INTER-HOSPITALERO RELATIONS

Part of the Hospitaleros Voluntarios (HOSVOL) training course is a session on INTER-HOSPITALERO RELATIONS - getting on with your fellow hospitalero. 
The exercise we do is to make trainees aware of a growing problem of hospitaleros not getting on and sometimes leaving their post because of continued strife.
 
Trainees are taught to set a few ground rules before their shift even starts.  They can ask their co-worker these questions:

• Are we going to be flexible on opening times - if yes, how flexible? 
• Are we going to be flexible on the curfew - ditto? 
• What time will we admit cyclists? 
• Are you a morning person or a night bird?  Let’s come to some agreement about who does the morning shift and who locks up at night – or can we alternate?
• Will we share the cooking?
• One day you do the bedrooms and bathrooms  -  I’ll do the kitchen and living rooms.  Then we can swap.
• What things put your back up or push your buttons. 

One lady told me that she doesn't like it when people prepare food using bare hands and would prefer it if they used gloves.  Another said that she doesn't like it when someone tries to be the boss and treats her like a subordinate.  By knowing what can irritate your co-worker, you can try to avoid those issues.
Those sorts of things seem small but they can become a big hassle, especially if you are locked in for 15 days with a grumpy, moaning, bossy, controlling, fault-finding co-hospitalero.  
The most frequent complaints received are about bossy hospitaleros who take over the albergue and rule the roost. 

JOY:
Oh my goodness,  since midday yesterday I have asked myself, a 1,000 times - what are you doing here?  Ferran does not like his routines or methods challenged - my suggestions, of music in the morning to send pilgrims off, bleach to clean the dishcloths and perhaps new mats to place in front of the kitchen sink and one or two others all for the pilgrims comfort, was squashed or rejected.  Thankfully he left yesterday and the two new hospitaleros are far more amiable.

 

ANNA:

I arrived at the Albergue just when the last pilgrims left and introduced myself as the new hospitalera from S.A.  "Hola, hola! come estas! Soy Anna Kapp" I said.

Well, that made them think this one could speak Spanish and off they go with Gara-Gara-Gara, (my version of their fast speaking Spanish), I was shocked out of my tiredness. 

"No entiendo"  I said.
"Mama Mia!!" Mariano (old guy) threw up his arms.
All 4 hospitaleros (Mariano, Antonia, Vladimer and Maria) looked disgusted turned around and left me standing there.  From then on they ignored me . No problem, I was there to do a job.
Maria came back, took me to our cubicle with just a double bunk bed, cramped with her stuff all over the place, said I sleep on top and that she keeps the key around her neck till she leaves in 4 days.

 

MOYRA:

It was fine for the first two days but then 'HE' arrived - the anointed one - and immediately took over and started moving things around and changing things.  He is an experienced hospitalero who has served at Bercianos many times and considers it to be HIS domain.  He was extremely rude to me because I wasn't fluent in Spanish (Madeleine's course didn't prepare me sufficiently for the Camino!) even though I told him I could speak French, understand German and Dutch - which he couldn't.  Whenever a non-Spanish speaker arrived he would have to call me to register them.  One of the other hospitaleros asked him why he couldn't speak English but he was just rude back at her. 

 

PAM :

If anyone wants to know what its like to be treated like a 2nd class citizen or skivvy, then go and work at the Santo Domingo albergue.  I was bossed around, ran up and down stairs all day, was sent out to do shopping and was supposed to be a tour guide for the cathedral and the town. 

 

Even experienced hospitaleros like Rebekah Scott can have an unlucky pairing, as she wrote on her blog:   Hell is Other People

http://moratinoslife.blogspot.co.za/2009/04/hell-is-other-people.html  

 

A year later, when another hospitalera was having similar problems at the same albergue, she wrote on her blog:

http://moratinoslife.blogspot.co.za/2010/05/wherein-i-bail-out-canadian-in-galicia.html)

"I was paired with The Queen of Passive Aggression, and spent two weeks in misery and desolation, shivering through damp, gray days with wet firewood, a sinus infection, and a perfect bitch from London.  (Paddy says it´s a syndrome: Person of a Certain Age outlives the spouse, who´s been bossed around for decades (or said spouse finds a more gentle partner). POACA is a righteous churchgoer, does the Camino. And as Hospitalera s/he finds a new niche: Lording it over a pilgrim hostel for two weeks per year, fixing everything that´s wrong with the Camino de Santiago.)"

