Terry says farewell to Samos

I am on the bus from Lugo to Madrid. Not too much to report over the past week. I was worried about the handoff to our successors, because Michael had to leave early on the morning of the 15th, and I had no info when our successors would arrive. I needn't have worried. Jesús arrived early morning on the 14th and Juan later that day. And both had already served several times before. Michael and I had ample time to pass on our personal suggestions about the albergue and monesterio. Jesús and Juan were not much interested in the Samos cleanup procedures that my predecessor Migual gave me--I'm sure that they had their own established patterns after several postings. I got into the Taxi for Sarria at 7:30 this morning, confident that the albergue was in good hands.

Special memories:

A very nice lady of unknown nationality came up to me in front of the Albergue a few days ago. After a bit, she started searching in her coin purse. To my surprise, she pulled out a muñequito, just like the one I wore around my neck, and held it up for me to see. Una Hospitalera! We hugged, chatted a little, and she went on her way.

And just 2 days ago, a very tried Peregrina came in, looking absolutely beat. I gave here a glass of water, and assigned her a bed. She headed over to her bunk to rest up, when I noticed the cookie package that thoughtful Michael had bought to hand out to the peregrinos, with just one cookie left. She accepted gratefully when I offered the cookie. Not quite the end of the story. The next morning she came over to me at the table and asked if I'd stand with her for a photo to remember me by. Michael joined us while a peregrino snapped a photo with her cell phone. It's a wonderful feeling knowing that you've been able to help peregrinos.

I will close these notes for now with a heart-felt thanks to Mary, Monique, Daphne, and all my classmates for preparing me for this wonderful adventure. And to Michael, my compañero, and to Miguel and Manuel for their patience in bringing a new Hospitalero up to speed. And to all the Peregrinas and Peregrinos who make the Camino the incredible miracle that it is.

A third report from Terry in Samos

One week into my posting--half way done. I'm still learning my job, but, aren't we all?

A few random thoughts. First, the wonder that is Google Translate. If you aren't friends with Translate yet, be sure to become acquainted before coming to Spain. I used it frequently with Manuel and Miguel before they left. Probably 50% of our communications involved Translate.  Translate works with text input and with photographic input without an Internet connection. Photo input can be from your device’s camera or from a photo already on your camera. Text input works best, but photo input is great for reading brief signs. The translation isn't 100% accurate, but it's way better than my Spanish. With an Internet connection, Translate accepts speech input and handwriting. I have not tried the latter, but Miguel and Manuel used speech input a bunch (I connected to WiFi from the restaurant across the street.)

A major step for us was to establish a better way to communicate with our monesterio contact,  Father Cristobal. For a while we were using the gift shop attendant to pass handwritten notes to Father Cristobal. Now we use email with Translate which is easier, quicker, and more reliable. I write the message in English,  use Translate to produce the Spanish text, then paste the translation into the message in front of the English. ‘Works great. When his reply comes back in Spanish, i just select his text, click on Translate from the popup menu, and, viola, I have his response, more or less, in English.

Yesterday Michael and I did our 2nd laundry. The beds have fitted bottom sheets and there are fabric pilliow cases. We try to wash any bed linens, that have been used, at least once per week. We have paper “linens" available, but we distribute them only upon request. The way it works here at Samos is that we ask Father Cristobal for a time when we can have access to the washing machine. There are no automatic dryers and so everything must be hung on the lines. Some of the sheets and pillowcases have waterproof plastic linings, so we reverse them while drying to avoid a wet side. So far we have been lucky with the weather. I hope that continues for the next week.

Meals at Samos are, perhaps unique. The monesterio provides all our meals, and they have been excellent. A couple of days ago, Father Cristobal admonished us to finish our meals in 30 minutes so that we would not inconvenience the kitchen staff. Our prior guidance from a Google translation of the introductory letter was to,  “eat quickly to the rhythm of the monks, who It is quite fast.” That is difficult guidance to use, since we never eat with the monks. Father Cristobal’s more specific guidance helps a lot. Here is a link to a typical dinner:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kuWbG4TfP9eQ6f7z5

Whoops, lunch today must also be included:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ti8Ym991zcMLH8Y29

Very tasty paella and chicken. 

