1999 Class Newsletter
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January 1999
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Happy 1999 everybody! I hope this finds you all well and back into your “normal lives” after a nice holiday break! After finishing my first class newsletter, I have a new respect for what Chantal has been doing the last five years. She definitely deserved more “thank yous” and “pats on the back” than I know I ever gave her. You all will probably find my writing style is a little different from hers...please feel free to let me know what you all think. This is not MY class newsletter - it’s OUR class newsletter and I’m just lucky enough to be the guy who puts it all together. I look forward to hearing from you all again soon...maybe we can even track down some of our “missing” classmates! Enjoy yourselves and keep in touch everybody!
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Take care,
Chris
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| Babb, Allison |
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Allison is still in New York working as an analyst at Goldman Sachs & Co. She writes, "It is a two year program and so when my time is up (this June) I am planning on going to get my
MBA or taking a year off to travel." Either plan sounds pretty good to me! Allison also wanted to let everyone know she had a great time at the reunion last summer and is already looking forward to our 10th in 2003!
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| Boston, Amy (Beverley) |
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Amy sent a nice email catching me up on how everything is going in Georgia. She writes, "I have one daughter, Emilie Mezerea, that will be three in March. My other daughter, Alexandria Lynn, will be a year old on November 24th. I am a stay-at-home mom and I love it!!!" Amy’s homepage is full of good stuff including the story of how she met her husband over the internet in 1993 and some adorable pictures of her daughters. Check it out next time you’re surfin’ the net!
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| Brinkmann, Melissa |
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Melissa is living in New Mexico and serving as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. She writes, "I am almost finished with my Masters in Education and Business Administration, and am ready to move onto the civilian sector." Sounds to me like the Air Force isn’t treating her too badly! Melissa is hoping to relocate to Atlanta in the next few years.
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| Bryner, Leila |
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Leila wrote to let me know she is finishing her double major in Finance and Marketing at Georgetown while trying to decide where to work after graduation. She writes, "I just got back from a trip to Switzerland this past summer, combined with working for Citicorp in their Institutional Derivatives Division. It was pretty hectic! As for this summer, it’s back to Europe for a month and to whichever job I end up taking...God only knows what that will be!" Enjoy your last semester Leila and be sure to keep us all posted on wherever you do end up!
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| Cruz, Cathy |
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I got a very cool Australian Mud Crab card from Cathy full of news about her life on Guam. She left Hospitality magazine in September to become assistant editor of Guam Business magazine, a monthly publication for the business community of Guam and the Mariana Islands. She writes, "It was time to move onto a larger magazine that published more frequently. I’m enjoying it because I’ve been writing about other industries besides tourism." If you don’t subscribe to Guam Business, you can still check out Cathy’s writing in the Fall 1998 issue of the ambassador (page 93).
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| Dani, Radhika |
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Radhika sent me a quick email to let me know she is living in New York City and working for Pricewaterhouse Coopers’ Hospitality Consulting Practice. She’d really like to hear from
any ASIJers living in the New York area...so, you all know who you are - go ahead and drop her a line!
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| Deane, Kenny |
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I got a short email from Kenny letting me know he is alive and living on the upper east side in Manhattan. He writes, "I am working in financial operations for ICON Capital Corp. ICON is an equipment financing company." I wonder if Kenny rang in the New Year with Dick Clark in Times Square...
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| Delany, Ryan |
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Ryan sent me an email from sunny Anaheim, CA where he now lives - right across the street from Disneyland! He graduated last summer from Cal State Fullerton and is now working as a Technical Support Engineer at Printrak International, Inc. He writes, "Printrak is the leader in digital fingerprinting and mugshot systems for law enforcement. It is a pretty exciting job as I deal with cops all day long solving their problems." Ryan doesn’t keep in touch with anyone from ASIJ, but would like to hear from old classmates and friends who remember him.
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| Dillon, Briney |
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Briney is living in San Francisco with Rachel Ito and keeping busy doing all sorts of neat stuff! She writes, "I am temping, doing some free-lance writing, applying for grad school for next year (I think Creative Writing or English), and Rachel is making a living as a painter." Sounds like a pretty creative duo to me...any pointers for writing the next class newsletter? I can use all the help I can get...
