Mary Lou Has a House for Rent

You must be excited about your upcoming adventure! Both of us were international students (studied and/or worked in Chile, Spain, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico). So, we know how it feels. That's why we hosted two high school exchange students for a year each (Italy and the Czech Republic). We've hosted college students/professionals from Brazil (2), China, Japan (4), Norway, South Korea (3), and Taiwan. We have been hosting since 2014. Most guests stay for a year. Two have stayed for 1 1/2 years or more. All would have liked to have stayed longer. We enjoy opening our home to adventurous students who want to not only live in our home but be part of our family. Our study abroad experiences were life-changing. We want yours to be, too. So, let's see if we're a good fit. NEARBY SCHOOLS: San Diego State University (SDSU), American Language Institute (ALI), Connect English and Grossmont College are nearby and easily accessible via public transportation. Many other schools are a possibility but you would need a car or Uber. ABOUT US: We are both teachers. So, we love to see people learn and grow. There is so much to explore in San Diego. Our home will be a welcoming, peaceful, safe and encouraging place from which to begin your adventures. Our children graduated from university (exploring careers in nursing and physics). We have two little dogs (Phoebe and Luli). We love to travel, read, garden, walk on the beach, play with the dogs, hike/camp/backpack/exercise, enjoy nearby Mission Trails Regional Park and Lake Murray. There is so much to see, do and explore in beautiful San Diego (beaches, neighborhoods, Balboa Park, festivals, etc.). You are coming to a wonderful place! We are active and enjoy students who are, too. OUR HOMESTAY PHILOSOPHY: If you stay with us it will be a home AND family stay, not just a room. You will be more than just a renter. Our goal is that when you return home you'll want to come back to your second home on Oakridge Road. Truly, we want you to have the best homestay experience in the entire United States! OUR HOME: 1,900 sq. ft./760 m2 home (plenty of space) peaceful, happy, loving home (4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths) located in a cul-de-sac in a SAFE and quiet neighborhood with no crime. We have a canyon behind our house with a trail (Rancho Mission Canyon) and green/park space nearby (Lake Murray and Mission Trails Regional Park). We don't have any traffic noise of the city. It is really calm, peaceful, and SAFE. Feel free to enjoy the common spaces (bright living room, dining room, tv room, lively garden). Our guests especially love the backyard patio and garden. It’s common to see and hear all kinds of nature right in our garden: soaring red tailed hawks; mourning doves cooing; gentle rustling of eucalyptus tree in the wind; three or four hummingbirds softly chirping and buzzing; monarch butterflies gracefully fluttering; flowers and plants galore (orchids, snapdragons, poppies, freesias, wildflowers, succulents, bonsai). OUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Del Cerro (that's what our neighborhood is called) is safe, calm, and beautiful. Of the neighborhoods near SDSU, it is the safest and most attractive. Being surrounded on almost all sides by Mission Trails Regional Park makes our neighborhood different: beautiful, calm and safe. MEALS: Your profile indicated that you want to prepare your own meals. Here, you will have full and free access to the kitchen: pots and pans, plates, paper towels, dishes, utensils, spices, oils, and appliances. This saves guests a lot of money. The cost of paper products, spices, etc. adds up quickly. You will have kitchen cabinet and refrigerator space reserved for your use. We also have a second refrigerator and pantry in the garage so storage space is not a problem. All our homestay guests have been very respectful about cleaning up immediately after mealtime. We often share meals with one another. TRANSPORTATION: If you have a car there is ample street parking. For those using public transportation, the bus stop is located a short walk from our house, San Diego State University (SDSU) and the American Language Institute (ALI) are located only 8 minutes away from the bus stop (6 stops and some great views of San Diego). We can drive you to the bus stop in the morning if you leave at 7:00 am. The walk to the bus stop is 12 minutes with no traffic lights or busy traffic (very relaxed and very safe). The San Diego State Transit Center (trolley and bus) has connections to all of San Diego. If