So, my reaction was similar when my dad again said, "Son, we're going to Bolivia this year and I will be leading the trip." However, my reaction was a little bit different this time. Instead of being pumped to go back, I was dreading it. The summer was FINALLY getting good. Little did I know, my whole word was going to get better. As July 2nd rolled around, I kept complaining and complaining about the trip. My emotions were shallow. I wondered why I wasn't thrilled for this experience. People rarely get to travel over seas and I was going to do it at the age of 12.

During swim practice, the week before I left, my coach stressed "if you give a little energy you get a little back." At the time it was useless pep-talk to me.

As we arrived at the BLC, my emotions still remained shallow. I had no idea what in the world I was even doing here. I felt no call from God telling me I should be here. As I saw all of my other teammates being jumped on and loved by many kids, only one child came to me. His name was Carlos. He was not shy at all. He gripped me with the body of love. And as cliche as this may sound, there were no waves of emotion or emotional rebirths. It was a simple hug, and the very first thing he said to me was, "Yo soy Carlos. Tu es mi comida!" (I'm Carlos. You are my heart!) He then bit my stomach until I couldn't stop laughing.

Throughout the week it was always Carlos. I would play around and call him Carlitos because he hated it. He said he was a man, and Carlitos is a boy's name. Carlos is a man's name.

Nothing changed during the week. I told him my name once and he said "Why-eat?" He never called me by my first name again. It was either "mi Comida or mi Hermano" (my heart or my brother). I will never forget those words. No matter how many Spanish tests I bomb or how many times I forget simple vocabulary, I will always remember "hermano" (brother). Why? Because to me, Carlos is the definition of hermano (a brother).

Now I can't say Carlos is my boy, rather than my man. He taught me the feeling of a "wave of emotion".

Looking back, I realize that I gave a little love, but didn't get just a little. I got more than I could ask for.