 

"I can see both sides of this issue. Even though most volunteer teams get along just fine, the Coordinators (themselves unpaid) are probably full-up with personality conflicts. Volunteers must know there´s a mixed bag of people out there, and some strangers just don´t gel with others. They have to just scrape along somehow, tolerate, smile on through. Unless, of course, someone gets abusive."
 

How to deal with a bossy co-worker: 
Smile, stick to your guns, say 'No' if you know that you are right and the other person is wrong.  Smile again.  
You could say, “In this case, I don’t agree with you” or “No, I don’t think that’s the best way to do it.”

 I have served with 7 hospitaleros and am happy to say that I got on well with all of them, even though one of them was a bossy, controlling woman!   But I guessed she would be on the first day we met.  There is a saying that 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree' and this could be true of your co-worker if she tells you that her mother was a bossy, controlling and domineering woman.  Listen to the alarm bells going off in your head and be prepared to stand your ground!

My bossy co-worker  told us (Robert, Kevin and me) on her first day that she'd been alone for 27 years, had raised her children on her own and was an occupational health nurse so was independent and able to take care of herself.  When Robert and Kevin left, they both looked at me with some pity and said, "Good luck with  this one, Syl.  She is going to be trouble." 

But, I don't like strife.  I have a dogged personality, have been told that I have the patience of Job.  I am able to stoically fend off bossy people, so when she tried to be domineering, I just brushed it aside.  We never had words or disagreements but the potential for them was there in the relentless fault-finding and criticisms:  

"I always do it this way...."   
"That's interesting.  I do it this way."  Smiling. 

"I don't think we should admit cyclists," 
 "Of course we can - all pilgrims are welcome here," smiling.

"I don't think you should have given that pilgrim our water. You must keep the water for our pilgrims.""All the pilgrims are our pilgrims. We give water to any pilgrim who arrives here thirsty," smiling.

"Don't you think you've cut too much bread already?"
"No problem - if there is any left over we can toast it at breakfast tomorrow," smiling.

"Don't boil anymore milk, there was some left over yesterday"
"No problem - I'll use it in my Cola Cao," smiling.

"Its too early to set the table.  The flies will settle on the plates."
"No problem, we can turn the plates over and I'll cover the table with a cloth" smiling.

"You or I could've had that apple, you didn't have to use it in the salad."
"Actually, it is my apple and I wanted to share it with all the pilgrims," smiling.

And so on, and so on ..... incessant bossy quips and suggestions on how she liked to do things that could have lead to full scale confrontation if not handled properly.

My advice: 
Don't retaliate but don't become a doormat by giving in and then sulking about it.   If someone is bossy that is their problem, not yours, so don't make it yours.  Continue doing your work, sing or whistle whilst doing it, and don't give them the satisfaction of buckling or rising to their bait.  Whatever you do don't argue in front of the pilgrims.  This is their Camino (not yours) and they don't want a lasting memory of squabbling hospitaleros.
Concede small things.  If she prefers to say grace at the table, let her.  If she prefers large lettuce leaves in the salad to your broken up leaves, take it in turns to make the salad.  If she doesn't like onions, lentils, chickpeas or beans, or any other products that you think are staples,  find a way around that and serve them separately. 

Hospitalero-ing is hard, physically, mentally and spiritually.  When you are tired from lack of sleep, long hours of physical work, listening to heart-breaking pilgrim's stories and feeling homesick, you can be vulnerable to criticisms and unkindness.  Go for a long walk when your chores are done, meditate, find a quiet place and read inspirational quotes, anything to restore your soul and your body. 
And remember, your co-worker is going through the same thing, so unless she has been a real bitch to you or the pilgrims, or has been intolerable, don't report her to the supervisor beyond a suggestion to warn the next hospitalero who will serve with her that she is inclined to be bossy.

HOSPITALERA AT SANTO DOMIMNGO DE LA CALZADA

My short Hospitalero experience 2010 By Fiorenza

Nothing can quite prepare one for the unique experiences, challenges and rewards of being a volunteer hospitalero. Each placement and refugio is different. The experience is as multifaceted as a carefully cut diamond, each facet of the experience being an opportunity of learning, of sacrifice, of fellowship, leadership and compassion. These qualities and experiences are those usually sought after and shared by people in their later years, with that desire of wanting to share and enfold the wisdom gleaned through life with all whom you encounter. That sense of “ giving back” to life, to fellow pilgrims and to the Camino all that you have learnt, experienced and found worthy of passing on in life, drives the process.