it were my own daughter using this bus route I would feel reassured knowing that the walk to the bus stop, the wait for the bus and the short bus ride are extremely safe. I would NOT say the same, unfortunately, about other neighborhoods in the San Diego State area. All of our homestay guests quickly make friends who have cars. FUN FAMILY ADVENTURES: You will be invited to go with us on our various outings. Our most recent Japanese guest went with us to lots of fun things: the theater (“Lion King” musical), karaoke, a basketball game, the beach, a Mexican festival, Old Town San Diego (historic site), Mission San Diego, Tijuana (city on the other side of the border with Mexico), a hike, nightly walks, church, watch a band play, “Salsa Under the Stars” dancing, dinner and dancing to an 80’s cover band at Downtown Cafe in El Cajon, shooting pool, singing karaoke, restaurants (Spanish, Mexican, American, Japanese, Italian), Halloween party, Christmas dinner, Historic Old Town, Oktoberfest festival, historic murals at Chicano Park, family gatherings. NEARBY SHOPS AND AMENITIES: All of the following are located nearby: supermarket, pharmacy, cafe, dry cleaning, delicatessen, a gym, hardware store, three parks, three banks, a library, a salon, restaurants, a lake, multiple hiking/biking trails, regional park and interpretive center, tennis courts and running track at the high school, dentist, lots of areas to walk or jog with practically no traffic, friendly and helpful neighbors, great views. We love this area! TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION: High speed internet with Wifi; streaming service (Netflix and Amazon Prime, AppleTV, Disney, etc.). FREE EQUIPMENT FOR OUR GUESTS (E-bikes, paddleboards, beach toys, grill, winter / ski clothing, camping gear) We have lots of beach toys and other equipment for getting out to the beach, bonfire or a barbecue. Our guests have access to e-bikes, ski / winter clothing, and camping gear. If you like gardening or would like to learn then this is the place for you. If you want a walking or workout partner or some assistance with your studies or English then this is the place for you. THE RENT The prices listed are all-inclusive (no hidden or surprise fees). The rent is due upon arrival and, thereafter, at the beginning of each 30-day period. Partial month’s rent is payable on a pro ratabase basis at the end of your stay. Listed rent is for a four month (semester) stay. Shorter stays will be $100/mo more than the listed price. You can pay rent in cash or the most common app here: Venmo KEYS TO SUCCESS: Communication and making connections are really the keys to having the best experience possible. So, ask questions. The main rule is to be respectful and courteous. That's how you'll be treated. Our objective is that you have the best home / family stay experience in the United States of America. Nothing else would be worthy of your big adventure! RESPONSIBILITIES: Our homestay guests clean the kitchen after cooking and clean their own bedrooms, do their own laundry (we provide detergent), and arrange among themselves to clean their own bathroom. We clean everything else. WHAT TO EXPECT / HOUSEHOLD ROUTINES On weekdays, we leave for work by 7:15. So, you would have the house all to yourself. We return home around 4 or 5 in the afternoon. So, you can enjoy the freedom and quiet but also the company of others. We like the balance. On weekends, you would probably come downstairs to the smell of coffee, Frank reading the newspaper or gardening and the dogs wanting to play. You can sit and chat as much as you please. Remember, you would NOT just be a renter. This would be your home and we would be your host family. On Saturdays, we often take the dogs to Ocean Beach. Our guests have an open invitation to accompany us to our walks on Dog Beach and to attend Sunday church with us at the stunningly beautiful Immaculata on the gorgeous campus of the University of San Diego. Afterwards, we usually go to get coffee, have breakfast in Barrio Logan or go to Armstrong Garden Center. Again, we extend our homestay guests an open invitation to accompany us. NOT ALLOWED: Overnight guests (boyfriends/girlfriends); unannounced guests; food in the bedroom; smoking or drugs of any kind (including marijuana and vaping even though it is legal in California); alcohol in excess; making loud noises past 10 p.m.. Exceptions to the overnight guests rule are regularly made if you have a guest visiting you from overseas. Best Regards and Good Luck with your Homestay search! It will be a year to remember! Mary Lou and Frank