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I met alot of pilgrims from all over, but other then a smile and a buen camino, i did not really have any contact with spanish pilgrims. Never had any problems with them, but i must say that i found the spanish groups from sarria onwards a bit annoying sometimes. Totally different (spanish) people then the ones doing a longer "full" camino. (im naming it "full", by lack of a better word).
that is such a pity,on my two short caminos i travelled with dad and sister and one with dad we meet plenty of people we did not share a language with but did manage to share some fun meals and drinks with !! a russian lady with poor english solo traveller and a great young korean lad on his own also,and many more smiles and greetings along the way, maybe the difference was that we travelled a bit out of peak season early june or oct ? not much help to you now i know but am sorry to hear that you are missing out on that,best of luck with the rest of your trip and well done it cant be said that you didnt try.I'm always let out in all conversations at this Camino. Have met 5 people who can manage an conversation in English. And not many that want to listen to my bad Spanish either. So it has been an lonely Camino this far. As I walk quite fast and long distances I seldom meet the same people twice either. But I'm not so worried about it. Sometimes I have tried to invite people to share a meal in the albergue as I always cook to much. But no. There aren't many other solo pilgrims here and the groups tend to stick together and don't care so much about others. I must look very foreign as they often don't even try to talk to me and I do understand some Spanish so sometimes I can cut in to their discussions and they look very surprised
But well it would be nice to have someone to talk to during dinners sometimes. As today here in San Román de Retorta we had dinner together but I ended up in a table with Italians. No one even tried to include me in the conversation. 2 of them talked decent English but they had what sounded like interesting discussions and didn't want to interrupt to translate. I asked some questions to the once that spoke English and got really short answers back. So I gave up and ate my food instead. Now in a bed behind a half wall in the kitchen (for free) and I here groups talking, playing cards and having fun. I will plug in my ear buds from the phone and maybe listen to some music for the first time ever on my Caminos. 2 more days to Santiago.
I'm always let out in all conversations at this Camino. Have met 5 people who can manage an conversation in English. And not many that want to listen to my bad Spanish either. So it has been an lonely Camino this far. As I walk quite fast and long distances I seldom meet the same people twice either. But I'm not so worried about it. Sometimes I have tried to invite people to share a meal in the albergue as I always cook to much. But no. There aren't many other solo pilgrims here and the groups tend to stick together and don't care so much about others. I must look very foreign as they often don't even try to talk to me and I do understand some Spanish so sometimes I can cut in to their discussions and they look very surprised
But well it would be nice to have someone to talk to during dinners sometimes. As today here in San Román de Retorta we had dinner together but I ended up in a table with Italians. No one even tried to include me in the conversation. 2 of them talked decent English but they had what sounded like interesting discussions and didn't want to interrupt to translate. I asked some questions to the once that spoke English and got really short answers back. So I gave up and ate my food instead. Now in a bed behind a half wall in the kitchen (for free) and I here groups talking, playing cards and having fun. I will plug in my ear buds from the phone and maybe listen to some music for the first time ever on my Caminos. 2 more days to Santiago.
I'm always let out in all conversations at this Camino. Have met 5 people who can manage an conversation in English. And not many that want to listen to my bad Spanish either. So it has been an lonely Camino this far. As I walk quite fast and long distances I seldom meet the same people twice either. But I'm not so worried about it. Sometimes I have tried to invite people to share a meal in the albergue as I always cook to much. But no. There aren't many other solo pilgrims here and the groups tend to stick together and don't care so much about others. I must look very foreign as they often don't even try to talk to me and I do understand some Spanish so sometimes I can cut in to their discussions and they look very surprised
But well it would be nice to have someone to talk to during dinners sometimes. As today here in San Román de Retorta we had dinner together but I ended up in a table with Italians. No one even tried to include me in the conversation. 2 of them talked decent English but they had what sounded like interesting discussions and didn't want to interrupt to translate. I asked some questions to the once that spoke English and got really short answers back. So I gave up and ate my food instead. Now in a bed behind a half wall in the kitchen (for free) and I here groups talking, playing cards and having fun. I will plug in my ear buds from the phone and maybe listen to some music for the first time ever on my Caminos. 2 more days to Santiago.