After completing a two-day training course run by Sylvia Nilsen in Durban, I worked in the quaint and beautiful town of Santo Domingo de la Calzada for eight days as a hosptialera voluntaria. In my application I stated that I only had eight days available due to time constraints, and was willing to work wherever they could find a need for me. I also mentioned that I was not in any way proficient enough in Spanish to be able to work on my own. Hence I was posted to the very busy refugio of “Casa del Santo”, situated in the Calle Mayor, close by the beautiful cathedral and which is run by the Cofradia of Santo Domingo de la Calzada.

This is a very busy and modern, large refugio, which can sleep up to 200 pilgrims and needs at least four very motivated people on duty at all times. There is seldom a full complement of volunteers however, which leaves quite a strain on one if there are only two or three to carry the load. The Cofradia are very involved and are passionate about their role and have their own ideas of how things should be done, leaving little room for innovation or self-management.

Some days, when there were few of us, I worked from 5h30am until 10h45 at night with only three separate half hours available at 6 hour intervals for rest, eating and ‘time out’. No one spoke English, and although I can speak German and get by in Dutch, I found myself learning to communicate in Frespish, a strange mixture of French, Spanish and English.

Being a hospitalero is all about communication – “where are you from?”, “do your feet hurt - we have a physiotherapist on duty”  “you must place your boots and stick over here”, “please note that the doors close at 10pm”, “we operate on a donation basis”, “this is where you do your washing and hang your clothes“, “the nearest supermarket is two blocks down and the next turn on your left”, “ are those bedbug bites I can see on your arms?“ “do you know about the miracle of Santo Domingo and the cock and the hen which came to life and now reside in the cathedral and also in the garden of this refuge?”......etc, – now try saying all of this in Spanish, French and German, about 100 times a day!

In a busy refugio like this one, which houses between 130 to 150 pilgrims a night, there is no time to bond with pilgrims or spend any significant period of time with any individual. There is time to give a hug, a much needed glass of water on arrival, assurance, a knowing smile and to find a speedy solution to efficiently sort out any problem that any pilgrim may be experiencing at the time. Although pilgrims mainly see to their own needs and do their own thing, it still takes a lot of strength and courage to manage that amount of people on a daily basis.

The smaller refuges provide a completely different set of experiences, but the responsibility of cooking, cleaning and caring for the needs of your albergue, the community’s requirements and expectations as well as your small batch of pilgrims, provides a different set of challenges altogether.

Whilst pilgrims come and go, the relationships you build with your fellow hospitaleros are paramount to surviving all the challenges. You have to work in harmony, or else your experience can quickly descend into a living hell. We strove at all times to have a democratic and amiable working relationship with everyone pulling their weight equally. But like all relationships one has to constantly work at maintaining it.

One of the fellow hospitaleros said to me one day “ How will you ever be able to bring across  the vastness and complexity of all you have experienced here to people in South Africa wanting to do the same thing one day?” I think it is not possible.

Indeed, not possible at all. But my advice to any of you considering volunteering is as follows.

If you do this, go without any expectations whatsoever, there is no template and no guide book that can fully prepare you. Learn to expect and deal with the unexpected. Smile – it is the universal language. Learn to speak Spanish as best you can beforehand. Be willing to communicate, communicate, communicate – on all levels and always with love in your heart.

Like walking the Camino, it is an experience with no equal. Sometimes exhausting, often exhilarating, confusing, frustrating, yet also extremely rewarding, with the rewards lasting much longer than the duration of the actual time spent.

You can read Heather's blog about serving at Santo Domingo.
http://renegadepilgrim.com/renegadepilgr/2014/3/10/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-hospitalera

Note:  HOSVOL (Hospitaleros Voluntarios) stopped sending volunteers to this albergue when they started charging pilgrims to stay there.

HOSPITALERA IN NAJERA

TRICIA EDWARDS

After I attended the Hospitalero course run by Sylvia Nilsen in Durban in 2010, I immediately applied to be a Hospitalero.

I was lucky enough to be given Najera as the Albergue is positioned right on the banks of the River Najera which runs through the Town. Well kept lawns are on each side of the River with street cafe's dotted alongside. There are three bridges connecting the old part of town, over to the new part. The Albergue used to be in the Monastery before the Municipality built this new Albergue which sleeps 90 people.

