Class of 1993 Newsletter

March 2001

Happy belated 2001 everybody! Let me begin by apologizing for the tardiness of this year’s newsletter...I’ve prepared several excuses for your review. I got engaged in December; my parents came to visit from Tokyo in January; my home computer had a meltdown (I swear there was smoke coming out of it) three weeks ago; I had to figure out how to scan my signature; February only has 28 days; and South Florida’s presidential “butterfly” ballot was confusing. Oops, that last one was actually Al Gore’s excuse!

I really enjoyed reading all the updates I received - last year I heard from 56 of our classmates...I’m happy to say this year over 70 people sent something! Hopefully the webpage is making it easier to submit your news. As always, this is our class newsletter and I’m just “lucky” (I use the word loosely I assure you) enough to be the guy putting it all together. Sorry if I left your “big news” out, but I did my best. I look forward to hearing from you all again soon! Enjoy yourselves and keep in touch everybody!

Take care,

P.S. Just wanted to take a moment to thank Katie Sakuma for the neverending work she does maintaining our class webpage (http://www.geocities.com/ASIJ1993). If you haven’t visited it yet - you’re in for a treat! Go check it out! Thanks again, Katie!!!

Ahuja, Dev It is my honor to bestow this year’s “Most Creative E-mail Address” award to Dev...I know he’s worked long and hard for this honor. He writes, “I’m still living and working in San Francisco for Wells Fargo Bank as a Relationship Manager/Associate. It’s fun but extremely stressful.” Yes, I would imagine any job where you’re surrounded by someone else’s money all day long could have that effect on you. Dev is planning on going back to school this year or doing some traveling. Hope you get to do both…

Baba, Marie Marie is still living and going to school in Southern California. She writes, “I’m getting my Moderate/Severe (Special Education) teaching credential at San Diego State University and will probably be down here for a few years.” I really hope that Marie didn’t send me any other news, because I can’t seem to find the rest of my notes for her entry. Sorry about that Marie, but until someone else volunteers to take this nightmarish beast off my hands...you’re stuck with the guy who is often a little “organizationally challenged” when it comes to the class newsletter! Thanks for keeping in touch!

Barrett, Nathan Nathan is working in New York City and living with Daniel Fish. He writes, “I’ve seen a couple ASIJers recently including Missy Brinkmann, Mel Shimizu, Lyena, Briney, and Lauren Bretschneider (‘91). It was good times.” Nathan would like more of our female classmates get in touch with him, so he can reconnect emotionally and pursue completely platonic friendships with you all. And I would like you all to get in touch with me so I can sell you some beautiful beachfront property in Nebraska. Nathan also mentioned he’s looking forward to our ten year reunion, so I guess somebody (not it!) better start planning that shindig.

Boston (Beverley), Amy Amy is still living in Georgia and working on the Internet. She writes, “I still have my business designing/hosting wedding websites (address is above), but my other job now is posing on-line. I love it because I get to be who I want to be.” Amy didn’t mention what she’s posing as or for, so I guess she wanted to leave that up to our imaginations. Amy’s family moved closer to Atlanta last year and grew by one member. She writes, “My daughters are four and three now, the oldest is in pre-K...we also got a third cat. In April, my hubby and I renewed our vows after being married five years. He got his new toy (a 442 Convertible Cutlass) and I had laser surgery on my eyes...now I can see SO good! This has changed my life completely!!!” I’m getting tired just thinking about all those kids and cats running all over the place...I think I need a nap. You can check out some pictures of Amy’s girls and husband (no photo of the new car yet) on the class webpage.

Buckley, Peter Peter is still living up north and braving the weather in Canada. He writes, “I’m in Toronto working for Air Canada which took over my former employer, Canadian Airlines, earlier this year. Enjoying work and still using the flying benefits to travel to new places.” Sounds to me like Peter is surviving the weather by leaving it far behind as much as possible! Thanks for the quick update and drop us a postcard from your next foreign destination.

Bull, Richard Richard, who I’ve never met to the best of my knowledge despite the fact I work about 10 minutes from his house, gave me the scoop on his sweet life down here in Miami. He writes, “I love my job! I work in the Latin division of Warner Music (WEA Latina) and head up the Special Marketing and New Media departments. Both are fairly new and it’s great to be able to start something from the bottom up.” I guess I now know who to talk to about getting Ricky Martin tickets, huh? Richard got together with Jared Green, Brian Stolz, Matt Clark, and Julie McCord last August during a business trip to New York City; he also keeps in touch with Peter Buckley and Mary Telling. Finally, Richard wrote of having a “wonderful Latin American girlfriend named Jennifer” who I’m thinking could very possibly be J.Lo since he is so involved in the music industry and Puffy is probably looking at a couple months in the big house.

Burgess, Ryan Ryan checked in and it sounds like he is really enjoying his new job. He writes, “After teaching in Michigan for two years, I am now teaching high school English at Fukuoka International School and loving it. The school is much smaller than ASIJ, with only 172 students in K-12th grade, but it is a fun place to teach.” That sounds nice...after student teaching some classes with 30+ students myself, I bet a few of our classmates who teach in America are envious of the small classes I’m sure you have! Ryan also coaches volleyball and took his team to the Far East Tournament in Korea last November. Planning to stay in Japan at least two years, he hopes anyone in the area will get in touch with him.

