(Written by Valeria Garrone and Bruno Massare – Photos by María Eugenia Soils)

Arriving in Buenos Aires isn’t an easy task, least of all for those who don’t know the city and are alone, away from their families, and planning to start a university career. Some choose to live in boarding houses and others in apartments, which they share with other students so as to lower their expenses and not too lonely.

The stories that follow tell of how students living together helps them overcome homesickness.

“I lived three years in an apartment, and during those months I was able to relate with more people than when I lived alone,” says Aline, a 22 year old girl from Entre Ríos, who studies Child Psychology. The conversation takes place in a modern and comfortable building located on Paraguay street, in the middle of Barrio Norte neighborhood.

Loneliness appears to be a feeling shared by all those who arrive in this great city. “The main thing newcomers look for is a place where to find people of our same age,” admits Marta, a 19 year old Spaniard.

Romina, 18 years old, from Entre Ríos, says, “My parents and I decided the best for me would be a boarding house because I didn’t know anybody and I was a little scared of the ‘big city’. Here I found a safe place and people of my age”.

“If anything should happen to you, you know who to turn to, you pick up the phone and call the front desk,“ Aline interrupts. “That is the kind of security this place offers, whether you walk in or walk out there is always someone there, and if you don’t turn up they will be worried about you,” adds Marta.

Buenos Aires is one of the most expensive cities in the world, and this influences your decision when getting settled.

“When I first arrived, I lived three years in an apartment, but I had to return to my country because of financial difficulties. When I was able to return, I decided a boarding house would be the best alternative because there is no need for guarantees, and living alone in a room costs the same as renting and apartment,” comments Aline. “Financially speaking it’s the same, and I was planning to leave this year, but I get on very well with my room-mate and I am not so sure is I want to live alone in another place”, Marta thinks out loud.

But not everybody is satisfied when it comes to sharing. Enzo, an eighteen-year-old boy from Bahia, Brazil, who studies Dramatic Arts in the Conservatory, is not too happy. “I need my space, ad not have to live with someone that I am not interested in; I am here because my parents decided it was the best for me, and because they believe I am not ready to live alone, or perhaps they want to make sure that I have company”. Nevertheless, he admits that “boarding houses are a good place to live while in Buenos Aires if one isn’t from this city because these places give you the freedom you need and at the same time they protect you; although it’s not good for me because I have no privacy”.

Flavia is a 20 year old from Concordia, Entre Ríos studying psychology. “I chose this place because coming to Buenos Aires was an important decision,” she explains. “I am not good at being on my own because I need to feel contained. When I feel lonely or get depressed, I just open the door and find lots of girls who are ready to support me and listen to me“.

For Romina, a 23 year old law student from Pergamino, Province of Buenos Aires, the situation is similar. “I always wanted to come to a boarding house, I was scared of the ‘big city’ and I miss my family terribly. If I had rented an apartment, I would probably not be here in Buenos Aires”.

For some of these girls, the Residencia isn’t simply a place you pass by. Flavia wants to stay till she finishes her career, and returns to Concordia. For Romina, the fact that she’s only got on year left before finishing her career makes her very sad “because it’s going to feel like leaving my own home”.

Those who dare live alone

Living in an apartment implies a lot of responsibilities. Living away from home is a hard change and can lead to a return before it’s time to do so. “Before arriving I was very excited, but soon after I felt unprotected, living in an apartment was just a temporary place and my home was still over there,” says Carolina, a 24 year old girl from Córdoba. Arriving at a city like Buenos Aires has its advantages and disadvantages. According to Carolina, “You really miss your family and your group of friends; but this city gives you the possibility to be yourself, of being able to grow within... On the other hand, Buenos Aires means a lot culturally, it is the center of everything”.

For Raúl, a 21 year old boy from Santa Rosa, “The best part of living here is that one can study whichever career one wishes, and also go to football clubs like Independiente, something I wasn’t able to do before”.

The image one has of the ‘porteños’ and the way they live is another issue to be discussed. “We regard them all as ‘Isidro Cañones’, and I think that they regard us as ‘Patoruzú’”, says Antonio. He adds, “They treat you well, but you can’t fit in with their group of friends, it’s as if they restrict their friendship to a certain circle of friends.

Nevertheless, no everybody decides to stay. Raúl admits that, “I don’t know if I could live again in Santa Rosa, but I think I would look for a more quiet place to live in than in Buenos Aires, without this exhausting rhythm”, and Antonio understands that, “...once you adapt to a big city, you can put up with any other change”, although his assertiveness inspires another attitude, “In my case, I think I would return to my home town, mainly to be close to my family and my affections”.

“STUDENTS FEELING AT HOME” (April 11, 1996)

For students and their families, mostly those coming from the interior of the country, going to university brings up the additional difficulty of boarding.

The traditional solution is to rent an apartment amongst a few students. In the United States, most students stay at the university’s campus, but in Argentina this resource is not available.

Still, there was a time in Argentine, according to our literature, when this was not possible. It’s not that at present one can or wishes to recreate the times of ‘Juvenilla’, but its modern version today are student’s boarding houses in the Capital, which are very convenient for lots of youngsters.

There aren’t many of them. Residencia Universitaria Mayor, on Paraguay 3358, is one of the most modern ones available. The building has two sections of nine floors each, with a capacity of 144 persons, in single, double, or triple bedrooms, all with private bathrooms, telephone, refrigerator, and totally equipped. The meals are organized according to the resident’s needs. There is a shared dining area, where each person can prepare their own meals. This helps everybody not to feel tied down to a timetable. Besides, there are kitchenettes installed on every floor.

Residencia Universitaria Mayor has two other shared areas: the study room and the video room. The room cleaning service is included, and bed linen and towels are changed.

At Residencia Universitaria Mayor you can find scholars from FLACSO (Latin American Social Sciences Faculty), Banco Francés, doctors from other countries such as Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Spain, etc., and also researchers from the United States. Everyone shares their academic year and makes friends with people from all over the world and from other places in Argentina.