I arrived a day early and was fortunate enough to meet a wonderful gentleman Pedro who had been a Hospitalero at this Albergue last year. He filled me in with lots of information as the three boy Hospitaleros did not speak much English and were very laid back about the duties. Next day was a Saturday and a cleaner comes in and so I was taken out for the morning to be introduced to shops that we had accounts with, and a lovely family run restaurant, owned by one of the Albergue Committee Members, who said we could have a free three course meal there each day.

 

The cleaner also comes on a Sunday, so again I was taken out to breakfast by the Albergue Manager, Jose Luis, his wife and brother. Afterwards they took me for a drive in the countryside to visit another brother who has a vineyard and makes his own wine, the cellar being cut out of a mountainside. Very interesting. Got back to the Albergue at 1.30 to find 90 people queuing up.    

Next day my fellow Hospitaleros arrived. Piera and Carla from Italy and Yolanda a Spanish girl.  All three could speak good English and we all got on very well. I volunteered to do the early morning shift and was woken by the Pilgrims at 5 am each morning. It was very hot  in August when I was there and lots of Pilgrims wanted to be up and off  before the heat of  the day.  We had a coffee machine and at breakfast, just put out bread and jam and biscuits for the Pilgrims to help themselves to.     

Piera was next up about 6.30 and Carla at 7.30, so when all the Pilgrims had left by 8 am we started our chores.    I chose to do the kitchen and main room, Piera chose to do the dormitory and Carla the laundry.   We washed 10 sheets and pillow cases every day, so all bedding had been washed during our time there. Yolanda was not an early riser, so when she did wake up and ask what she could do, we said “the toilets”  so she never slept in after that and mostly this job  was undertaken by  Piera, but she must have anticipated this as she brought her rubber  gloves. This took us up to 10 am when we all showered and changed and went off for breakfast together before going to the local supermarket to buy provisions as Sylvia suggested on the course that we all try to make our Albergue unique and welcoming, so apart from jugs of ice cold water to greet our Pilgrims, we bought the big red water melon, crisps and olives to welcome the Pilgrims and they really appreciated this.  Then we were free to do our own thing until 1.30 opening time, and most days there was a huge queue and in fact we were usually full by 3 pm and had to turn people away which was heartbreaking.  

 

I've had a lifelong phobia about dogs (even tiny ones) and can't even bear to touch them.  In the training course back home we did role-play and just my luck I drew the scenario where a pilgrim comes to me (as a hospitalero) with a dog.  My first response was a loud 'No!  No dogs here!'  Sylvia then told us that we could try to accommodate the dog in an outhouse or laundry area if possible.  When a pilgrim arrived with a dog nobody really knew what to say.  "I know what to do!' I said, and proceeded to tell the grateful pilgrim that she could stay in the dorm and her dog in the washing area.  I was even brave enough to stroke the dog!

So on the days when we were full early, we took it in turns to have a few hours break and I went to the most wonderful swimming baths which had an Olympic size pool, and so I did a few lengths and then lay on the grass watching all the families enjoying themselves. Our neighbor Vecino had a vineyard and made his own wine and asked us if we would sell bottles for only E1.50 which we agreed to do and in return he brought us large amounts of wonderful vegetables he grew.  

Yolanda was vegetarian and so cooked up huge amounts of these lovely vegetables and then we left them in the kitchen for the Pilgrims to help themselves to which the young people really appreciated. The Pilgrims cooked their own suppers and it was wonderful to see them all working together and pooling ingredients to make a wonderful meal and with the wine, enjoying a very festive evening.   We actually had a few Chefs doing the Camino who loved to show their skills.  My favorite visitor was Father Luis a Franciscan Monk who held Pilgrim Prayers in the Church round the corner and we mentioned this fact to the Pilgrims and I was surprised how many attended the service.   Father Luis took us four girls on a private tour of the Monastery and it was so informative.   One evening there was the most glorious Concert in the Church with a Spanish Orchestra, guitars and castanet’s with male and female opera singers.  A magical performance.

One day a Pilgrim arrived with a newspaper proudly showing he had been the 10 000 Pilgrim at Logrono and he had been showered with gifts from the Municipality.

