1990

2005

"So what have I been up to since FHS? Right now I find myself in an internet cafe in Laos. I would never have predicted this moment in 1990. How did I get here from there? Well, first I went to Univeristy of Michigan from 1990 to 1994 where I got my B.A. in psychology and met my now ex-husband. After college, I worked as an Elder Care Counselor and just kind of floated along in life for a few years. In 1997 we moved from Ann Arbor to Los Angeles, a place I had never even seen before I moved there. I worked briefly as a research assistant for a UCLA schizophrenia research clinic. Then from 1998 to 2000 went to graduate school and got my masters degree in social work from UCLA. After graduation, I got a job writing grants for a nonprofit. My ex and I had a easy life living in Santa Monica 3 blocks from the beach but somehow my life felt empty and unfulfilled. So I ended up getting divorce in 2002. Then I quit my job and I spent a couple months in Mexico to learn Spanish. Got another grantwriting job. Quit that job in March 2004 when my new partner (now fiance) and I decide to spend some time traveling. First we spent 5 months in Central America, then traveled around the States, and in January 2005 we went to Thailand. The main reason for the trip to SE Asia was to practice Buddhist meditation, which has added great meaning to my life and has been very healing. When we are done traveling in December, we both want to continue our work for social justice, finding some way to create more equality and peace in the world." - Julie