Mari Carmen

Back in the summer of 2000, after my freshman year of high school, I was lucky enough to take part in a program that sent 25 teenagers from the USA to Puebla, Mexico to live and study for two weeks. Each student was paired up with a student from Mexico, and their family became our host family. Although I was only there for those two short weeks, it has been one of the most memorable experiences of my life. No small part of that is due to the fact that while I was there, I became close to two girls. Very close.

The first was Lauren, a hot 17 year-old senior from New Jersey. During the first week together, Lauren and I developed a unique friendship that found us making out a lot. It was a lot of fun, but after a few days, it's ended for reasons lost to time. Still, not bad for a shy, skinny 15 year-old kid. Lauren shall forever remain my first older woman.

The second week, though, was even more memorable because of Mari Carmen. Mari Carmen was a daughter in one of the host families, and she and I found ourselves becoming very close. We were the same age, and for some reason we just clicked. We would sit together whenever possible, dance together if the giant group of students would go out dancing, and generally spend as much time together as we could. For the last five days or so, Mari Carmen became my girlfriend; and I her boyfriend. When the time came for the American students to return from whence they came, Mari Carmen and I were genuinely very sad to leave each other. I remember her to deciding to ride on the bus to the airport with the American students, and her and I just sitting together in the other's arms; wanting to enjoy the last moments we'd have together. We only knew each other a very short amount of time, but we formed a connection; one which I have always treasured. Even after returning home, we kept in touch here and there, through email, faxes, and the occasional phone call. However, those slowly stopped, and we never heard from each other again.

Since the introductions of MySpace and Facebook, I have tried to find Mari Carmen, and occasionally Lauren, with no luck. I had pretty much come to the realization that I never would, but still I would try on the off chance I was wrong. After years of trying, I think I may have actually succeeded.

Two nights ago, I typed in Mari Carmen's last name and only one profile came up. It wasn't Mari Carmen's; it was her sister's, who was also part of the summer program in Mexico. I looked at her friends, and sure enough I saw a profile for someone named Mari Carmen, albeit with a different spelling. Unfortunately, that profile is private, and the picture is not very clear, so I can't be sure it's the same girl, but I'm almost positive. I wrote to the sister, reminding her who I was and who I was looking for, and although I haven't yet gotten a response, I know I've found her.

I feel like finding Mari Carmen means I've opened a portal to another time; another life. So much time has passed since that summer. Will she even remember me? Maybe it doesn't matter if she does, because I do. It's been nine years, but I've finally found my Mari Carmen.

..........

Now, I'm sure some of you are thinking, "You went to Mexico and hooked up with two girls in two weeks? You manwhore!" Perhaps, but I prefer to think about it as what happens in Mexico stays in Mexico.

Unless, of course, you blog about it nine years later.