 

Not enough room to describe all the wonderful, interesting and lovable Pilgrims who we met each day and how quickly we became friends.    The highlight for me was the day Nina from Cape Town arrived as she was my first South African Pilgrim.   Then the same evening Father Stephen Tulley also arrived and so we had the most fantastic evening together, as Andreijz a Polish guy was playing an accordion and we all sang “Glory Glory Hallelujah”.    

A few evenings a week a lovely lady called Christina came to the Albergue to give massages and she was in great demand. So, on our first Saturday off she collected us in her car to take us to the Hotel where she worked.  The magnificent Marques de Riscal in El Ciego, in the La Rioja region. Followed by a visit to La Guardia  to see the famous Clock with dancers on who come out at the stoke of noon.  We had wine and tapas in the Square.     

We were so lucky that Yolanda had a car and so on the Sunday she took us all out in the beautiful countryside and a visit to the Monastery.  On the way back she insisted we visit a town called Tricio, and we pretended it was my Village. Here they have a very interesting National Monument which we enjoyed visiting.    

 

One day we were told to expect Antoine Carrillo and Emmanuel Chabod who, because it was the Holy Year, had walked from Rome carrying sticks with coloured ribbons adorned with pins hanging down which they had received from all the Albergues they had stopped at along the way.    Not only they arrived but a huge contingency, and about  12 sticks,  as at each Albergue they visit they request two Hospitaleros to accompany them to the next Albergue, and also ask Pilgrims if they would like to join in.

  
The Representatives from our Municipality were there to great them with snacks and wine, and we had quite a party, singing Ultreia. They also carry two books and each Albergue is asked to complete a page with photographs and information about their town and as Yolanda is an Artist, she did the most lovely page for our contribution.   

Yolanda and I volunteered to accompany them the next morning and we set off at 6.30 am in the dark, but with a lovely full moon. The first village we got to was Azofra and half the town turned out to greet us with coffee and cake, then they joined us in the Walk.   We then got to the Village of Ciruena with another big turnout to greet us with wine, bread, meat and fruit.     More people from this town also joined in the walk.    

The biggest reception we received was at Santo Domingo, with a huge photo shoot, with all their dignitaries with chains of office round their necks.  There were three trestle tables laden with food and wine and we were given a tour of the new Albergue Do Santo.   Apparently these wonderful receptions will greet Antoine and Emmanuel at each town and village they pass through until they reach Santiago. They then walk all the way back to Rome.       

It was 21 kms to Santo Domingo, and Yolanda and I did not fancy walking back, so Jose Luis came and fetched us in his car.  I had so enjoyed my walk, but knew I would be on my Camino in three days time.

But before then it was another glorious weekend when we had a cleaner and we could all go off in Yolanda's car. We set off to visit the Monastery at San Milan de la Cogolla, which is a world heritage site because of the fact that the first book ever written was by a Monk here.    We joined an organised tour which took a lot longer than planned and so Yolanda had to drive very fast for us to be back at the Albergue by 1.30 pm     

Sunday we visited the Monastery at Santa Maria de la Estrella at San Ascensio which is now a School, Retirement Home and Retreat, and we were lucky enough to be shown all around by a retired Monk who took us to places that tourists don’t usually see, as he was thrilled to meet 4 Hospitaleros.       

Next day was our last day and the three new Hospitaleros arrived, Alanna from Canada, George from France and Frans from Germany.    They were only having three as now the busiest month of August is over the numbers will not be so great.     

The whole of the Municipality Committee arrived, Christina, Father Luis and Vecino, and we had prepared tapas and it was a glorious send off.  We were all given a presentation box of 3 vintage Le Rioja Wines (can you imagine me carrying that in my backpack?) and a magnificent pottery Peregrino which I adore and posted off and am glad to say arrived safely.  We also received a key ring, book mark, and cards, so felt really spoilt.

Next morning I left at 8 am and felt bad about leaving the three Hospitaleros to fend for themselves but like us, they will adapt in no time. 

Yolanda took me on to Santo Domingo as I did not want to do the 21 kms again.

HOSPITALEROS VOLUNTARIOS

What are hospitaleros voluntarios?
They are ex-pilgrims who return to Spain or France, to volunteer to care for pilgrims in the traditional, donativo (for a donation) pilgrim shelters.

Do they pay their own way?
Yes - they are volunteers and as such, pay their own fares to Spain and transport to the place where they will serve.  They will be given a bed and some board.

