Camino de Santiago: Última etapa - Last stage

La pasada semana, el grupo Grundtvig de Monterroso realizó la etapa final del Camino de Santiago. La etapa se dividió en dos días: el miércoles 26 y el jueves 27 de mayo.
En esta ocasión especial fueron 8 los alumnos que tuvieron la oportunidad de caminar hasta Santiago de Compostela, acompañados de los habituales del grupo y con una caminante muy especial: nuestra socia de Noruega, Bente, para quien no tenemos palabras de agradecimiento por su esfuerzo en viajar hasta España para realizar esta última etapa con nosotros.

Last week, the Grundtvig group from Monterroso realised the final stage of the “Camino de Santiago”. The journey was divided in two days: on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th May.
On this special occasion eight students had the opportunity to walk to Santiago de Compostela, accompanied by the group that usually takes part in this activity. This time, a very special walker joined us: a member of the Norwegian group, Bente. We are very grateful to her for his effort to travel to Spain and take part in the last stage with us.



El primer día amaneció lluvioso, pero finalmente la suerte o la ayuda del Apóstol nos ofreció una jornada sin lluvia y con una temperatura muy agradable.

On the first day dawn broke out raining, but eventually the fortune or the Apostle’s aid gave us a warm day without rain.





Partimos de O Xen para finalizar en el Monte do Gozo, tramo en el que pudimos disfrutar de la compañía de numerosos peregrinos que, ilusionados como nosotros, se acercaban al final de su peregrinación.

We started the journey in O Xen and finish in the Monte do Gozo. During this stage we could enjoy the company of many pilgrims, as excited as we were, because the end of their pilgrimage was not far.






Tan sólo alguna ampolla en los pies alteró nuestra marcha, pero así pudimos valorar aún más la solidaridad del camino.

Only some blisters on our feet altered our way, but this only made us to appreciate even more the solidarity that you can find along the Way.




Tras almorzar en Lavacolla, realizamos los últimos kilómetros del día.

After having lunch at Lavacolla, we made the last miles of the day.




Pero a diferencia de otras etapas, en esta ocasión dormimos también en el Camino, en concreto en el albergue del Monte do Gozo, pudiendo compartir alimentos y vivencias con muchos peregrinos y peregrinas que allí también pasaban la noche.

But unlike other stages, this time we also spend the night on the Way. We slept in a hostel in Monte do Gozo, where we could share food and experiences with many pilgrims who were staying there too.




















A la mañana siguiente, realizamos los últimos kilómetros para, finalmente, adentrarnos en la plaza del Obradoiro y poder visitar la Catedral de Santiago, momento de especial emoción para todos. Comentar que nos acompañaron, en este último tramo, los responsables de Educación de Adultos de la Xunta de Galicia: Alejo Aldrey y Antonio León. Allí fuimos entrevistados por periodistas que asistieron para reflejar nuestra llegada a la capital de Galicia.

Next morning, we walked the last few miles to finally arrive at Santiago and get into Obradoiro Square, where we could visit the Cathedral of Santiago, a moment of special emotion for everyone.
We want to highlight that the people responsible for Adult Education of the Xunta de Galicia, Alejo Aldrey and Antonio Leon joined us on this stage. There, we were interviewed by journalists who attended to reflect our arrival in the capital of Galicia.





En el marco especial del Claustro de Fonseca tuvieron lugar las recepciones oficiales, a cargo del rector de la Universidad, Senén Barro, del presidente de la asociación de periodistas del Camino de Santiago, Cristóbal Ramírez y de Ignacio Santos, Gerente del Xacobeo, entidad que coordina el Año Santo Compostelano, todas ellas seguidas de cerca por medios de comunicación tanto escritos como de radio y televisión. Al final del artículo encontraréis los enlaces a algunos de los diferentes artículos de prensa que recogieron nuestro final del Camino.

Official receptions were held in the ideal setting of Fonseca Cloister. The reception was led by the University Chancellor, Mr. Senen Barro, the president of the Journalists Association in the Camino de Santiago, Mr. Cristóbal Ramirez and Mr.Ignacio Santos, Xacobeo Manager, entity which coordinates ”Compostela Holy Year”. All this was closely followed by both print and mass media. At the end of this article you will find links to some of the various press articles which collect the end of our journey.




Tras asistir a la misa del Peregrino, realizamos la comida de despedida, que resultó especialmente emotiva y, tras una última visita a Santiago y la recogida de la Compostela para los peregrinos que habían completado más de 100 kilómetros de Camino, retornamos al Monte do Gozo para desplazarnos de nuevo al Centro.

