Tired of "Chit-Chat"

I am not a fan of 'chit-chat'.  Chit-chat seems so impersonal to me.  I feel like sometimes people only chit-chat because they are forced into a conversation and don't know what to talk about.  I think this is why I sometimes appear to be a quiet person.  It's not that I don't want to talk, it's just I don't want my conversation to be meaningless chit chat.  I'd rather go deeper and hear the heart of a person.  

I love people and hearing what makes them tick, even if they're not having a good day or are going through a hard season in life.  I want to hear their heart.  I want to hear their dreams, the things they long for, things that make them laugh and cry.....I want to hear their lives. 

This whole issue of 'chit chat' has become an obstacle for me being in Costa Rica.  I'm learning Spanish and I can only make chit chat.  This is driving me crazy!!  

Currently, I live in a Tico home.  My Tica mom is so, so sweet.  We talk a bit, but I can only ask her about her day and what she did.  We have talked about recipes a couple of times, which I have enjoyed because I love to cook and bake.  She makes me laugh in how she communicates to help me understand what she's saying.  I'm thankful for those times.  But I can't get to know her heart.  I can't get to know how she came to know the Savior.  I can't ask her what God is teaching her.  I can't ask her about her life and see how it's shaped and molded her into who she is.  I can only make chit chat with her.  For now, there's not much I can do about it and that's a huge frustration for me.

How long will it be before I can get to know her better?  How long will it be before I can communicate on a heart level with any Tican?  Probably a little while longer.  Sigh.

I can't wait for the day that I can communicate in Spanish on a deeper level.  Until then, I'll just keep practicing chit chat and know that it will get better, I will learn more, and someday I will be able to have meaningful heart to heart conversations.