What do you think?
Rate this book
Lessons from the Ocean: How a Midwestern Teacher Moved to San Diego and Learned to Surf
Have you ever wanted to drop everything and move to California?
Julie had been teaching German in Indiana for 12 years, and longed for a new, wet adventure. One day, inspiration struck, and she decided to move to San Diego, wear Hawaiian shirts, and surf before work.
Come along on a journey west, to sunny, sandy, San Diego, as Julie leaves the comforts of her Indiana homestead for America’s Finest City. She trades a yard for the beach, friends for surfboards, and her huge, comfy classroom for a shared, hectic space.
It’s a beautiful place, but not always kind. From teaching to surfing, in museums, the forest, and the desert, through love and heartache, from Nazaré to Waikiki, Lessons from The Ocean will inspire, entertain, and resonate with anyone who loves the water, has ever started over, or fosters the aloha spirit.
Read by the author.
Audio Production, Musical Composition, and Musical Performance by Jake Carl Miller.
Julie had been teaching German in Indiana for 12 years, and longed for a new, wet adventure. One day, inspiration struck, and she decided to move to San Diego, wear Hawaiian shirts, and surf before work.
Come along on a journey west, to sunny, sandy, San Diego, as Julie leaves the comforts of her Indiana homestead for America’s Finest City. She trades a yard for the beach, friends for surfboards, and her huge, comfy classroom for a shared, hectic space.
It’s a beautiful place, but not always kind. From teaching to surfing, in museums, the forest, and the desert, through love and heartache, from Nazaré to Waikiki, Lessons from The Ocean will inspire, entertain, and resonate with anyone who loves the water, has ever started over, or fosters the aloha spirit.
Read by the author.
Audio Production, Musical Composition, and Musical Performance by Jake Carl Miller.
Audible Audio
Published January 20, 2026
2 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 6, 2025
Interesting memoir of trying a new way of life. Quick and enjoyable read
October 17, 2025
Great story on hard challenges in life. Loved the friendship and true life aspects of this book. Easy read!
December 23, 2025
Ms. Bruder has given us a wonderfully candid look at her experience in following her dream. She reminds us that we should not measure our experiences in success or failure: it is the doing of the thing that matters.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews