learn a new language

I am a canadian, living in the philippines, mainly because i did not know enough spanish to make “the leap” to south america after my hong kong contract was up. I only speak english currently, although i know bit o spanish from my studies. I’ve realized that many people speak to me in my language, and that the person they seem to be is somewhat different than if i could speak to them in theirs. Thus, I meet people and i am totally known, since i speak my mother tongue, and they are somewhat unknown, since they translate their thoughts into my language. I can’t have this happen, i want to participate in that experience. I want to spend a year speaking nothing but spanish. to live , love , fight, and cry in the language …. I want to see what that is like.