Day 48 - Bercianos - September 1- Day 1 of 15

Day 48 - Bercianos - September 1- Day 1 of 15

Holy cow poop!! I'm in an albergue with the bossy hospitaleras. The don't speak a word of English and have little or no patience for my broken Spanish. I have been having complete conversations with people in Spanish since I got here in July and suddenly I'm tongue tied. And they have rules that weren't here with the two hospitaleros I trained with here for two days before they came. They are absolutely paranoid that the pilgrims are going to rob us blind and everything has to be locked and the keys in our possession at all time. I want to run. I'm sorely missing the Camino. 

We had a women with a swollen shoulder this morning that needed to stay an extra day because she cannot put on her back pack. This woman asked me if she could stay another night. I went to the prior volunteer, who trained me and is leaving today, for guidance. As I was asking the question one of my fellow hospitaleros, we'll call her Bossy Lady butted in stating her objections. The prior hospitalera said we could let her stay. My fellow Hospitaleras have spent all morning questioning this lady in oh so subtle ways to find out what she's up to. They are convinced she is taking advantage of us?! Like she gets a bed to sleep in an a plate of food. Serious con man. She has a credential. I suppose it is possible that she's pulling a fast one, but are we really hurt. I have to ask myself, what would the Master do?

These ladies are all about getting the job done and the bottom line. Half way through the cleaning today they told me I didn't need to clean any more. lol I'm not goin to complain about that. 

What I was looking forward to with such joyful anticipation has turned into a nightmare. One of the things keeping me here is the pilgrims, especially all of them that don't speak Spanish fluently. Another reason is I know there are lessons here for me to learn. I've learned a couple already. One, I've been able to experience the feeling of being the odd man out and feeling stupid because I can't communicate with the other Hopitaleras. Two, I have a habit of butting in when one person is asking another person a question. I know now how annoying and unappreciated this is. I need to recognize this behavior when it crops up. I am certain there are other lessons here for me to learn. Maybe I'm resisting the lessons, because every muscle in my back and shoulders hurt. I know I have a part in th

Oh my goodness. They just opened the donativo box, which may have 50€ in it and they bolted they front door, it was already latched, to keep the peregrinos from busting through and taking the money. If this all wasn't giving me a headache, I'd probably be laughing my behind off. 

My experience here illustrates what I was talking about in prior posts. The hospitaleros have a huge impact on how you feel about an albergue. I know this albergue is normally one of the best on the Camino and it was spectacular the last couple of days while I was training with the prior hospitaleros.  

OK I am reluctant to send this because I want you to think everything is just peachy. And it isn't. It's time to make lemonade. The sugar is a whole albergue full of people who don't speak Spanish. God has a very strange sense of humor, a bizarre way of presenting lessons. Who knows?  The bossy Hospitaleros are still themselves, but I can use this time to practice all that stuff I have learned over the years. I don't have to let them rent space in my head and I don't have to give them power. I've already decided to just go with the flow and let them make decisions. I don't care what locks are locked, so unless it involves pilgrims feelings or comfort, it is not my pig and it's not my farm. 

So hopefully I've humbled myself enough that you will all write me lots of kind and caring things and give me virtual hugs, except John who will probably tell me to get over myself. I am the only person I know who can feel sorry for herself while on a grand adventure.  

Btw no data, no wifi except at Bar, so I only get a chance to read and post once a day for a few moments.