She worked in Japan after World War II, educating the children of American military and civilian personnel in the United States Occupational Forces.

[3] Hughes was a hospital recreation worker with the American Red Cross in France during World War II.

[4][5] She taught in Hawaii from 1945 to 1947, then went to Tokyo to work as a teacher in the United States Occupation Forces there.

[7][8] Hughes lived in Kundasale, Sri Lanka from 1951 to 1953, working as superintendent of an agricultural school for girls,[9] on a grant from the United States.

[3] In the 1960s, she taught high school and adult education courses in Barstow, California.