After attending the Pilgrim's Mass, we had a farewell dinner, which was particularly emotional. Finally we went for a walk along Santiago streets and we collect the Compostela, a card which is given to the pilgrims who have made more than a hundred kilometers of the Way on foot. We returned to Monte do Gozo to move back to our centre.




Sólo me queda agradecer a todos por su colaboración, especialmente a todos los alumnos que nos han mostrado que, tras las rejas de la prisión, hay una verdadera humanidad.

I would like to thank everyone for their cooperation, especially to all students who have shown that, behind the bars of the prison, there is a true humanity.




Ahora esperamos que, nuestro libro reflejando todas sus vivencias, pueda finalmente ver la luz.

Now, we hope that our book, in which all their experiences are reflected, can finally come out.





Pedro Cantero
Coordinador del Proyecto Grundtvig “Sin Barreras”











Enlaces a los artículos de prensa

Links to Media

http://elprogreso.galiciae.com/nova/54804.html

http://www.noticiascamino.com/?p=6104

http://www.noticiascamino.com/?p=6095

http://www.elcorreogallego.es/santiago/ecg/el-rector-recibe-a-peregrinos-de-monterroso/idEdicion-2010-05-27/idNoticia-551459/

http://es.noticias.yahoo.com/5/20100527/tlc-reclusos-do-penal-de-monterroso-lugo-9e19548.html

http://www.europapress.es/galego/noticia-reclusos-do-penal-monterroso-lugo-culminan-etapas-camino-co-fin-plasmar-nun-libro-as-suas-experiencias-20100527173550.html

http://crtvg.es/reproductor/inicio.asp?canal=radio&hora=28/05/2010%2012:05:00&fecha=27/05/2010&arquivo=1&programa=AQU%CD%20GALICIA (min. 47’40)

http://crtvg.es/reproductor/inicio.asp?canal=radio&hora=28/05/2010%2012:05:00&fecha=26/05/2010&arquivo=1&programa=AQU%CD%20GALICIA (min. 17’30)

http://www.elcorreogallego.es/santiago/ecg/peregrinos-grandes-grupos-llenan-catedral/idEdicion-2010-05-28/idNoticia-552040/

http://www.farodevigo.es/sociedad-cultura/2010/05/28/sacerdotes-obispos-cinco-diocesis-gallegas-celebran-jubileo-santiago/442724.html

http://noticiaspenitenciarias.blogspot.com/2010/05/reclusos-de-monterroso-culminan-una.html

ADAM'S NATIONALITY....

I have lots of immigrant students at school. Different cultures are at a school. My students are from Bosnia Herzegovina, Laz, Macedonia, Bulgaria or Greece. They can speak Turkish because their family immigrated from these countries but most of them were born in Turkiye. Their accent is different than mine. Sometimes we have a little communication problems.
At first it was difficult forme to do something or an activity at a class. Each student was humiliating another culture. They told me about themselves. "Teacher do not listen to him, he is gypsy or teacher do not listen to him, he is laz" I warned them several times but it was no use.
Yes we had a "WITHOUT BARRIERS" Project and as I am their teacher I have to "ERASE THESE BARRIERS FROM THEIR MINDS" They are our future and I have to do something else for them. At last I offer them a class party. I told them let's arrange a party after school. One of them offers that "teacher tomorrow is my birthday and can we do this part tomorrow?" I accepted.


We started aour party. During eating our birthday cakes; I asked them
Do you accept Adam is your grand grand grand father?
They all say yes of course.
I asked who accepts him who does not?
They all said all of us of course.
I asked " but you are from different cultures you are humiliating each other, is it possible you came from the same man?
Now tell me What was Adam's nationality?
Everone was staring at me. I asked was he Turkish?
they said no He had no nationality.
I asked why do you argued about?
He has no nationality, you did not choose your mother or father so your descendance cannot set barriers on your mind.
I think the impact was positive because since then I have not heard any humiliating. Now they have no barriers....

Preparation for Norway - some thoughts from Bente

We will soon meet in Norway, and we (the Norwegian team) hope that you can come well prepared for our final work. As I've just told you in my blog from the Camino to Santiago de Compostela, our Spanish partners have already done their part of the work. They will most probably be able to publish a book from The Camino. I therefore suggest that the rest of us must work on ideas about OUR final product - whatever that will be.

From my own point of view I suggest that Team Norway can make a list of all activities we have been doing these past 2 years to make life a little better for our immigrants. We have bloged much of it, but still there are many things we should add in our final product. Therefore we will need a meeting as soon as possible to make this list complete.

