Learning Spanish and helping the world.

One of the preparations Lori and I want to make is to learn Spanish, at least enough to get by when we are walking the Camino.  I don't want to be "one of those" Americans who expect Spaniards, in Spain, to all speak English.

Our efforts have been pretty inconsistent up to now.  Looked at language programs like Rosetta Stone or the Pimsleur approach, but they seem expensive.  There are lots of You Tube videos, which are free, but while helpful don't seem to have a coordinated approach.  Then we discovered duolingo.

Duolingo is a cool, easy to use web-based program that you can use for FREE.  There are also apps for iOS and Android so you can follow the program on your smartphone.  It employs several modes of learning and provides immediate feedback.  You practice reading, writing, listening, and speaking Spanish.  It is like a game, with different levels and challenges.  And it seems to be working for Lori and I, and IT'S FUN.

How do they provide such a cool program for free?  That's the coolest part.  While you're learning Spanish (or many other languages) you are helping translate the internet into other languages.  What a cool idea.  I can't explain it and do it justice, but the creators of duolingo can.  Go watch this TEDx talk and then create an account.  Learn to speak Spanish and help the world!

Duolingo: the next chapter in human computation: Luis von Ahn at TEDxCMU 2011

Man plans and God laughs.

The seasons come and go, the moon waxes and wanes, and life happens.  The past few months have not passed as I expected, certainly not as planned.  Should anyone be surprised?

Our knees and feet had more to say, and they spoke with  thunderous voices.  Lori's knees continued to hurt after Bloomsday, preventing her from walking without pain.  We are using pain as a guide, so we didn't walk.  Starting after school ended in June, I took my preliminary exam for my doctorate.  Good news there, I passed!  When they were completed I started to have pain in my right shoulder, which spread to my left.  Rotator cuff. At the same time my left knee felt like it was on fire.  A pathetic few weeks followed.  Getting up from a chair was a task, walking was out of the question. 

Things have gotten better though, and we've started walking again.  So far I feel fine, Lori's arches bother her a bit. I have some regret about not "being where I planned to be", but the journey seemingly makes its own choices.  To stress about such things serves no purpose, so we accept.  Perhaps one of the Camino's early lessons.  Perhaps we are on the right path as our walk  yesterday evening was rewarded with a beautiful scene just as we finished.

As I read what others have written who have completed the Camino de Santiago, or are preparing for it as we are, a few themes appear that seem important to me.  Many write about other pilgrims they see rushing along to the next albergue, to make sure they get a bed.  I wonder, are they enjoying the journey?  Another is the feeling pilgrims describe when they reach Santiago.  Some are overwhelmed, for others it is anticlimactic.  I heard an interview today of a man who walked the Camino and wrote a book about his trip.  He advises not to travel the Camino looking for something, you won't find it.  I think I agree, the journey IS the reward.  Finally, I've read many times that "the Camino provides".  Perhaps this is an expression of faith.  There will be somewhere to sleep at the end of the day, and you will find what you really need.

As I plan and prepare for our Camino in 2016, I can't help feeling as if my Camino has already started.  After all, aren't we all pilgrims walking through life?  The destination can't be the purpose, surley it's the journey.  I hope that as I walk my Camino I will hold this thought.  While I may not know what I seek or need, I can try to be peaceful and content enough to recognize it when it finds me.  Peace be the journey.

Buen Camino.

Bloomsday

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Today we took a 7.46 mile walk.  It must have been a good day for walking as there was 44, 626 other people on the road as well.

Bloomsday was fun, even more so walking with Lori on her first Bloomsday.  We survived the walk without too many aches and pains.  Lori's knees started hurting again afterward but we're hoping it isn't too much of a setback.  These things are frustrating but I suppose they are to be expected with two middle-aged people who spent so much time sitting on the couch. Everyone has their dues to pay.

The buzzard didn't get us today!

This was the longest walk we've taken in our training so far but it is still slightly less than half of the walking we'll have to do on the Camino every day.  It's a good thing we are still 25 months out.

The prize.

From here we plan to give our feet and knees a couple days of rest then get back on the trail again.  The goal is to increase frequency to four to five walks a week, one of which is about 7.5 miles. As our bodies allow we will slowly increase frequency and duration.  We are making progress, slowly but surely.