Hospitalero News-April 2010 - American Pilgrims on the Camino

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Ode to a Bed Bug on the Camino de Santiago By Chris Slater Asheville, NC (With apologies to Robert Louis Stevenson) Little bed bug, chinche too, How I wish that I were you! You have pilgrim blood for food, Variety for every mood, Delivered free to your front door You couldn’t really ask for more. Spanish, German, French and Swiss, What a recipe for bliss! Irish, Australian and Dutch ~ Careful you don’t drink too much. Belgian, Scandinavian ~ They try to hide from you in vain. But English blood, you should beware, There may be streaks of blue in there. <strong>American</strong> is suspect too ~ Their fatty diet is bad for you. By day you hide in crevice deep, A perfect place in which to sleep. But when night falls and lights are out, You emerge to wave your snout. It’s time for you to make a start ~ Menú de noche or a la carte. So choose your dish, no need for haste To satisfy your latest taste. Bellies, thighs, and buttocks too, Whatever comes into your view. No vampire had it quite so good As you, when savouring your food. I’m sure when you begin to suck, You cannot quite believe your luck. And when red juice begins to flow, I wonder, do you really know What agonies of legs and feet Have brought to you this splendid treat? Then, if you tire of the décor Just take a stroll across the floor. Many a back pack there will do To hitch a ride to pastures new. Your ancestors were nourished, too, For centuries they learned to do The things you specialize in well From Roncesvalles to Compostelle. Your place in history’s assured As you feed on the pilgrim horde. Little bed bug, chinche too, How I wish that I were you! Debooted, but never defeeted! <strong>American</strong> <strong>Pilgrims</strong> <strong>Hospitalero</strong> <strong>News</strong> 4
Notes from Sahagún ~ 2008 I arrived in Sahagún on Sunday afternoon, September 14. It took less than 15 minutes to walk from the train station at one end of town to the Benedictine convent at the other end of town where I am currently working as the volunteer hospitalera. And working is operative word! I find that I am equal parts concierge, counselor and cleaning lady. After filling me in on my duties, my predecessor took o! around 7:00 p.m., leaving me with a heavy set of keys and a long list of things to do. With only five pilgrims staying the night, I went to bed relatively unconcerned.""" Monday was a di!erent story! The day started badly when I overslept by an hour. My first job of the day is to set out a simple breakfast for the pilgrims at 7:15 a.m., but I didn´t awake until 7:30 # and they were too kind to knock on my door. I jumped out of bed, put on the co!ee, and quickly had bread, butter, jam and cocoa on the table. I soon had all the pilgrims on their way, except for one German woman who was ill with stomach flu and tendonitis, so I told her to stay in bed and rest. I commenced my cleaning, but soon the doorbell rang. There in the entry was a tall, handsome german fellow. He said we was a priest and asked if he could come in and rest awhile. He had been sick to his stomach all night and was feeling awful. I put him to bed in another room, and brought tea and dry toast to my two patients. Soon another young german with stomach flu arrived, so I put him in the bunk next to the priest. By now it´s only 11:00 a.m. and already three of my 14 beds are filled! As I went about my duties, the doorbell rang o! and on. Some pilgrims passing by asked to have their pilgrim credenciales stamped, while others asked when I would be opening for business. I started admitting pilgrims at 12:30 and by 2:00 p.m., I was completo, i.e., completely full. <strong>American</strong> <strong>Pilgrims</strong> <strong>Hospitalero</strong> <strong>News</strong> Madres Benedictinas de Sahagú" Covering a city block, their buildings house a convent, chapel, museum and 14#bed refugio The three patients slept most of the day and I also had another pilgrim with some pretty serious blisters on both feet. The better part of the afternoon was spent directing my patients to the local medical center, and providing information about where/when to catch the bus to the next town. We all turned in shortly after 10:00 p.m.. This time, I made sure my alarm was working properly before falling into a restless sleep. I was up at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, and began serving breakfast at 6:30. After many thank yous, hugs and !Buen Caminos!, my charges had all departed before 8:00 a.m. I set to cleaning and worked straight through until 11:00 a.m! There was so much to do. We have bunks for 14 distributed in three bedrooms, each with it´s own "en suite" bathroom. Since the house was full the night before, everything warranted a thorough cleaning."" My principal contact with the Benedictines nuns is Sor $sister% Consuelo. She is about 80, very spry and up to the minute. She came by to see how I was getting on and Mayuko Kawasaki to retrieve the donations left by Assistant Hospitalera the pilgrims in the donation boxes. Sor Consuelo was quite pleased to find a grand total of 55& in the two donation boxes. "Last night's pilgrims comported themselves very well" she said in Spanish. Even though that's less than 4& per person, I felt rather proud of myself, since Sor Consuelo seemed to think it was a good haul. By noon on Tuesday, after working all morning, I was feeling tired and discouraged. But only two pilgrims showed up that afternoon, so it turned out to a quiet and relaxing day. One of these was Mayuoko, a young Japanese woman su!ering from tendonitis. I sent her to the local medical center and she returned with a doctor’s note recommending three days rest. After reading the note, Sor Consuelo determined that Mayuko should stay with us three nights instead of the usual one. Naturally, I have put her to work as my assistant hospitalera, and she is tending the doorbell until I return to open the refuge at 12:30." So all is well, the weather is beautiful and I am happy again. We´ll see what this afternoon brings. Stay tuned! ! ! ! Martha López ! ! ! Sacramento, CA 5
Page 1 and 2: Hospitaleros Volun
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Page 7: Bulletin Board Stay in touch! Pleas

Hospitalero News-April 2010 - American Pilgrims on the Camino

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