Valerie Wenzel:  

I was in the first class of eighth graders at Arroyo. I remember Mr. Carmichael, Mr. Fischer, Mr. Casson, Mr. Anton, and Mr. Lloyd. Had a small part in "Stardust", played flute in Band one year, ran track and CC, was in Red Jackets and CSF. Moved to Colorado in summer '82. I was only two years at Thornton. I ran Cross Country, celebrated Saturnalia and Mr. Clark day, learned to play violin in the orchestra and had some small parts in some plays. During out senior year ('84) my parents moved back to CA, so right after graduation I was hauled out of there too. Went to the University of the Pacific in CA; graduated with a BA in Sociology/Anthropolgy. I wasn't at my graduation, because I went to study abroad my senior year, and I didn't come back. I lived in Japan a couple of years. I studied Japanese, Japanese religions and Aikido. After a brief stint bar-hostessing, I taught English conversation. I met Ananda Marga, a socio-spiritual group based in India. I did some in-depth yoga study with AM in Okinawa and in Calcutta in '88, and worked in the AM preschool in Tokorozawa (...Expand for more