Check out Tuckman's model of Group Dynamics, Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing... It gives a basic model to understand how groups an even cliques form and function (or in some cases dys-function).Not meeting up with people again is a problem; solo bike riders often have the same problem. If you were meeting the same people over and over again they would start to talk to you just as a matter of course, even if it is just to smile and to say hello. But without familiarity it is not so likely. Combine that with groups of people and I can imagine it would be lonely. In a group people are often jockeying for position (the psychology of groups is pretty fascinating) so their focus is towards the group. You have no status within the group so there is no "payback" in talking to you. If you want to talk to people who are part of a group it is easier when they are separated from the others. Sort of dispiriting that this happens even on Camino. I'd be doing just as you are - finding my own enjoyment.
Sounds so sad for you not to have much communication,on the other side there is the fact that had they been good quality individuals you would have been included more in their conversations. What i am saying is, you probably have not missed much because ignorant people are rarely worth meeting. Anyway,wherever you now are, and whatever you might be doing, be content with life and enjoy the peace contentment brings. All the best to you, MartinI'm always let out in all conversations at this Camino. Have met 5 people who can manage an conversation in English. And not many that want to listen to my bad Spanish either. So it has been an lonely Camino this far. As I walk quite fast and long distances I seldom meet the same people twice either. But I'm not so worried about it. Sometimes I have tried to invite people to share a meal in the albergue as I always cook to much. But no. There aren't many other solo pilgrims here and the groups tend to stick together and don't care so much about others. I must look very foreign as they often don't even try to talk to me and I do understand some Spanish so sometimes I can cut in to their discussions and they look very surprised
But well it would be nice to have someone to talk to during dinners sometimes. As today here in San Román de Retorta we had dinner together but I ended up in a table with Italians. No one even tried to include me in the conversation. 2 of them talked decent English but they had what sounded like interesting discussions and didn't want to interrupt to translate. I asked some questions to the once that spoke English and got really short answers back. So I gave up and ate my food instead. Now in a bed behind a half wall in the kitchen (for free) and I here groups talking, playing cards and having fun. I will plug in my ear buds from the phone and maybe listen to some music for the first time ever on my Caminos. 2 more days to Santiago.
Most consider me a nice outgoing guy. I'm 40 something American male, but have lived abroad for several years in Germany and Russia. I have also completed other long distance walks with similar lodging, etcetera. All this said for the 3 days I've been on the Camino, I've found some of the Spanish pilgrims to be incredibly rude. 2 examples : One drunk 20 something wanted to fight me on the first night because I was snoring. The second night, an older woman became very upset because at 8:45 pm while in the room with her ad one other (room sleeps 15) I packed my bag for the next morning and opened a window for ventilation. She claimed I'd "slept all day" (took a nap after my shower) and was now going to keep her up all night. In general, I get the feeling because it's high season and there are so many Spanish groups traveling together at this time that I'm "odd man out" and being treated like an outsider who shouldn't be here. Anyone else experience this? Any suggestions?
Not quite getting the connection with computing. I started working in that discipline in 1966, one year after he published and nevre heard of him until much later. But, hey I am a Limey.Blimey, obinjatoot-toot, you really do back to the early days of computing and the internet!
You, wouldn't, perchance be west coast American or east coast Ivy League would you?
Really sorry to hear that your Camino has been taking that kind of a turn, and I agree with what others have said here, but could I offer one other way to look at it? Perhaps this feeling of being left out is your Camino challenge. Everyone on the Camino seems to be looking for answers, sometimes to questions that we haven't even formulated in our minds yet. Maybe the feelings you're experiencing now are the Caminos way of pushing you to confront your questions (why you feel left out/how to remedy it) and to look inside more deeply for answers. Sometimes that's the hardest thing to do, but the harder things tend to reap the biggest dividends. From my own experience on the Camino, don't be surprised if once you've figured out the question that someone in the form of a pilgrim comes along with the answer. Keep walking, keep smiling and be open to everyone who comes your way.Most consider me a nice outgoing guy. I'm 40 something American male, but have lived abroad for several years in Germany and Russia. I have also completed other long distance walks with similar lodging, etcetera. All this said for the 3 days I've been on the Camino, I've found some of the Spanish pilgrims to be incredibly rude. 2 examples : One drunk 20 something wanted to fight me on the first night because I was snoring. The second night, an older woman became very upset because at 8:45 pm while in the room with her ad one other (room sleeps 15) I packed my bag for the next morning and opened a window for ventilation. She claimed I'd "slept all day" (took a nap after my shower) and was now going to keep her up all night. In general, I get the feeling because it's high season and there are so many Spanish groups traveling together at this time that I'm "odd man out" and being treated like an outsider who shouldn't be here. Anyone else experience this? Any suggestions?