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| Edman, Jesper |
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Jesper wrote a really nice long email to catch me up on what’s new with him in Stockholm. He’s still enrolled at the Stockholm School of Economics, taking third year classes, but has been working on some collateral projects recently. He writes, "I’m taking some time off since I’m in charge of the official 'after party' of the Nobel ceremonies which this year takes place here at school. I’ve got about 250 students working for me and we expect about 500 guests, including the Nobel prize winners, their families, students, business leaders, members of a few Royal families and one or two Prime Ministers." When Jesper wrote me, there were about three weeks remaining till the ceremonies...I’m sure that everything was PERFECT with him in charge! My invitation to the festivities must have gotten lost in the mail, right Jesper? When all his "official" duties are done, Jesper will be heading back to Japan for a year of study at Hitotsubashi University in Kunitachi, about half an hour past
ASIJ on the Chuo. He writes, "I’ll be there for a whole year studying Economics and Finance and hopefully I’ll also have time to write my Masters thesis. I’m a bit nervous though since a lot of the classes will be in Japanese." Sounds like Jesper has some exciting times ahead!
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| Endo, Bill |
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First off, Bill wants everyone to know he’s sick of living in hotels! He writes, "I’ve been working for Hayward Baker, a soil engineering firm. Most of my work has been on the road. I’ve been working in Michigan, Boston, DC and most recently in Birmingham, AL." It does sound like Bill definitely gets around, huh? He did have a great time seeing everyone at the reunion last summer and is looking forward to doing it again in another five years!
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| Eshkol, Gali |
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Gali was suppose to be starting her second year at Tel Aviv University last October, but it looks like it might have to wait a while. She writes, "The students decided to go on strike - they want a 50% discount on tuition. Good luck, huh? So, to make a long story short, the way things look, we’re going to have to cancel the semester!!! I’m keeping myself busy - I work in the marketing department of a hi-tech computer company called RADCOM. I also teach English conversation and babysit." Gali also said she’s got her gas mask ready if "Saddam starts acting up again." Let’s all hope the strike ends soon and that gas mask sits unused forever!
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| Fink, Jill |
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Jill recently completed her Masters in Women’s Studies from Rutgers University and moved to Philadelphia in September. She writes, "I’m now working for a non-profit organization, the Philadelphia Unemployment Project. We address issues that effect poor and low-income people in Philadelphia, and as a researcher/organizer I focus on issues regarding welfare reform
and public job creation." Jill says if anyone is ever in Philly to feel free and get in touch with her...maybe she’ll buy the next round of Cheesesteaks?
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| Floyd, Lisa |
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Lisa is still living in Richmond, VA and working as a catering director for a private club. Think we can get her to sponsor the next reunion? She writes, "I went to New York earlier this summer and spent a weekend with Melissa Shimizu, Lyena Nomura, Eddie, Nathan, Fish, and a few other ASIJ alumni. It was great! I also flew to Florida and visited with Shandy Ota, who at the time was working for a hotel/resort." Thanks Lisa for the updates on all those other "missing" classmates! Don’t worry, you’ve got a few years to think about the menu for our reunion!
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| Fry-Hale, Karen |
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Karen lives in Houston, TX and is a technical writer for Compaq Computers. She writes, "My husband and I are coming up on our one year anniversary and have been searching for a house. I haven’t traveled much since I left Japan in 1986, but I’ve had the 'travel bug' for the past year or so...would love to go back someday." Karen provided me lots of good information about the reunion and just wanted everyone to know what a great time she had last summer in DC.
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| Grove, Jeremy |
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Jeremy graduated from ASU with a Bachelors degree in English and a minor in Japanese. He writes, "For now I am working in the dispatch office of a glass company to establish in-state tuition status and continue my schooling. I am planning on substitute teaching next year and then either getting certified to teach secondary education, or getting a Masters in secondary education. In my free time I swing dance and go to movies." Any other "swingin’ cats" out there?
