. The Japanese were able to feel a sense of joy and happiness. There were various competitions between the Japanese. Some included kite flying contests and talent shows. Music appreciation hour was also held to give the incarcerated some relief off of the daily stress of their new lives. Suprisingly, school was not mandatory for students. Many kids, especially the older ones, took advantage of the opportunity to use their time for recreational activities. Many found this time to be more fun and fulfilling. Recreational activities were centered around baseball and sumo wrestling. Although, other commonly known sports were played as well, including basketball, badminton, football, and ping pong. Other activities consisted of boy scouts, girl scouts, dances, and craft shows. The first month however had minimal recreation due to limited space for activities and facilities. Originally, activites were only held on the inside of a racetrack field. Camp management was able to expand the barbed wire fence to the outside of the racetrack and bleachers. Everyone was excited to utilize the extra space for entertainment.