- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2013 - 2018 , Pilgrim Office volunteer 2014 - 2022
Hey there!
I leave in one week (7 July) to fly to Santiago to start my annual one-month volunteer stint on 9 July. Currently, I am arranging and packing stuff that I learned over the years that will make my time there better.
In that vein, I have a few questions that only someone who is working there NOW or who just finished working there may know the answer to. Some of these issues may seem trite, but I have reasons...
Thank you in advance for your answers and help.
Questions:
PILGRIM OFFICE
1. There is a coffee machine in the administrative office, near the refrigerator and snack area. Can anyone tell me definitely, if the machine uses ground coffee or Keurig cups? I intend to bring some coffee from home (the local warehouse club is cheapest), for the staff and volunteers, that cannot be bought in Spain. Need to know what kind to bring...
VOLUNTEER FLAT
This is my fifth year as a volunteer in the Pilgrim Office, but the first year I will be staying at the convent vicarage...
1. I know there is a new washing machine in the flat. They installed it last August when I was shown the 'to be' volunteer flat. Did they make provision for drying clothes? Are there drying frames in the rooms, or the huge common salon? Alternatively did someone figure out how to string a clothes drying line somewhere? Need to know what to plan for. I regularly bring supplies to string a clothes line if needed. But, I do not want to bring stuff I will not need.
2. I know the two kitchens are 'fully equipped,' but are there coffee makers? What kind? I need fresh brewed coffee in the morning! Can anyone tell me definitely, if the machine(s) use ground coffee or Keurig cups? I intend to bring some coffee from here, to share with the volunteers, that cannot be bought in Spain...
3. Did they save the circulating fans I have been buying for the past four years and 'donating' after a month? If yes, how many are in the flat. Ideally, there should be one per bedroom. I can easily buy another. Just need to know what to anticipate.
4. Are volunteers still being assigned solo rooms, or are they doubling up? I snore...need to know if I must pack a supply of industrial grade earplugs for a roommate. If there are more volunteers than bed space at the flat, where is the 'overflow' being housed? Last year, they put me up in a pilgrim room at San Martin Pinario, and it worked for me.
Feel free to open a private conversation to reply to me. Include a direct e-mail if you are comfortable doing so. I might have other questions best not asked in the open forum. But, this is the best way to find someone who can answer my questions.
Any other comments you would like to offer regarding life at the office, or the flat, are welcomed and will be kept in confidence. I am merely trying to gather advance intelligence so I can be more effective when I get there.
Thanks again
I leave in one week (7 July) to fly to Santiago to start my annual one-month volunteer stint on 9 July. Currently, I am arranging and packing stuff that I learned over the years that will make my time there better.
In that vein, I have a few questions that only someone who is working there NOW or who just finished working there may know the answer to. Some of these issues may seem trite, but I have reasons...
Thank you in advance for your answers and help.
Questions:
PILGRIM OFFICE
1. There is a coffee machine in the administrative office, near the refrigerator and snack area. Can anyone tell me definitely, if the machine uses ground coffee or Keurig cups? I intend to bring some coffee from home (the local warehouse club is cheapest), for the staff and volunteers, that cannot be bought in Spain. Need to know what kind to bring...
VOLUNTEER FLAT
This is my fifth year as a volunteer in the Pilgrim Office, but the first year I will be staying at the convent vicarage...
1. I know there is a new washing machine in the flat. They installed it last August when I was shown the 'to be' volunteer flat. Did they make provision for drying clothes? Are there drying frames in the rooms, or the huge common salon? Alternatively did someone figure out how to string a clothes drying line somewhere? Need to know what to plan for. I regularly bring supplies to string a clothes line if needed. But, I do not want to bring stuff I will not need.
2. I know the two kitchens are 'fully equipped,' but are there coffee makers? What kind? I need fresh brewed coffee in the morning! Can anyone tell me definitely, if the machine(s) use ground coffee or Keurig cups? I intend to bring some coffee from here, to share with the volunteers, that cannot be bought in Spain...
3. Did they save the circulating fans I have been buying for the past four years and 'donating' after a month? If yes, how many are in the flat. Ideally, there should be one per bedroom. I can easily buy another. Just need to know what to anticipate.
4. Are volunteers still being assigned solo rooms, or are they doubling up? I snore...need to know if I must pack a supply of industrial grade earplugs for a roommate. If there are more volunteers than bed space at the flat, where is the 'overflow' being housed? Last year, they put me up in a pilgrim room at San Martin Pinario, and it worked for me.
Feel free to open a private conversation to reply to me. Include a direct e-mail if you are comfortable doing so. I might have other questions best not asked in the open forum. But, this is the best way to find someone who can answer my questions.
Any other comments you would like to offer regarding life at the office, or the flat, are welcomed and will be kept in confidence. I am merely trying to gather advance intelligence so I can be more effective when I get there.
Thanks again