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| Gutman, Ken |
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Ken left ASIJ after seventh grade and spent three years in England before moving to Walnut Creek, CA. He spent four years at Chapman University majoring in Advertising & Marketing. He writes, "Due to a host of SNAFUS, I’m taking the last three units for my degree and also working full time for American Medical Response as an Emergency Medical Technician (I work on the ambulance). I enjoy my job very much...I get to learn new things, go places people don’t ordinarily go, and see people in all states of decomposition." Ken added that the "smell" isn’t one of his favorite parts of the job. He looks forward to hearing from anyone who might remember him from the good old days in Tokyo.
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| Hager, Mike |
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Mike sent both a letter and an email from "off the coast of a country in the Mediterranean." He is a U.S. Marine Corps Corporal currently with a Maritime Special Purpose Force...he
hopes to be home in May sometime. He writes, "I went to the reunion in Washington, DC and loved seeing old friends and making new. There were plenty of stories going around as well
as a nice stroll down memory lane. My platoon just came out of Albania, a not so lovely country, it wasn’t too exciting though." Mike would really appreciate getting any mail or
pictures from people...I assure you (from my own past deployment experience) that nothing beats getting mail when you’re far away from home. Stay safe Mike and get home soon!
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| Holland, Jason |
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Jason sent a nice email telling me that he’d looked me up in an old yearbook and "remembered" my face...all I can say is I wish I was still that cute. Jason graduated from the University of Kansas in May with a degree in Secondary Education and currently lives in Chicago, IL. He writes, "I moved here to pursue a career in acting and I’m happy to say it’s going quite well. I’ve been working as an actor for about four months now. It’s
WONDERFUL!!! I absolutely love it here and plan on staying for as long as they’ll have me!!!" Don’t they tape Jerry Springer in Chicago...think you can get me some tickets Jason?
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| Hudachek, Riki |
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Riki is back in Tokyo and enjoying life after four years of college in America. He writes, "I’m still trying to stay in shape by swimming, going to the gym...playing soccer (of all
sports) with the company guys, but still manage to put on a few pounds. Ever since I started working at Deutsche Bank this past summer, I’ve started to travel a lot within the region as well." Overall, Riki says, "Life’s been good."
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| Lam, Nicolas |
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Nick sent a nice email from Chicago to let me know he has "really not been nothing very much" recently. He writes, "I was traveling much more during this past year at my job. I now have a client in town, here in Chicago, for the next month or so...I get to enjoy some time in my own apartment and not living out of a suitcase." Sounds like you and Bill Endo could sympathize with each other...enjoy your time at home Nick!
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| Lee, Christine |
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Christine is in her second and final year of graduate school at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She still keeps in touch with Emily Best who she lived with for three years while at the University of Colorado. Christine writes, "I am getting my teaching credential and a Masters in Multicultural Education. I am student teaching in a bilingual 6th, 7th and 8th grade (combined) Social Studies class at a middle school in Santa Cruz. In addition, I have an internship at the Juvenile Hall in Santa Cruz where I tutor and mentor 'at-risk' youth. It is a challenging but exhilarating job." Christine is curious if anyone knows of "any good job opportunities (preferably teaching or counseling) coming up in Tokyo" in the near future. Be sure and get in touch with her if you think you can help out!
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| Lin, Chi-Ling |
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Chi sent a nice long email that REALLY made me miss Hawaii!!! She writes, "Right now I’m into my first semester as a graduate student of Physiology at the University of Hawaii and I love it! I came back to Hawaii, my family’s most recent home, after graduating from Northwestern University in Chicago with an Economics degree and shifted my concentration to Physiology and Science because I want to go to medical school. I’ll be looking to apply this summer and keeping my fingers crossed! I live in Waikiki and spend lots of time outdoors - rollerblading, playing field hockey, going to the beach, hiking, snorkeling...this place definitely beats Chicago, especially during the winter!" Yes, I know...thanks for reminding all of us who aren’t there! Chi also keeps in touch with some "missing" classmates...Tiffany Lai and Tanya Iwaasa in Canada, Tara Malloy in Germany (attending law school at Yale after she returns to the U.S.), and Junko Tamiya at Scripps in California. Thanks for the updates Chi and soak up some sun for me!