Agree completely on MUS (from SJPdP on entire CF, Camino de Madrid, Camino de Invierno - all are playing this) and might just add two more: BRISKA & JULEPE, which I was introduced to in Cuenca de Campos on Camino de Madrid, but not enough time to get to understand them.For pilgrims caminoadicts who like card games I think it would be a good idea to learn how to play MUS.
If you see Spaniards pilgrims playing card games they are almost for sure playing MUS.
MUS is a very good card game and it is worth it to learn it.
It is not easy to learn how to play MUS, but you can here get some notions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mus_(card_game) like the names of the main parts of the game "Grande", "Chica", "Pares" and "Juego" and with that background ask the Spaniards in albergues if they want to teach you.
In the 35 days period of the Francés you will become a MUS master and won't regret it!
The only Spanish requirement it is the numbers names from 1 to 40 and no more than 10 words (Grande, Chica, Pares and Juego included).
Agree completely on MUS (from SJPdP on entire CF, Camino de Madrid, Camino de Invierno - all are playing this) and might just add two more: BRISKA & JULEPE, which I was introduced to in Cuenca de Campos on Camino de Madrid, but not enough time to get to understand them.
I did enjoy it. Have been in Santiago for 3 days now. Leaving for home tonight.I speak Spanish fluently and find that, on the average, Spaniards on the Camino: 1) already come in with the circle they wil be socializing with, and 2) are not comfortable communicating in English or with English-Speaking folks. I was very social on the Camino and spoke Spanish as my main language. Typically, Spaniards were very nice and loved to know your story. However, there was a limit and a threshold. My experience with Argentinians was the worse because they spoke Spanish, many flat out just do not socialize. Again, my experience.
Beatrice-- enjoy your Camino!!have fun! Love your pictures!!!
I found having some language ability no matter how limited to be extremely beneficial to me. I was able to have conversations in Englisg, German and French. To this day I am still disappointed I myself that my Spanish vocabulary didn't extend beyond 100 words or so but is kept on trying.I think a lot here depends on how well you do or don't speak Spanish. Frankly, the Spanish are not good in English ( neither are many Italians nor the elder German), so prefer not to even try, especially if they are in a group. If you can easily converse in their language, then you are very much welcomed in to their group. Anne
Safe travels home Beatrice! Start planning your next Camino! Primitivo? Via de la Plata? Aragones?
He posted just twice, and hasn't been back to the Forum since August 14!Hola etoth - so by now you have finished your Camino and are probably back home.
OMG....saddest story of the day!! Which camino is it your walking now?
Hope tomorrow you will meet some fun people to talk to.
I had a completely different experience. Although I met the majority of my "camino family" between SJPdP and Pamplona, I ended up finding a new walking partner (Andalucian) in Astorga, we met another (Galician) in Rabanal, and then added three more Andalucians and a gal from northern Europe to our growing group in Villafranca.the love stops after Leon. people have 'original' groups and day trippers are a plenty. many Italians appear to dominate aubergues and I myself am finding the Camino becoming a bit of a bore! I chose to walk until I drop, sleep then go again. get the thing over and done with. I did enjoy the first half mind
Yes! I walked with many Spaniards (Andalucians, Galicians, Valencians...), Italians, U.S. citizens, people from the UK, lots of South Koreans, a few Japanese pilgrims, Russians, northern Europeans...you-name-it!Forgot the friends from Russia, Poland, Holland, Belgium, Ireland, Wales, England, Scotland, and Thailand. Going on the Camino was like being in a Spanish School in Guatemala! People from everywhere!
Thanks falcon - I just sent him a PM - hopefully we will get some action. Cheers.He posted just twice, and hasn't been back to the Forum since August 14!
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