Our German, French and Turkish partners should do the same; Make something in writing revealing different activities undertaken for the project. This should be put into the blog before arriving Norway so that we can use it directly to make an international summary. If you have any questions, please comment on this article.

The program - along with what to bring and not - will be revealed to you in one week.

Yes, we did it! "The Girls wave" in Norway.

This winter / spring the women group has had a project to become more active and do some sport.

I think we have managed wery well. Every small step foreward is an award!

We started with a week free training at a sport centre for women only. After the free week, two of the women continued, they paid what it costed and they have been real eager to go there for 2 months now. Unfortunately, the center closes down in the end of this month because of too few signing up for membership!

When the snow - at last - melted away, we started our "Walk and talk"-group. Once a week we have been out walking and talking. We have been 9-10 refugee-women and 3-5 Norwegian women. These walks have been useful in more than one way. In addition to the activity, all have been forced to speak Norwegian. But perhaps the best part is that women who have minimal contact with the Norwegian society outside school, suddenly "know" someone outside school. One day one of the women had met one of the Norwegian ladies in town. They stopped and talked, and the Norwegian lady were presented to "my" ladies children. Small events that are big to some!

Of course it is also important that the Norwegian women get to know some of our new citicens. Breaking down barriers goes both directions!

When we started walking, I told that the final goal was to attend the 5 kilometres long "Jentebølgen" - "The Girls Wave" in Drammen- 40 kilometres from Kongsberg. The women thought is was soooo long, they would never manage! But they have become stronger every week and when they had to take the decision whether to join in or not, 5 of the 10 decided to go. Some are alone with small children and could not go, even if they wanted.

So on Wednesday the 26. of May the "Culture bus" took us to Drammen.

The group is waiting to start. We were 8 women, 3 from Burma, 2 from Afghanistan and 3 from Norway. We wear a yellow ribbon around the head, so that it should be easy to see each other. There were around 1500 "girls" in all ages waiting to start, so it was helpful with the ribbons.

Of course, we had to warm up before we started. We were instructed by a lot of women from a gym studio.

And "YES" - we got warm!





The 5 kilometres were in nice surroundings along the river. Here we are, all in a good speed and good humor.

Along the route we were served something to drink. Two places there were musicians playing cheerful tunes and there were even people with flags shouting nice and optimistic greetings to us! The 5 kilometres did not seem so long, because of entertainment and a lot of people to look at. Some even took the chance to talk to some strangers!

Yes, we managed to walk the 5 kilometres! We got our medals, and for most of the women it was their first medal ever!
They were all very satisfied with the tour to Drammen and did not regret, even if they got a bit stiff in their legs....







Of course, we did as Norwegian girls / ladies do after "Jentebølgen" and similar arrangements: We went to a resturant and celebrated. ........with pizza and water!

We will not stop activities now! We have to continue and set new goals. And next year we shall have more than 5 refugees joining " Jentebølgen!"

My pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

During our work with the project, our Spanish partners have made several etappas oft the famous walk towards the beautiful town of Santiago de Compostela with a group of inmates. The last etappa was made during the days 26. and 27.th of May, and I was lucky to join the group.

Victor took me to the prison of Monterroso (where we had our very first meeting) where we met the rest of the group. Together with Pedro, Ali, Manuel an some other men you would not know, we went by car to the startpoint for the 2-days walk. The weather was perfect for walking; about 12 degrees, cloudy but no rain. We set off in a pretty high tempo, all happy to be out in this beautiful green nature.

Manuel and Victor made most of the walk by car (lazy guys!) - they said that it was to bring the food and our equipment to the hostel for the night (well, they did...). The other guys, Pedro in front with his famous camera, trottled on taking hundreds of photos along the pahts. I'm sure Pedro will write allot about this trip on the blog too, showing his beautiful photos, so I'll be short: IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. Not only the nature, the small villages on the road (and the beer we had in several bars along the route), but most of all: the 8 inmates that has been walking kilometres for our very project Without Barriers! They were all fantastic, intelligent, warm and including men with allot of humor and energy. It is their experience with the walk, their thoughts along the road which will (hopefully) lead to a book for the Spanish part of our project. Thoughts along the most known European pilgrim-walk written by inmates (most of them foreigners).

One of the men had problems with blisters on his heals after walking several hours the first day. He got professional attention from Vicente, who is a functionaire from the prison, and he also changed his shoes. Soon he felt better, and he told me that he was so happy because he now could continue the walk with the rest of the group. And he made the most beautiful comparison about his experience with this problem: It is like beeing put in prison. You feel bad and it hurts allot. You know that you need some kind of cure to obtain a better life, to be free. You must cure and change, he said. And I think that is what we all should consider in our work with immigrants; people who - many times in great pain – has to change to make a better life. But they need help from professionals (natives) to get it as the inmate was helped by Vincente.

