Julia and her family sought refuge from the United States due to her father's failing attempt in overthrowing the imperialist of their residential island. When she moved to the United States she lost all of her comfort and knowledge of her homeland. She wasn't able to speak her language often and became homesick and confused about her surroundings. When she was 13 she was sent to Abbot Academy, a boarder school, because local schools weren't as helpful as they are now. She graduated from there in 1967 and moved to a Connecticut college for studies for two years. She was soon married to Bill Eichner in 1989.