A newlywed couple leaves Detroit
to start a life on the other side of the world.
*1w

JULIE WIENER
Staff Writer

I

is been a month of
transitions for Lisa
Zevallos.
Last Thursday,
she formally converted to
Judaism by immersing
herself in the mikvah, and
over the weekend she
stood under the chuppah
with Diego Grauman.
This week, the newly-
weds, married by Temple
Beth El's David Cas-
tiglione, are headed for
Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Not for a hOneymoon —
although the couple is
planning a second wed-
ding celebration there —
but for good.
For Diego, 31, a physi-
cian who recently com-
pleted a fellowship in radi-
ation oncology at Beau-
mont Hospital, it will be a homecom-
ing. He grew up in Buenos Aires and
volunteered as a medic when the
AMIA building, headquarters for
many Argentine Jewish organizations,
was bombed in 1994.
For Lisa, 32, Argentina is tierra
nueva. She grew up in Bloomfield

Hills, but as the daughter of Peru-
vians, she was exposed to Spanish.
And because she is a computer consul-
tant, she is confident that career
prospects in her future homeland are
good.
"I'm really excited to move there,"
said Lisa, noting that Diego has shown
her videos and regaled her with stories

responds in English and
vice versa). They met in
Michigan two years ago,
introduced by a friend of
a friend of Lisa who had
met Diego in a Laundro-
mat and then swore he
was perfect for Lisa.
Diego briefly returned to
Argentina, but the two
— who corresponded by
fax, e-mail and telephone
— decided they had to
be together.
Lisa initially consid-
ered converting because
of Diego, but soon after
commencing her conver-
sion classes she found a
"lot of meaning" in
Judaism. "It's been very
comfortable and com-
forting," she explained,
adding that while she
ego Gratiman 4nd .L>Esa Z czllas
was raised Catholic she
their we
e,stf,da
has disagreed with the
church since age 6.
about his cosmopolitan hometown.
Fortunately, both her parents have
"Buenos Aires is an enormous city.
been supportive of her conversion.
At 4 a.m. on a Thursday, everyone's
"My father said he was happy as long
up and walking around — they never
as I was happy," said Lisa. "And my
sleep!" she said. "We're both night
mother said she's always assumed I'd
owls, so it's great for us."
end up converting because when I was
The couple communicates with
in high school all my boyfriends were
each other in both languages (accord-
Jewish."
ing to Diego, he speaks Spanish, she

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Detroit Jewish News

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