5 posts tagged “hospitalero”

View other items tagged “hospitalero:” Photos, Audio, Videos, Books or Links. View “hospitalero” on Vox.

Small refugio in Spain

Sorry no pictures, I'm without my laptop for a couple of weeks while I am working in an albergue outside of Santiago.

   Great hospitaleros own a private refugio in Castille y Leon, and are teaching me the ropes of hospitality to pilgrims.  How do you serve 15-30 pilgrims a day, while balancing your own needs.

   Seeing how their "house rules" enable them to take time for themselves, and take care of themselves, so they are fresh and able to create the atmosphere of a fiesta is good learning for me!

   Helped clean about 20 beds today, on top of mopping, helping serve food and do dishes, and checking in pilgrims as a "hospitalero."  I'm a little proud, too, of how well I could manage a small decimal of both German and Spanish, while also making the English speakers happy!  My goal is to learn five new things each day.

   One thing I appreciate about these guys is their attention to detail - small details.  For example, when setting the table, they are exact in the placement of dishes, making sure that the plates are in line with the edge of the mesa - which reminds me of a t/v show I watched once.  In it, they showed preparations for formal state dinners at Windsor Palace.  We work with what we have, but having little is no reason to be careless.

Post a comment Tags: santiago, camino, pilgrim, hospitality, compostela, hospitalero

phase II: learning from the masters

Well, our last group of guests left yesterday morning, and we vacated our little apartment, R and me.   The rent turned out to be a bit more expensive than I was originally quoted, but we also used it for more people than we originally estimated.  The house could hold nine people , ten if there was a couple, and one night we had ten, which was more than I had planned for (and was delighted to welcome!).  We have the same apartment reserved in late July to continue, giving me some time to reflect and adjust more, as well as learn from some others doing similar work.


I don't have a final count of all the folks who cycled through, but over 12 were willing to participate in the research aspect.  One of the changes I made to my plan was to allow pilgrims to be part of the ministry of welcome, even if they were not comfortable committing to the research part (permitting me to record, use photos for my thesis, and participate in follow up interviews), and that's okay.  I'll have to keep that balance in my head and in my field notes, but it was important to me that the focus of this work be on ministry, without letting go of the second focus of research.  So, a number of guests stayed one or two nights, and for a variety of needs or interest.  I'll have something more in terms of a report in the next month, after I have had some time to reflect, review some of the data I collected, 
and weed out any information about those who did not consent to participate in the research aspect.

More than anything else, I think I have learned about myself - the interest in the more domestic aspect and aversion to recruiting show my need for growth, but also my strengths, I think, as an introvert.  One delight is bringing people together around a meal. Most of my fondest memories of my own walk on the Camino was common meals with other pilgrims, and I've been told this is a strength (particularly following my tradition of regular potlucks in Moraga, when I was living there).

No pic for this post, but I'll keep trying to post regularly as I move forward with my project.  After a couple of nights off, I will move to Ruitelan, where I will volunteer in a private run albergue ( a pilgrim's hostel).  The two men who own it are well known on the camino as great hosts, and I will enjoy learning from them some of the practical logistics, and how they bring a sense of spirit and home to their albergue.  Not sure what my internet connection will be like, so I might be without posting for a few days - hope to blog at least once a week, and will try to do multiple entries on the variety of topics I'll explore in my head and heart.

The chapel in this town, by the way, is one of my favorite lingering spots on the Camino Frances.

After a week, I plan to visit another couple running an albergue on the Camino, then head back to Santiago to finish up the project, including conducting interviews of non-retreat pilgrims.  If I can squeeze in a couple of days of walking, I think that will be a great way to wrap things up in Spain and begin transitioning to my next big move.  We'll see if there is time.

1 comment Tags: welcome, santiago, camino, lingering, hospitality, hospitalero

Flowers from rocks...

Lingering_plant
Lingering_plant
Rennie and I spent our first day walking through Santiago, re-familiarizing ourselves with the old city streets and offerings.  We got a lot accomplished - and began recruiting efforts yesterday.

I am now definitely addicted to cafe con leche, and was happy to taste again my favorite hot chocolate, Cola Cao.

We got ready to begin recruiting, and ran through the retreat format, thinking of potential problems and alterations, generally preparing to be "hospitaleros."  Found photocopiers, internet, collected maps and fliers for discounted massage offered to pilgrims.  

Spanish is coming back, a little bit.  Bells peel often.

The faces of pilgrims speak countless words.  Our being here is a ministry; it is important.
Post a comment Tags: love, lingering, santiago de compostela, hospitalero

Sharing dreams

     The older I get, which really feels odd rolling off the tongue, the more I value the people who offer meaningful gestures that let you trust they believe in your dreams.

     One expects their parents (I wish everone had that kind of parent) to have a reasonable amount of encouragement to offer their child's dream - but the day one realizes their parents, and others, really does believe in that dream with you - that's a great day.
     I've been taking a few steps toward one of my dreams - perhaps the only or most real dream I have.  Every time I have a disconcerting moment - or I totter a little bit - someone this week has been there say "you can do it!" Kind of like Lisa's parrot in Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sadaris.  But more real - because it hasn't been just with words, it has been with gestures.  Like a fellow student who slipped a note under my door with a check in it, to help me with some logistics, or a people from whom I expected skepticism saying, "I want to join you."  It felt like someone sent me a bouquet of gestures that say, "Michael, it will be hard, but ever petal from this bouquet is the world is saying 'YES'!".
     I hope that I can be a rose petal yes to another persons dream in their much needed flower delivery.  Sometimes it is obvious, but often, the hidden frustrations are what people most need help with.  We really have to watch for the moments in others' lives when they need a little bouquet of support.

Post a comment Tags: support, jesus, dreams, goals, friendship, santiago, bouquet, camino …

Lingering through memories: hanging out in Santa Barbara

     Here in Santa Barbara, sit I, drinking delicious Spanish wine and telling tales that are not unique, to people who also had the same memories, but are more than willing to listen anyway.  That's a great thing.

      In 2001, I walked 500 miles on the camino de Santiago de Compostela.  I'm at a workshop with a bunch of folks who have done the same thing, and almost all of them have done it more than once (including myself). We are pilgrimage junkies - journey addicts.

      I'm feeling more alive than I have felt in a long time - sharing my dream with folks who say, "Yeah, go for it".

      Drinking a little rioja wine and nibbling some awesome fresh-baked bread, I am not only struck by the Eucharistic overtones, but eucharistic-ing that is happening.  Isn't it wonderful, if you have had the luxury, to be in a place where your dreams can grow?

     I am particularly excited that I have been bequeathed a very special holy relic: we made this morning a graph of our camino's: epiphanies, darknesses and highlights.  Rather than throwing it away, it is going to be sent home with me to guard - this graph of holy moments - holy lingerings - along the way.

Post a comment Tags: community, dream, wine, bread, hospital, vision, camino, pilgrim …