Let's talk about your camino!

[Ultreia]

Hello All,

In an effort to introduce myself as a fellow pilgrim, the Camino was my cumulative experience after spending one year abroad in Seville. I saw it as a potential catalyst for personal change and growth through reflection and stillness of mind. I walked for one month, from Pamplona to Fisterra, and left The Way with a feeling of absolute fascination for what it represents within the framework of modernity, as well as on a more intimate level for the perpetually wandering individual.

I am back in California finishing my last year at Mills College as an undergraduate student of Anthropology and Sociology.
I'm still processing the pilgrimage and my reintegration, and this has manifested itself in my thesis. Entitled "Ultreïa," it is an ethnographic exploration of the modern pilgrim to Santiago.
As far as I know, it is also the only study ever conducted to deal solely with pilgrims that have returned home from their journey.

I'm hoping you out there on the Camino Forum would like to participate in an interview with me regarding your experiences on the road to Santiago and upon returning to your daily-life.

We could do a face-to-face simulation with a web cam interview through Skype or I could simply call you, whichever you prefer.

Depending on how talkative we are, the interviews generally last about an hour.
I've gotten excellent feedback from my previous interviews. It feels great to have someone "in the know" to talk to about your experiences on the Camino.

If you're interested, PM me!

Buen Camino,
Margaret

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Margaret ~
What fun! A neat idea, though I do believe other academics (some mentioned on this Forum) have done studies of pilgrims. I walked my first Camino in 2008, from St Jean to Santiago, then did my second camino this year from Puebla de Sanabria to Santiago. Next May I'll walk from St Jean to Finisterre with my sister and son. Perhaps you want first-timers only for your study, but if not I'm happy to participate.
All the best ~
Rev. Sanford "Sandy" Brown
Seattle WA

[Ultreia]

PMed!

Seasoned Pilgrims are certainly welcome.
Any other takers?

[I don't presume to be the only academic interested in the Camino de Santiago. I've done a review of anthropological doctorate theses that have been written about the Camino, drawing heavily on the work of Frey (Landscapes of Discovery), Sime (The aura of Pilgrimage), and Feinburg (Strangers and Pilgrims). I have also done a review of the popular literature including Sue Kenney's My Camino, Pablo Coelho's The Pilgrimage, and Hape Kerkeling's I'm off then!
None of these works adequately examine the reintegrated pilgrim. What happens to our Camino when we come back home? Why is it so difficult to express to our friends and family the transformative nature of The Way? How do we reconsile our normal lives with the vastly different mindset of pilgrimage? These are some of the questions that make my project unique. Needless to say, any suggestions for further reading that examne these points are welcome.]

[Lydia -Camino Documentary]

Hi
I am doing a documentary on the Camino and focusing on exactly what you are talking about - the transformative nature of the Camino. Tis very interesting stuff you are exploring - I found I had a very tough time for a couple of months after my first Camino and from talking with others that seems very common.

I'm very new to posting here so I hope maybe we can talk on the phone or via facebook as well.
Thanks
Lydia

[Ultreia]

Replied,

Still looking for pilgrims to interview!

[InOrlando]

Hi Ultreia:
I'd love to tell you about my "reintegration" (or lack thereof, as the case may be)--I'm an academic as well, so I know how keen your interest must be. I also realize how important the information will be once you've got hold of it. Like I said: I'm interested to tell you all about my post-Camino experiences. However I'm not keen on Skype or phone calls. Why not a simple emailed survey with room for free-form comments?