Cultural Differences

[Tox]

I was inspired to start this thread based on a few comments in the "Snoring!" thread. I am very cross-cultural, and am quite familiar with numerous cultural sensitivities. But as for walking the Camino, so far I've read about the following cultural curiosities:

1) the Germans with their thong underwear, which is certainly a lovely, but endearing sight - I lived in Germany for a number of years and have a German wife.

2) people from different cultures being comfortable grabbing the foot of someone snoring, and others being upset being touched.

3) French women and the items they carry and how they look (pretty?)

4) even of some Asians who, beyond expectation (of non-Asians), can be very hardy with their trekking. I smiled when I read this last one and can confirm this it as I live in Hong Kong and man are there some crazy fast Chinese hikers (also slow ones of course, not all HK'ers are hikers). They fly past me, up and down the steepest hills in the worst heat and humidity. It's almost a religion for these guys! A side note, HK is a fantastic place for hiking and trekking. Next time you see pictures of the skyline notice that the high rise buildings are embraced by mountains all around. HK is 42% country park (mountains)... no this is not an advertisement for HK.

So... what are some other cultural differences you have experienced on the Camino? We'll remember that you are making generalizations from personal experience, but still... be nice!

And make this fun!

Also note: I'm American and welcome jibing towards Americans. I can certainly make my own towards my fellow compatriots.

Again, be nice!

[Covey]

Sounds as though I wrote some of the stereotypes above!!

There is something about French women on the Camino that sets them apart. They rarely have bad hair days/weeks cos most of them carry hair driers. They wear color co-ordinated clothing and wear some small item of bling just to remind themselves that there is another life awaiting them.

The Koreans are a pretty hardy lot. I have come across many Koreans on the Camino which comes about because apparently the Catholic Church is the largest religious group in Korea. They either fall in to the "grossly over-equipped" category of pilgrim, or "absolute minimalist" category. The Japanese often are to be found walking solo and a couple of years ago came across a Japanese girl walking with just a carrier bag for her kit and no back pack. She spoke almost no English or Spanish and always walked alone and ate alone.

The Brits mingle with everyone, and the French Canadians don't mix with anyone who ain't French Canadian, and the French tend to avoid them because they say that the French the Canadian variety speak is not correct French.

The German males are always trying to prove their physical fitness which seems to include parading around the albergue gardens in very small swimming trunks, and around the dorms in even smaller bits of material. This however appears somewhat off putting to most of the females who view the Camino as a spiritual journey and not a meat market. German women are great!!

Two years ago I met a Ugandan Priest who was singing all the Psalms non stop from St Jean to Santiago. He did at least pause at meal times!!

American women generally find the mixed sex nature of albergue living a bit of a shock for the first few nights but soon settle down. The Swiss and Belgians are fairly serious minded and if you want deep meaningful conversations, find a Swiss/Belgian pilgrim!

Snoring has no national boundaries and the women can be as bad as the men. Prodding a female snorer can have some fairly unpredictable results!!

Strangely enough, despite the above, virtually everyone goes home saying they had a fantastic, if sleep deprived, time!!

[HuskyNerd]

I noticed that American men were handsome, smart, and polite.

[Covey]

and Methodist..................?

The other notable thing about American males is how few there are walking the Ways. In my travels down the Camino Frances I have met far fewer American men than women from the States.

[Lipka149]

I noticed that American men were handsome, smart, and polite.

Ahem ... ahhh ... yes .... we were.

And it didn't go unnoticed !

Amazing how musical the voices of European females can be when calling out "American boys ! American boys !"

Let's add "Sheepishly Humble" to the Sandy's description.

[Tox]

There you go... That's what I like to hear!

[Gazza]

You guys have missed out on the most imprtant. The Aussies who are everybody's friend & will go out of their way to help anybody & are the life of any party. We are probably the most laid back on the trek

The Germans are probably quite nice if they didn't run the dam thing & boasted at days end as to how far they had walked. It really isn't a competition.

[unadara]

Tox
Your posts todate have generated amusing replies so I thought I'd throw this in the mix-"bed bugs/snoring/touching!/underwear?" Have you no musings about walking or planning to spend your "holidAY" in a bunk in an alberque!! haha
Irish people have a great sense of humour and fun tadaa...

[Tox]

Tox
Your posts todate have generated amusing replies so I thought I'd throw this in the mix-"bed bugs/snoring/touching!/underwear?" Have you no musings about walking or planning to spend your "holidAY" in a bunk in an alberque!! haha
Irish people have a great sense of humour and fun tadaa...

Hahahaha. I have worries about the first two, look forward to the third and have no problem with underwear - everyone sleeps sans, right????

[unadara]

A well known woman who walks, who is from South Africa recommends you go to sleep at night in the clothes you are going to wear the next day, I presume that is unless it is too hot? Some of the posts re the "germans" in the bathrooms are priceless. A good friend of mine (east german) cannot understand why we insist on wearing togs, we swim all year round in the ocean, and laughs out loud at the getting dressed trying to hide! under the towel. Buen Camino
No worries be happy.

[unadara]

A well known woman who walks, who is from South Africa recommends you go to sleep at night in the clothes you are going to wear the next day, I presume that is unless it is too hot? Some of the posts re the "germans" in the bathrooms are priceless. A good friend of mine (east german) cannot understand why we insist on wearing togs, we swim all year round in the ocean, and laughs out loud at the getting dressed trying to hide! under the towel. Buen Camino
No worries be happy.

[John Hussey]

Since no one has mentioned them, I feel compelled to applaud the folks of the major host country of these Caminos we all seem to love-the Spanish! For the most part, I have found them to be extremely friendly, very polite and almost always go out of their way to help us pilgrims, whenever we ask, as we struggle along to Santiago. In fact I have found the Spanish to be generally kinder, friendlier, more willing to provide assistance to even simple things like answering directions, than most of the other countries I have been in. Some of those "other" countries are peopled with folk I have found downright antagonistic-but never the Spanish. Now that is a cultural difference, and a good one. I am happy most of the Camino is in their country.

[Covey]

Has anyone ever seen Spanish pilgrims eating the Pilgrim Menu??

[John Hussey]

Has anyone ever seen Spanish pilgrims eating the Pilgrim Menu??

Yes, quite often. El menu de peregrino is usually quite a bargain.

[HuskyNerd]

A Mexican pilgrim commented to me that he found servers and bartenders in Spain to be gruff and inhospitable. This seemed to be especially true in Palas de Rei one night when the waiter at a restaurant refused to allow us to pull tables together so two pilgrim groups could combine for dinner. Then, after dinner as he was closing the restaurant we asked him to call a cab to take a couple of us ahead to Melide. He wasn't able to reach a cab driver on the phone, so he grabbed his car keys and drove us the 15 kms to Melide. We laughed and joked along the way and had a great time.

The lesson for me is that sometimes customer service along the Camino may not be up to North American standards, but just below the surface of people who serve caminos in restaurants and cafes and bars are some very nice folks.