gusmão first traveled to the east timor part of indonesia in 1991. she was finding information for a movie on the area and was the interpreter for the movie maker. she became a teacher in jakarta, indonesia. she worked there from 1992-1996. she was worried about human rights in east timor. while she fought for human rights she met the east timor independence leader, xanana gusmão. he was in prison. she met him through going to his jail cell. she married him in 2000.