Is the hospitalera given meals?
In towns and villages where the hospitalera provides meals, she is a part of the pilgrims and has all meals in the albergue.  In some places, where she doesn't cook, she might be offered meals at a particular café-bar or restaurant.
In Portugal - at Alpriate - you stay in the labergue but pay for your own meals.

How long do they serve for?
The normal length of time is 15 days - either for the first 15 days of the month or the last 15 days.  One day includes handing over. 

What do the hospitaleros do?
It depends on which 'albergue' you are assigned to and where it is.  If it is in a large village or town with facilities like shops, bars, cafes or restaurants, the hospitalera doesn't do any cooking.  Some albergues in remote areas are quite small.  eg: Eunate which only sleeps 7 pilgrims and here the hospitalera is responsible for the running of the albergue.  She will shop and cook meals for the pilgrims and provide breakfast. She will also keep the albergue clean, sweeping, mopping, scrubbing toilets, kitchen and sweeping yards. 
Some albergues can sleep up to 200 pilgrims (eg: Ponferrada) and here a team of hospitaleros will register the pilgrims, assign beds, show them where to do their laundry, oversee the use of the kitchen, advise on church services etc.
All hospitaleros are trained to welcome pilgrims with caring, compassion, tolerance, and kindness.  Pilgrims are almost never turned away (excepting if the insurance cover only allows for a specific number of people) and all are accepted as equal.  In most of the donativo albergue pilgrims cannot book beds ahead and it is first-come-first-served.

How can I become a volunteer?
All volunteers need to have walked at least one Camino pilgrimage, and they must do a short course, devised by HOSVOL (Hospitaleros Voluntarios) which is a part of the Spanish Federation of Friends of the Camino de Santiago.  HOSVOL only trains and provides volunteers to the donativo hostels, not to any private hostels or hostels that charge pilgrims for staying in their shelters.

Where do I train?
This year (2014) training courses are being held in different countries:

Spain:  contact hosvol@caminosantiago.org or anahosvol@caminosantiago.org
Zaragoza  7, 8 and 9 March
Logroño   4, 5 and 6 April
Córdoba   25, 26 and 27 April
Bilbao      9, 10 and 11 May
Cercedilla 30 and 31 May and 1 June

Canada:  contact tomfriesen@hotmail.com
Blog:  http://canadianhospitaleros.blogspot.com
Calgary ( Alberta ) 14, 15 and 16 March
Toronto ( Ontario ) 21, 22 and 23 March
Victoria ( C. B. Canada) 11, 12 and 13 April
Toronto  14, 15 and 16 May
Italy: contact anahosvol@caminosantiago.org or  hosvolitalia@caminosantiago.org
Sarzana  14, 15 and 16 March . Full
Troia  11, 12 and 13 April
Valpromaro  2, 3 and 5 May
Germany: contact  kuni.bahnen@gmx.de 
Limburg (Germany ) 21, 22 and 23 March
France: contact herve.haller@gmail.com  
Montréal du Gers (France ) 28 , 29 and 30 March

South Africa: nilsens@mweb.co.za 
Cape Town, 1st and 2nd March

United States: contact hospitalerotraining@americanpilgrims.com
www.americanpilgrims.com/camino/hospitaleros.html
Belleville, Illinois, Tuesday, April 1 - Thursday, April 3

United Kingdom:
The Confraternity of St James run two albergues in Spain and do training for their members wanting to serve in those albergues.
Contact them here for more info:  http://www.csj.org.uk/gaucelmo.htm

How do we find a post?
Once you have done a short training course you will be given a HOSVOL application form.  You can request a particular albergue that you like, or one in a location that suits you, or leave it to HOSVOL to place you where they need you most. 

Modern or traditional albergues?
The most up-market, modern albergue with all mod-cons can be an empty pilgrim experience if the hospitaleros are not kind, welcoming, compassionate and caring.
The most basic albergues, some with no beds, electricity or even running water but served by the most compassionate, welcoming and caring hospitaleros, will remain in the pilgrim's memory for ever.  You have the opportunity to impact on the pilgrims' experience by making memories for them simply by following the ancient Benedictine Rule of welcome and hospitality. 

Giving back can be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do on the Camino.  You are still a part of the peregrino stream but you are the rock that the pilgrims find to rest and restore before they move on. 

All courses for new hospitaleros are posted on the website of the Spanish Federation of Amigos of Camino de Santiago http://caminosantiago.org/cpperegrino/hospitaleros/cursos.asp