Hector

It all began in April 1999, when a boy was born in the beautiful capital of Paraguay, Asunción. Little did they know that this boy would grow up to change others’ lives for the better. Now, 26 years later, I’m still doing it. I’m Hector Lopez, and I’m here to tell you a bit about my story.

A young girl in a red skirt and a boy in a white shirt with a straw hat and scarf hold hands, both dressed in traditional folk costumes, with other children in similar outfits in the background.

A young child in a red and white checkered shirt smiles while standing behind a decorated birthday cake with tropical and ocean-themed decorations. Small desserts are placed in front of the cake.

A young person in a white polo shirt plays a black acoustic guitar and sings into a microphone, seated in front of a green curtain.

Since I was a kid, I loved art in all its forms. Despite being a shy child, I danced at school festivals, spoke in front of the whole school, and was interested in various instruments. At the age of 10, I got my first guitar, which sadly I don’t have anymore, but it was there for my best moments. I studied the basics for a year, but I’ve always been a self-taught person, so 90% of the skills I acquired over time were due to my passion and dedication to learning something I love. I can add languages to that list of achievements – English and Portuguese have been with me since I was very young. Fun fact: my native language is not only Spanish, but it’s also Guaraní.

A smiling young person wearing a white KISS ME JUST KISS ME T-shirt stands in front of the ornate Trevi Fountain in Rome, with statues and flowing water visible in the background.

In 2013, my journey into the world began. Thanks to folk dance, I had the opportunity to travel to different European countries (Italy, Switzerland, and Spain) to represent my country in international dance festivals. These festivals were so rich in culture that I didn’t know where to start. I met people from Mexico, Russia, Colombia, the Czech Republic, and many locals who helped me explore the world.

Until 2017, I had a similar but different experience. I was hired by a summer camp for boys in Medford, New Jersey. At just 18, I embarked on this new adventure alone. My experience with the United States had been on the East Coast, so what awaits this year is new and exciting.

A young woman in a patterned, flowing dress and a young man in a white shirt and black pants stand side by side in front of a wooden fence, with tall grass and a green mountain in the background.

A young man teaches a boy how to play guitar indoors. The boy, wearing a red bandana, focuses on strumming his guitar while the instructor, in a gray hoodie, holds another guitar and offers guidance.

In this experience, I wasn’t just a camp counselor; I also taught guitar and soccer. I learned new activities like canoeing, archery, and a game called 9square and a lot of fun activities I never thought I would do normally. In the color war week, the red team won after two years of not winning, with me coaching the soccer team.

After my second year as a camp counselor, I wanted to continue changing lives and helping where I excel – teaching children. That’s why I joined an NGO called “Club Escuela Solidaria” (Solidarity School Club) dedicated to teaching children with limited resources using recycled materials and instruments. If you want to learn more about Paraguay and music with recycled materials, look up Orquesta de Instrumentos Reciclados de Cateura.

Due to my performance and enthusiasm, I quickly went from being a volunteer to the music area coordinator, holding that position for a year and a half. The only thing that could stop our eagerness to teach was the pandemic.

In 2020, during the COVID lockdown, I started studying audiovisual communication. With my friends, we began making short films, photo sessions, and learned about editing and production. Together, we have more than six short films. This time of pandemic taught me to appreciate what we have and take care of the world we live in.

I spent 2021 and 2022 learning about cameras, techniques, writing scripts, composing songs, and exploring musical genres until I fell in love with rap and improvisation. Currently, I continue freestyling and keep up with most Latin American competitions. I also dedicated this time to my little brother Mauricio, with whom I spend a lot of time playing and learning. He already knows the alphabet in English and Russian, besides the Spanish one and he’s only 5 years old! Here’s a picture of my brother in a seahorse costume.

A person with short dark hair and a mustache rests their head on a table next to a lit, vintage stained-glass lamp. The lighting casts a warm, yellow glow over their contemplative expression.

A man in a yellow T-shirt and cap smiles next to a young girl holding a film clapperboard labeled MELA in front of a wooden wall, both appearing happy and cheerful.

A man and two young girls stand outdoors near a film set. One girl holds a film clapperboard, and the man helps guide her hand. Trees and a white canopy are visible in the background.

My last notable experience was in 2023 when I had the opportunity to work on a big film production. The TV series “Marilina: Dare to Dream” tells the biographical story of a singer who grew up with limited resources and became a cumbia queen in Paraguay. As an assistant director, I spent most of my time with the children on set, playing with them, getting to know them, and practicing their scenes and lines before recording.

This experience made me decide to return to the path I had forgotten for a while – changing the world through children. That’s why I applied one last time to this program, to give my all so that the campers have the best possible experience and can make a positive change in their lives.

After this experience, I plan to travel to Europe, revisit places I’ve been, and explore new ones. I want to study a field related to art and improve my English. This is the first step in a new journey for me, and I’m grateful that Camp Augusta is my home during this time.

P.S.: The greatest love I feel is for animals, specifically cats and dogs. I have several pets, and they are the best thing that happened to me. I’ll share some pictures of them for you to appreciate as much as I do. 😊

A smiling child wearing a bright red seahorse costume with blue glittery fins stands in front of two adults at a festive event with colorful balloons and confetti in the background.

A calico cat with green eyes lounges on a brick wall at sunset, with trees and a clear sky in the background.

And that brings us to… 2024

Honestly, what a year huh?
You may think this adventure was over, but guess what… WE”RE BACK FOR MORE AUGUSTA!!!! 😉

Got a tan (this time I didn’t burn myself)
Went to the Falls (well, actually, this picture is just some random “Fall” in the country side of Paraguay)
Got a new haircut (happens every 6 months or so…)

A man with tattoos, wearing a white t-shirt, stands on a city street in front of an ornate building with neon signs and flags. He looks to the side, holding his hands together. The lighting is dim, suggesting evening or early morning.

A person sits by a river at sunset, surrounded by trees and foliage. The sky glows with shades of orange and blue, and the person’s face is mostly in shadow.

Left: A plate of gnocchi in tomato sauce with grated cheese and sausage slices. Right: Two bowls of creamy soup topped with ground meat, served with sliced bread on a decorative plate, set on a table with cloth placemats.

Four men stand on a blue outdoor paddle tennis court at night, each holding a paddle and posing for the camera. The court is lit by bright lights, with a net and fencing visible in the background.

Spent time with my lovely lovely and not at all grumpy cats
FINALLY learned how to cook, especially pasta which is my favorite food
Played more and more padel (if you don’t know what that is and are too lazy
to look it up just imagine: it’s a mix between squash and tennis)

Went to my sister’s graduation SHE’S 18 CAN YOU BELIEVE HOW TIME FLIES
Also went to my friend’s graduation!!

A woman in a white dress and a man in a light pink shirt with a red tie stand smiling together on a tiled floor, with beige curtains and a fire extinguisher in the background.

Two photos side by side: On the left, three young men pose, two in suits and graduation caps, one in a casual shirt. On the right, three casually-dressed young men stand smiling near a movie poster.

You know, all these things that I’ve done in these past months made me appreciate the people I have around me and made me
miss my Augustan family even more.
I haven’t seen my brother Jack in so long, or Dante el almirante, or my Italian mob Colombian wife Eliana, or my frankenfriend Diya…

I don’t know where I’m going next, but I’m sure that wherever I am, they are with me.

I’m so excited to go back and see y’all!

A group of friends in swimsuits stand on a sandy beach, smiling and posing together as the sun sets over a lake. Waves splash at their feet, with mountains and several ducks in the background.

Lake Tahoe, Summer 2024