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| McEwen, Jeff |
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Jeff is a Mormon missionary in the Dominican Republic and will be returning home in August. He writes, "I have been learning a lot of Spanish at incredible speeds...I even have a hard time speaking English every now and then. The people here are great and the food is alright." Find any good ramen shops? Jeff also said everyone is slowly rebuilding from Hurricane George and probably will be for a long time. He wanted to let everybody know that he really wished he could have attended the reunion last summer...he’s looking forward to getting lots of email from everyone soon!
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| McIllwain, Shana Lea |
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Shana Lea wrote a nice "old fashioned" letter with ink, paper, a stamped envelope and everything! In this age of email I was shocked to see something other than a bill sitting in my mailbox! After graduating from Colorado State University in May 1997, Shana Lea and her fiancée bought a house in Colorado Springs near the U.S. Air Force Academy. She writes, "We are surrounded by mountains...it’s beautiful! I got a job with an extension program out of the University of Colorado and am currently heading up a federal grant to provide vocational training and long-term support for adults with disabilities. I love the clients I work with, but hate the politics of being a supervisor. Currently, my fiancée is attending the police academy and will hopefully become an officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department in August 1999." All right everybody, sounds like we can speed all we want in Colorado Springs after August!!! Shana Lea and her fiancée will be getting married on July 25, 1999, but it sounds like married life isn’t going to slow her down. She writes, "I am getting the itch to go back to school. I would like to get my Masters degree in Human Resource Management. In April I took a trip to Israel to see my father and had the opportunity to see Gali and Kinn Eshkol. It was nice to reminisce about high school and catch up with what we all have been doing since then." Shana Lea hopes to catch up with more classmates soon...hope she can fit it into her schedule!
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| McMunn, Chris |
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I graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in May 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Government/History. I was also commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard and spent my first tour (the past 18 months) on a ship homeported in Honolulu, Hawaii. I absolutely loved being in Hawaii and I really enjoy being in the Coast Guard too. I started flight school in October and just finished the first phase (ground school) of training...I should start flying in February. It was a big change for me to become a student again, but overall I’m enjoying myself and hopefully will be flying helicopters in another year or so. I’m interested in doing search and rescue somewhere on the East Coast, but we’ll see what happens! It’s hard for me to believe sometimes that I actually get paid to do this!
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| Nagasue, Mari |
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Congratulations go out to Mari on receiving her Master of Science degree with merit in Comparative Politics on December 17th! She has been living in London and attending the London School of Economics and Political Science since October 1997. She writes, "I was in London until August 1998 and came back to Kyoto to write my dissertation on Japanese gay political culture. My degree will also give me a title as a conflict management specialist. I might be able to move to the East Coast for further research next year." Mari recently met up with Lalaka Ogawa and Yumeko Yamauchi in Tokyo. Lalaka now works for McCann-Eriksson and Yumeko is in the music industry.
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| Nakayama-Cooper, Mayumi |
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Mayumi is doing great in Bremerton, WA and recently moved up to a full-time position at the front desk of a hotel called The Inn at Gig Harbor. She writes, "I am enjoying the day shift that they have given me (I was working nights) and it has given me a great chance to spend a lot of time with my daughter, Erica. Edward, my husband, is gone for a six month cruise to the Middle East and it seems to me that every time his boat goes there...something bad happens. Erica is now talking like mad...her favorite phrase is, 'I’m gorgeous, I’m beautiful, I’m cute, I’m sexy, and I’m smart!'" That’s funny - that’s MY favorite phrase too! Mayumi’s husband will be transferring to Point Mugu, CA sometime after his return from deployment, but she’s still unsure if she wants to leave the great job and life she’s got in Washington. Keep us posted Mayumi on how things turn out!
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| Ostermann, Naoko (Matsunaga) |
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Naoko is a recent transplant from Washington, DC to London. She writes, "I got married on September 23, 1998 to my long time boyfriend from college, Mark Ostermann. The wedding took place on Maui and we honeymooned on Kauai - we even had a pre-wedding reception in Tokyo and a post-wedding reception in Chicago." That sounds like a lot of partying to me! When Naoko’s husband was transferred to London she had to quit her job as a researcher at the Japan Information Access Project in Washington, but she’s looking for a similar job in London. Hope you find something soon!
