Zina

In the last few days before I left, I was talking to someone I worked with in Programa Salud over the past year, and she told me she had studied abroad in Buenos Aires in 2001 and is still in touch with her host mom, Zina, who would love to host me. I had been planning to rent an apartment here, and I've been staying at the hostel while I get familiar enough with the area to decide on a more permanent (and more private and quiet) location. When I got an email from Dana with Zina's info, I started to think about how nice it could be to have a family here, people who could help advise me in the city during my first month until Laura gets here in July when I will also have more incentive to go out at night. Plus I was imagining the money I could spend on fun activities and warm clothes here.

I called Zina this morning, and unfortunately she has two boys (Blake from Philly and Jonathan from USC) in her apartment right now, making it a full house, but she invited me to dinner last night to talk about options. She lives in a big apartment building built over 40 years ago in a modest apartment. She grew up in Chile, has visited relatives in California twice, and worked in Israel for two years. She speaks amazing English, some Hebrew, German, and of course Spanish. Even though

She didn't let me leave the house before going through her album of all the students she has hosted over the years (almost 10 years by now of non-stop hosting). She told me that after her husband died, she had a 17 year old daughter and no source of income. She feared she would loose the apartment, until a friend suggested she host foreign students. She earns about $20/day for housing and feeding each student breakfast and dinner. It became apparent that more than the financial security they bring her, the company and opportunity for her to mother (now that her daughter is out of the house) has become a major source of joy for her.

As for the idea of staying with a family for the month of June (until Laura arrives), I'm not convinced it's my best option. Zina has a friend who has space, but at $20/day it would be the same price as living in an apartment ($600/month), and I would have less freedom in my schedule. I'm eager to be in the kitchen myself, and this family (actually an upper class couple--Zina emphasized how big their house is) is hosting other students now. The location is likely to be less convenient too. As much as it would be to have a "family" here, I think my independence will win out on this one. Plus, I already feel like Zina has filled my need for family here. I'm supposed to call this other host mom tomorrow.