April 17, 2019 – Turrialba, Costa Rica

“Whenever you go to a place there’s something magical about learning the process,”

Gabriela states as I listen intently. “Not just consuming. Learning how it grows, how does it affect the land, how does it affect your life? You don’t just see from point A to point B, but everything in between.” She’s referring to the fermentation process of grapes, which we harvested together last fall at the winery in California. We ran out of time back then, so I decided to visit her and capture her interview before producing the Willow Creek videos.

Well worth the trip.

“The traveling experience is nothing if you really don’t connect and really don’t understand the place and get to know the story that the place is trying to tell you—so the only way to really learn that is to connect with the people living there. That’s culture; that’s true connection.” I couldn’t agree more. Gabby’s personality was a key factor in my connection with the group at the winery. She has a way of making you comfortable and encouraging you to let loose simultaneously.

“Just by listening to why people are opening their doors for you—you know it’s not just a working experience, because it’s not. They have their reason for opening their doors and that was why I wanted to walk in there. It was just pure intuition. I want to know something, I don’t know what…let me go and get myself out there and see where my intuition takes me.” Her genuine outlook on “WWOOFing” speaks to my soul. Everyone has their own motivation for pursuing a work exchange, but her and I seem to share a deeper meaning to the process. “Listen to yourself, absolutely, and listen fast because time also is a factor there—the more time you lose, the more time you’re depriving yourself from getting to know so many different layers of the person you are.”

Please marry me.

The trip has been full of adventure thus far; activities have included a bull fighting show (no harm done to the bull), hiking to nearby waterfalls, exploring the river in town, and socializing with her friends and significant other.

“You’re giving yourself that opportunity to get out of your comfort zone, you know, get out of your circle of friends and expand yourself. Because you know you will—whenever you travel you know you’re up for an adventure. You don’t have anything to look for; it will just come to you. Be daring. Be open about it. Be able to receive. Whenever you let things kind of happen and have the flow of your traveling without any time limits—just be open and change, let yourself loose and go—that’s when the true growth comes, because you’re not trying to control or plan whatever your experience is all about. Because the place will give you the experience. The people will give you whatever you’re looking for.” Preach it, lady.

This is my first solo trip out of the country, and it feels good. Not too stressful or difficult to navigate, but still providing some challenge. Excitement. Reward.

“There’s not just one single path to take. That’s what I think the ‘plan’ is all about. Making people feel free. Society cannot define who you are and what you need to be. When you realize that, it is a true eye opener. All this time you have been induced by ideas that are not yours. And whenever you open your eyes and realize that there’s something out there that makes you understand your point of living, and you actually go out there and do it, that’s what this plan is all about. Feeling that. Exploring it. Taking that step forward.”

You don’t know how right you are, my friend.

“When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.” – Ralph Ellison