Communication is......

Hola todas, Bonjour toute le monde, oi todo o mundo, hello all!
All of the French people I have met so far are either very sexy, very nice, or both. Usually both. They´ve all had this Supercool air about them that says, "Yez, I a Freench.... Vaat???" My new friend on my WWOOF farm, is a bit of an annomoly in my perception of Ze French Peple. Jean (not like JEan, rather John, but with a French axónt) is a little more ansy than the other French people I have encountered, but equally nice- and the sexy part, well..... Anyway.... But hes really interesting, and the past few days we have gotten to share many words (in Spanish, as thats the language wo both share) about many different aspects of
traveling and just life in general. He has taught me a lot about communication. His Spanish is pretty sub-par, and he says his English is worse. Nontheless, we are able to communicate on a very interesting level. ha, some of our conversations consist of no more than "it is like the... the, this thing (point to the object) but a little more big, and like this (make some gesture)... You know it??" -"um, yes, it is like one of the (those things), but a little more like this (another gesture)" -"!Yes, yes, like that, yes." hmmmmm :/. But, somehow it works, and somehow we are able to "communicate". It has been something I have been a lot more aware of ever since I came down to Chile and have continued to travel. Especially in my study abroad program, from a distance of watching a conversation you can tell what language they are speaking. English involves little corporal movement, really relaxed body language and not a lot of eye contact. Then, a native Spanish speaker comes in and all of the gringos (or non-native Spanish speakers) are suddenly super aware, using lots of gestures, making very intense eye contact, and are generally more engaged in the conversation as a whole. Probably because we are/were mostly trying to understand what the hell is going on... BUT, funny how a language change means an interest and body-language change as well. I keep thinking how funny and blissful it will be to go back to the US and just be able to automaticly communicate with only words. How rich! But also, my goal for the end of my time down here is to be able to do that with Spanish as well. And it is only getting closer! Every day is a bit different, and of course there are loads of words I STILL don´t know, but I can Understand and BE understood. And that rules.
In other news....
I am nearly finishing up my time on this one Farm, Sol Naciente, and getting ready to move on to another. The experience has been interesting. The owner, Clemencia, has been in Bogotá looking for more land to buy, and I have only communicated with her through e-mail and once on the phone. The lady who IS at the house is named Flor, and is very nice. Clemencia sounds like a Perra, though. And it has caused a little tension that is now resolved. The work that Jean and I were doing was not at all what we had expected. We were neither working with the land, nor even learning HOW to work with it (which is the goal of WWOOF). We were cleaning the property so Clemencia could sell it. Which is fine, whatever, but not the Volunteer work that we would like to be doing. So, Jean (bless him) in his somewhat broken Spanish, told Clemencia that we would like to be doing other things instead. She did not budge and told Jean that we must do as she says for 5 hours every day, and will not accept anything else. Jon was pretty upset and enraged, and I was talking to Flor about the whole thing. Flor is unfortunately under Clemencia´s reign, and works about 14 hours non-stop every day to make sure Clemencia is happy. Poor Flor. And, Flor understands Jean and my position, and has permitted us to do more of our own projects, as she does not have the time/skill to teach us about the things we want to know about. So, I am currently painting the sign outside, and doing other projects to help Flor. Clemencia thinks Jean and I have left, because we would not do the work that deserves pay.
SO.... A little complicated, but we are now doing things we want to do, and I am hanging around for another day(s?) while I wait for the other farm to come through. But, wow. What a time it has been. San Augustin continues to impress me with its beauty, and I am meeting more and more people from ALL over with every day that passes. I CANNOT believe that I am going to go, not back to CO, but back to Valparaíso, Chile and live there for another few months. WOW. What a blessed life I live. Also, I want everyone to know that whenever asked about where I am from, I say the most Wonderful things about Colorado. I tell everyone about how beautiful it is, and how much I love it (and that they should visit!). So, LOVE WHERE YOU ARE. Even if you´re not lucky enough to be in Colorado (joke), Love your place. Cherish it. Make it the best place to be, and enjoy the hell out of it. Because if you´re not there, where are you?? If you´re not in THE best place, then Where the hell are you???????
Well, enough. Time to enjoy the great outdoors some more, and even do a little souvineer shopping! Cheers to all.
Smiles.
Chau, Au revoir, bye, bom tchau!