Reaching Santiago de Compostela the second day was impressive! Not only the cathedral itself (some of us have already seen it), but the whole setting which Pedro had arranged with the media. TV, radio and newspapers interviewed several inmates as well as Pedro about the project. Even I made my first interview - in Spanish f- or a local newspaper :-) We also were met by the Principal from the University of Santiago and some other (I'm sure important) men. All together this made the walk very important for the inmates, because they could see for themselves that people care about who they are and what they doto change – to break down the barriers.

All in all: It was a fantastic personal experience, and I wouldn't miss it for the world! Thank you for inviting me (and the rest of our partners) and giving me memorable moments in the most beautiful part of Spain. Thanks to our always beautiful and caring partners; Manuel, Ali, Pedro and Victor for your gentlemen-behavior with me. Thanks to all the inmates for including me as «one of the family», for taking care of me and for sharing many of your experiences from your lives. Best to all of you – you captured my heart. Yours forever,

Bente

(I am sure Pedro will provide us with his splendid photos in his next blog :-)

Camino de Santiago 6ª etapa - 6ª stage

El pasado viernes, 14 de mayo, realizamos la sexta epata del Camino de Santiago en Galicia, entre las localidades de Castañeda y O Xen.
La etapa comenzó con una recepción oficial en la alcaldía de Arzúa, donde nuestro grupo fue recibido por su Alcalde, D. Xaquín García Couso

On Friday, 14th May, we set out for the sixth stage of the Camino of Santiago in Galicia, between the villages of Castañeda and O Xen The stage began with an official reception at the City Hall of Arzúa, where our group was greeted by the Mayor, D. Xaquín García Couso



En la recepción, el Alcalde nos habló de su región y de la influencia de la ruta xacobea en ella.
Además, nos obsequió con un recuerdo de nuestra visita, que agradecimos sinceramente.

At the reception, the Mayor talked us about his region and the influence of the “Xacobea” route on it.
In addition, he gave us a gift, which we really appreciated.




Tras la recepción, retrocedimos unos kilómetros para llegar a Castañeda donde comenzaría nuestra andadura.

When the reception finished, we stepped back some miles to get to Castañeda where we would begin our journey.




Aunque no nos lo esperábamos por las fechas en las que nos encontramos, otra vez apareció la lluvia por sorpresa y no nos abandonó en el transcurso de toda la etapa, aumentando la dificultad de su desarrollo.

Although we do not expect it since we are in May, the rain came again by surprise and didn’t stop during the whole stage, increasing the difficulty of the journey.



Debo destacar el ánimo con que todos los integrantes del grupo, especialmente de los alumnos, afrontaron esta nueva dificultad, logrando ayudar a vencer mi propio desánimo ante una nueva adversidad en nuestro Camino, que sinceramente he de reconocer está poniendo a prueba nuestra fortaleza.

I must emphasize the spirit in which all team members, especially the students, faced this new challenge, helping me to overcome my own discouragement of this new adversity in our way, and which honestly I have to admit that is testing our strength.



Pero ya estamos muy cerca de llegar a la meta y estoy seguro de que cuando contemplemos las torres de la Catedral de Santiago, aún habremos de valorar más nuestro Camino “Sin barreras”.

But we are very close to reach the goal and I'm sure that when we contemplate the towers of the Cathedral of Santiago, we will evenappreciate more our way "Without Barriers."



Aquí os dejo algunas de las fotografías que muestran nuestra andadura de esta 6ª etapa bajo la lluvia.

Here you have some pictures that show our journey during this 6th stage under the rain.

PHOTOMANIA - just for fun :-)

Dear Pedro

On behalf of the entire group Without Barriers, I think I can say that you have qualified to the title "Photographer of the project".

I watched with great interest how you took in all impressions in Turkey through your camera lens in a variety of positions. We can almost say that you experienced whole Turkey through a 8 x 6 cm camera lens ;-)

So let's just enjoy the photographer and the paparazzi at work with these photos (taken by a photographer with her not quite so complicated camera).

Photographing while walking in the wrong direction,

Even photographers have nice smiles!

My favourite motiv in Istanbul: Pedro shooting the best immages ever! But I think I did a quite nice job on this one.............

Sometimes the proffession requires close contact with the nature.

These amateurs tried their best to make good pictures too, but they lack the proffessional style:

In a "laid back possition" in "The new Mosque". Good it was not siesta-time!

Thank you for your tips and your pacient explanation on how to put good motives together! I think I've learned at least to shoot some good portraits: