In another scene, a young monk who had traveled a great distance to see The Dalai Lama wept copiously upon meeting him. The Dalai Lama pulled the boy's head to his chest and patted him, saying, "There, there." Later, as the monk knelt at his side, the holy man rubbed first the boy's ear and then his head as if he were a favored nephew. An aide said, "This is very common. Ordinary people look up to him with tremendous hope and inspiration, expectation and reverence. When they come face to face with him, there is huge emotion, and he tries to respond to that. He is extremely giving. He is always trying to do things that benefit Tibetans in a real way, whether it's rebuilding monasteries, starting schools or providing housing or health care. And that can translate into a very powerful exchange."