Chiller, Andrea I always like to hear from “missing” classmates and Andy has resurrected herself from that category. She writes, “I don’t think I’ve sent you any updates, so here’s the basics: I’m in my second year at Tulane Law School in New Orleans. I wish I could say that I’ve been partying this whole time on Bourbon Street, but unfortunately law school, law review, and my summer job search has pretty much kept me from the drunken debauchery downtown.” How I love those sweet words, especially from a woman’s mouth: drunken debauchery. Sorry for that little interruption...Andy plans to be in New Orleans for another year and a half, but will be working in Manhattan this summer. She hung out with Mike Hager a few times before moving to New Orleans, but hasn’t really seen any other ASIJers. Well Andy, be sure to say hello to the 93% of the class who live in New York City when you’re there this summer.

Clark, Matt Matt requested the following be entered for his update...I warn you this material is not suitable for young children or farm animals. He writes, “Matt Clark has delivered on all the promise he had shown as a young boy. Devastatingly handsome, irresistibly charming, and satisfyingly witty, New York City knows him as the most eligible bachelor in town. His sharp intellect, on the other hand, makes him a valuable asset in his workplace, and J.P. Morgan has shortlisted him as one of the most likely junior employees to climb the corporate ranks into their prestigious managing director level. Matt enjoys a great deal of culture and art in his life, and is a regular fixture in concert halls, the opera, the museums, and galleries of the city. Known as a patron of the arts, his recent acquisition of a splendid Vietnamese oil painting won him waves of admiration from the established art circles. Also a lover of the great outdoors, he can be spotted frequently in the great mountains and lakes of the world for a short respite. A known jet-setter, he is also spotted frequently in various airports around the world as he is embarking on or returning from another journey into the exotic unknowns. Needless to say, he has not forgotten his ASIJ friends. Thanks for the great job Chris. If nothing else, the above should inject a little humor into the newsletter.” Thanks for the update Matt, but I think the newsletter is pretty damn funny already! Let me know the next time you're jet-setting down to Miami and I'll let you buy me lunch.

Cruz-George (Cruz), Cathy I received a very nice “change-of-address” card from Cathy last year, but got this updated mailing address and phone number from Katie Sakuma (a.k.a. Class of 1993 Webmaster Extraordinaire), so blame her if they’re not right. Cathy moved from Guam in November and is now the senior editor for Hawaii Business magazine. She writes, “It’s pretty much the same job description as my editor job at Guam Business magazine, and I’m still on an island too. Hopefully by the time you publish our class newsletter, I’ll be navigating the streets of Honolulu better and will have more than just a futon-sofa in my little studio apartment!” Well, I think I certainly gave you more than enough time to accomplish both of those goals! Cathy lives a few miles from Chi-Ling Lin and Mayumi Nakayama, a couple of our other poor classmates “trapped” in paradise, and is looking forward to meeting up with other ASIJers passing through the Aloha State.

Miller (Brinkmann), Melissa Melissa is still living in Syracuse and working for the U.S. Air Force. She writes, “I just got promoted to Captain...I have less than a year to decide whether or not I am staying in the service. I am not sure what I am going to do yet, but am weighing my options and leaning heavily towards getting out.” Amen to that sister...I mean ma’am! As a fellow military officer who’s within a year of having to decide should I stay or should I go now (credit to The Clash), I can speak to just how difficult a decision it is. Melissa frequently sees Nathan Barrett and Melissa Shimizu in New York City, and stays in touch with Cara Naylor and Lisa Floyd. She just got back from a “whirlwind tour of Eastern Europe” with her sister Jessica (‘94) and it sounds like they definitely had a good time. Keep in touch Melissa and let us know how the decision-making works out.

Siman (Bryner), Leila Leila reports that 2000 was a busy year, but all is going well with her. She writes, “I recently changed jobs and am much happier now working as an Internet Strategy Analyst for Peppers & Rogers Group. I had an addition to my family about six months ago - a puppy named Hannah, a Shiba Inu (Japanese breed), who keeps me on my toes and reminds me to try and take life less seriously!” Leila attended the wedding of Jennifer Phillips (Yates) last summer in Illinois and later vacationed on Block Island, RI. She writes, “I highly recommend this as a beautiful and romantic spot to relax and enjoy the warm summer weather.” Oh yes, definitely not a hotbed of activity in wintertime I bet. Leila is planning to take her annual trip to Zurich this spring to visit family and get a little skiing in...hope to see some pictures of watches and the Alps on the class webpage soon!

Submitting updates for the ambassador: We only get one class newsletter a year (I know how much that saddens all of you), but anyone can, and everyone should, send updates for the Alumni News throughout the year! Send those directly to Judy Yano (alumni@asij.ac.jp), the excellent ASIJ alumni secretary, or to me via the class webpage! You can also send articles, photos, etc. for publication in the magazine. In addition, ASIJ has a great webpage (http://www.asij.ac.jp) where you can update your contact information with the click of a button! So, there’s no excuse for not keeping your mailing address current! Thanks everybody!!!

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