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| Pocock, Eloise |
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Eloise is currently living in London and studying an MSc in Shipping, Trade and Finance. She will be finishing in October 1999, but didn’t mention her plans after that. Eloise says she hasn’t kept in touch with many people since she left ASIJ after seventh grade, but she’s interested in hearing from anyone and particularly any ASIJers in the London area. Be sure to let us know if you find anyone else over there Eloise!
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| Reid, Tom |
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Tom wrote a nice email to let me know he’s out of school and back in Tokyo. He writes, "I graduated from Princeton in June and was in Europe this summer...now I’m in Tokyo working on analog circuit design at Lucent Technologies. It’s been pretty fun being back in Japan and everything, although actually I’m kind of interested now in going to China, even though I just got here." Tom would really like to get together with any ASIJ alums who are still around Japan, so drop him a line!
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| Relnick, Amy |
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I received a really nice holiday card from Amy with a rock climbing duck on the front! Sounds like she’s really having a good time up in the Pacific Northwest. She writes, "I’m enjoying the beautiful mountains and waters in Washington. I do a lot of backpacking...I’m really excited about a trip I am about to take in February/March 1999 to Ecuador and Peru. My boyfriend and I are going to travel around with a little backpack!" Enjoy yourself Amy and don’t forget to take lots of pictures for the rest of us!
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| Soldini, Philip |
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I didn’t actually hear from Philip, but I did get an email from his father. He writes, "Philip is teaching English in Japan. He would like to hear from you all." So, now that we all know where you’ve been hiding Philip...we can all get back in touch!
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| Steiner, Paul |
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Paul sent a short email, but it didn’t contain any news about what’s he’s been up to recently. So, I do know he’s alive out there somewhere. Paul did say he’s trying to get in touch with Keith James, Jeff Staloch, and Daniel Fillion (‘92)...if anyone knows where they might be (or where Paul is even) drop me a line.
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| Steinhoff, Laura |
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Laura only attended ASIJ for one semester, but knows that someone out there must remember her! She writes, "I got my undergraduate degree in Cultural Anthropology from Reed College in Portland, OR and I’m now attending graduate school. I’m getting an MFA in Film Production from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and I may be coming to Japan in May or June of 1999." Laura would love to hear from Lisa Witt, Marisa Yamada or Russ Marzullo...and since they’re all "missing" classmates, I’d love to hear from you all too!
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| Stolz, Brian |
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Brian is still an investment banking analyst in mergers & acquisitions (M&A) for NationsBanc Montgomery Securities in Charlotte, NC. He plans on staying in North Carolina until June and then heading to Tokyo to serve as an analyst in the M&A office in Japan. Brian added the following random tidbits, "I had dinner with David Rothwell a few weeks ago while he was in Charlotte on business (he works at Anderson Consulting and lives in Atlanta). I bumped into Lisa Floyd at a random bar in Richmond in October while I was up there for a wedding." Brian is trying to get back in touch with Jesper Edman, Jeremy Weingarten and Jeff Staloch...if any of you are reading this - give him a call guys.
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| Tada, Haruna |
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Haruna is still in Boston and studying at Tufts for a Masters in Mechanical Engineering. She writes, "I’m hoping to finish up in May and to get a job somewhere doing research in microelectronics or an optics-related field." Haruna wanted everyone to know her homepage now has pictures of her sister Mao’s (‘92) two year old son and some recent pictures of herself too. I think Haruna is the one not sucking on the pacifier! Take a ride on the information superhighway and take a look!
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| Voskian, Melissa |
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By the time you all read this, Melissa will be a happily married woman! She is getting married on January 16, 1999 to Robert Diaz in Charleston, SC. She writes, "We will be going to Spain for our honeymoon and then moving to San Diego, CA for his job...I am currently a RN at The Medical University of South Carolina, but if anyone has connections at San Diego hospitals let me know, I’ll need them!!!" So, does anyone have any connections for her? Have a wonderful honeymoon Melissa and good luck with the move out west!
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