Orisson as a group experience

[billmclaughlin]

As dinner ended at Orisson, we were asked to introduce ourselves in French or English or whatever we could manage. For just a minute I wondered what this would be like. I was traveling alone and have a horror of enforced groupiness. This was my first night on the Camino and I'd already met some wonderful people, but now we were going to go around the room...all 35 of us or so.

To my great relief it went beautifully. It was my first lesson in learning to trust my fellow hikers. Each person covered the most important topics: my name, where am I from, who am I walking with, where did we start, where do we hope to finish, how much time do we have, how I/we done the Camino or any part of it before... No one did the resume thing or said what they did for a living. It was all about what we were doing, basics plus hopes and fears.

In the days to come I met lots of new people but also reacquainted myself with friends and faces from that first night as we leapfrogged each other along the way. I hiked alone for the most part, making new friends en route. But it was always fun to encounter someone from that first night.

I carried Orisson along with me and as I left the path in Burgos after just weeks the last people I encountered were 2 Italian friends from that first night: Beautiful bookends to my first Camino experience. I'm so glad I spent that night at Orisson.

 

[mralisn]

I appreciate this experience and you sharing so much. Imagine what the others could be posting about their first night with you as well. I love everything about the Camino especially how much equality the Way brings. You are right, there are no resume' comparisons. We are simply walkers looking out for one another and never alone in spirit. The "bookend" part of your Camino is yet another blessing the Camino provides. It's almost as if we cheer for one another no matter the beginning, middle, end or time between crossing paths, breaking bread, seeing each other at a mass.

The Camino provides me with what I need and strips away from me what I don't.

It seems you are still carrying Orisson with you. That's a good thing to have in your pack.

 

[nreyn12]

It seems you are still carrying Orisson with you. That's a good thing to have in your pack.

What a beautiful thought! So nicely said.