The Way: Reflection

“We are One. We are all the same people” ~Camille Baughman

We had a great time at the “The Way” event on Friday evening. There were 37 people for the meal and over 40 for the presentations by Camille Baughman and Asunción Arnedo. A sincere thank you, gracias, to the Spanish club who designed the menu of traditional bean and ham soup from Galicia, chicken paella, vegetarian paella and St’ James’ cake. Thanks, especially to Katelyn and Heidi who made all the cakes! Also to Professor Córdova and Professor McMenamin of the Spanish department for their support.

The Spanish club began the after-dinner presentation with a brief introduction to the history and geography of El Camino de Santiago which has been attracting pilgrims since the 9^th century. There are different routes for El Camino de Santiago, the most popular being the French route which is about 800 kilometers long. Wherever the route originate, they all end at the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galicia, Spain (http://www.catedraldesantiago.es/)  The cathedral is the reputed burial-place of St. James the Greater, one of the apostles of Jesus. Just as with the scallop shell, the symbol of the pilgrimage, all points lead to a central point.

Camille and Asunción shared beautiful slides and stories from their experiences on El Camino. Camille walked the French route in 2012 and Asunción in 2000. There was lots of useful advice for prospective pilgrims (pack light and pack earplugs, and know how to treat blisters!). They shared stories of heart-stopping generosity and hospitality experienced through the trek. Apparently, it is a tradition dating back to the ninth century for Spanish people to welcome ‘peregrinos’ (pilgrims) into their homes. People can complete the pilgrimage on foot, on horseback, on bicycles and on bus. Of course the most common way is on foot either in one pilgrimage (about 6 weeks) or broken down into stages over a longer time. Pilgrims stay in very affordable hostels, or albergues, which are meant only for pilgrims. One needs a pilgrim passport to stay in one. Each albergues has its own stamp which pilgrims collect as they journey along the route. There can be many people to a room (hence the earplugs) and Camille was introduced to the three-story bunk bed! Pilgrims can eat out or cook in the hostels, leaving food supplies for the next pilgrims to come along. It appears one is never too old to attempt the walk. Camille met and 85 year old man and his daughter en route. They both met people from all over the world and described a great sense of community. Yet, as Asunción stated, “It is YOUR Camino. You may be with many people but you are responsible for your own Camino. Everyone has a different path to take.” People walk El Camino de Santiago for many reasons, spiritual, religious, health, familial, perhaps just to go for a really long walk. Whatever the reasons for embarking on the pilgrimage, pilgrims who complete the journey seem to get much more than their ‘compostela’ (certificate of completion) at its conclusion. They have the gift of experiences that can change a life forever. The pilgrimage continues……..

above is a map of El Camino