wives, for instance-who require privacy to have discussions with their husbands about sensitive

issues, such as problems with their in-laws or money.

 When I first came to Pinula in 1999, comunitarios were the only regular form of

communication for many Guatemalans. Because I could spend hours in a comunitario (no one

questioned my presence, since it seemed I was also waiting to call the United States), they were

an excellent venue for research, providing me with the opportunity to meet a migrant's family

members, hear the latest gossip, or (like everyone else who was waiting to make or receive a

call) listen to other's conversations! My presence also allowed migrant family members to ask

me questions about the United States and to tell me anecdotes about their migration experiences.

One afternoon, a Maya family came to the door of the comunitario. They were a typical home

community family-the husband was in the U.S. and the wife was accompanied by her small

children and her husband's family. The mother was the first to speak to her son in Boston, and

she asked the usual questions regarding his health and the status of his job. Next, the father

spoke; he first inquired about his son's financial situation, then informed him of their home

construction project, and finally began to speak (in hushed tones) about certain difficulties in the

relationship between the son's wife and the son's. He reported that the daughter-in-law had little

respect for her mother-in-law and fought with her constantly, elaborating further that she was

uncontrollable and apt to go off on her own without their permission. When the wife finally

spoke to her husband, she began to cry and begged him to return. While she tried to be polite

about her relationship with her mother-in-law, she still defended herself. Towards the end of the

conversation, it became apparent that the husband wasn't coming home anytime soon and that he

had told his wife to respect his parents and behave properly. This scenario was typical of various