On Thursday we encountered our 1st bedbug. Fortunately,  my companero had dealt with bedbugs before. We moved the perregrina to another bed, then I bought some insecticide from the local supermercado which we sprayed judiciously on the bed after mopping the next morning. Hopefully that will be the end of the bugs for a while.

I should mention that Michael’s prior Hospitalero experience has been invaluable. I suspect that Anai tries to pair newbies like me with experienced Hospitaleros, to smooth the newbie learning curve.

It's interesting to see the behavioral patterns of the peregrinos. Some days they are very quiet,  staring at screens. Other days, very boisterous and outgoing. Groups of Italians are invariably enthusiastic and talkative. Our peregrino count peaked last Saturday, and has been declining since.  Michael expects an upturn today (Saturday).

I'll try to write a final note a week from Sunday on the train back to Madrid.

I send you greetings from Monesterio San Julian de Samos.

Terry

An interesting incident

Terry, in Samos, sent another update;

Now my question. This afternoon, two Spanish-speaking women came into the  albergue asking for a stamp on their credencials. I had seen my predecessors stamp credencials for individuals who did not stay at the albergue,  so, I said "OK."  They sat down and one pulled out about 6 new-looking credencials with 5 or 6 stamps on them. She proceeded to write tomorrow's date on one credencial, grabbed our stamp, and stamped it. Then she started to write tomorrow's date on the rest. I grabbed the stamp and told her that I  would only allow stamps with today's date. She argued that it was just for mañana. I refused,  and, she left, calling me foul names in Spanish (at least, my companero,  Michael, told me that's what she was saying. 

Reviewing this in bed, I'm thinking she was working some sort of scam, possibly producing credencials for sale to wannabe peregrinos who were too lazy to walk the walk. (I didn't notice whether the personal info was filled-in on those credencials.) So, questions: 

1. Is it ever OK to stamp credencials for peregrinos who just want a stamp and don't plan to stay? We've averaged,  ~5 such requests per day. 

2. What might have been this woman's game? 

3. What would you have done? 

Thanks for your thoughts. 

So Hospitaleros, what would you have done? Anybody else have this happen?

Our man in Samos

Terry was so determined to be a Hospitalero as soon as possible so he flew from Montana to attend our trading on April. The following is his first report to us. 

Dear Classmates

I am into my 3rd and a half days on the job in Samos. It has been interesting and educational, to say the least. I chose to arrive the evening of the 30th, instead of spending a night in Sarria and catching the bus in the morning. I am so glad that I did so.

When my taxi pulled up to the albergue, one of my predecessors, Manuel, was sitting in a chair by the door. He greeted me with, 'Welcome, you're in charge now!' After a while his partner, Miguel, showed up. They began my education, showing me around the albergue,  etc. That night we had dinner with a Jesuit priest. My impression from the Google translation of the introductory letter from the Monesterio was that we would dine with the monks. Turns out that we are given the same meals as the monks, and mostly at the same time,  but we dine separately. Breakfast is at 9:15, lunch at 2, and dinner at 9. The food has been excellent. Yesterday we had delicious pork chops, french fries, noodle soup, and a tasty salad, for lunch. That is typical of our meals here, except for breakfast which is a typical Spanish breakfast of bread, jam, cheese, coffee, Etc.

The next day, my companion hospitalero, Michael, arrived about midday, after we had done the morning clean up chores. Those chores are what you might expect. Sweep everywhere, empty trash, mop everywhere, clean all the bathroom fixtures, etc. After chores, we have breakfast and then our “free time,” until we open the doors at 1. Usually there is someone waiting to register when we open the doors. So far we have had a variable load of peregrinos each day. Most days we have had from 10 to 14 Peregrinos but on Saturday, we had 39. That was the first work day for Michael and me, and we were very busy trying to get everyone registered, assigned a bed, etc, etc, etc. At 2 we break for lunch, and then back to the albergue for our afternoon and evening.

I will link to a couple of photos, showing the front door of the albergue, including my 2 predecessors, Manuel and Miguel, and the door to my room which is on the second floor of the monastery. 

After only two days on the job here, it seems we are settling into a routine. So I would guess that my updates will become less frequent, since there will be nothing out of the ordinary to report. We'll see how that develops. I send my greetings to all of you back in Canada and wish you all the best.