post-camino

[Sue Kenney]

Galen,

It's been two years for me since I returned from the Camino. The same thing
happened to me when I returned. I sent a lot of proposals and resumes out all
over Canada and some to the US. Nothing. I have never had a problem getting a
job, ever, in my life. But none of the jobs really interested me. I learned
rejection. Broke and disheartened with the city, I moved from Toronto to my
cottage on the lake in a small village north of the city.

On the Camino I kept a profound diary, and that first winter I was home I wrote
a lot of poetry, stories and ideas about my experiences. But this didn't pay the
bills. I taught at a local college, did workshops, coached people and made just
enough to make it week to week.

Many people asked me to speak to different groups both community and business
about my experiences. The people loved the stories so I have somehow become an
inspirational speaker and adult/children's storyteller about the Camino.

This past April I decided to record a spoken word CD as an independant artist,
about my journey. (http://www.cdbaby.com/suekenney) This way I could share my
stories, which seemed to be healing in some way, with many more people and maybe
I could produce enough income to survive doing what I love to do...Well, I have
never worked so hard in my entire life. Now I am writing a book to be released
in July 2004. I guess I am a starving artist. If I could offer you a job, I
would. Funny, just today I had been wondering if there were other pilgrims
who've struggled like I have.

When the Camino ends, the journey begins.

Sue
Floral Park, Ontario
sue.kenneyasympatico.ca

Galen Wilkerson wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Ok, so I walked from St. Jean-PDP to Finisterra starting late August.  (If
> I met you and you'd like to contact me, go for it!  I'm the
> famous "American-Guy-who-speaks-French-German-and-Spanish".)
>
> Well, it's all well and good to be such a guy, but what do I do for work? :)
>
> Now I'm back in the USA, and even staying at my mother's house, in rural
> Pennsylvania.  I have degrees in International Relations and Computer
> Science (interested in Computer Vision research), but I can't seem to find
> any job that I would be interested in or that is interested in me.  I had
> trouble "escaping" the camino after the post-climactic return to Santiago
> de Comp., hitchiking and walking along the coast backwards to Bilbao,
> returning to Hendaye and St. J P-d-P to get things I had left, visiting
> friends in Oloron-Ste. Marie, which happened to be on the "other camino"
> crossing the Pyrennees, and finally, when I thought I had really escaped
> the camino, seeing a sign that said "st. Jacques de compostele 1165 km"
> when walking along the Canal de Midi near Toulouse!!
>
> So, in Toulouse and now, I spend days and hours in front of the computer,
> sending and re-sending my CV.  I even had interviews in a few places in
> France and Spain.  Guess the result of all this???  NADA!
>
> Ah well, every no is a possible yes to something better.
>
> I'd be interested in hearing any feedback about all this, constructive,
> unconstructive, humorous, or otherwise.  If you are in the same boat, maybe
> we can just branch off from the existing economy and form our own, and just
> give each other jobs.  :)
>
> ciao,
> Galen
>
> -----
> "Ode to the Post-camino"
>
> I walked and walked and walked some more,
> I managed not to get a sore.
>
> I walked and walked and walked again,
> Oh yeah I made a lot of friends.
>
> I walked and walked and walked and walked.
> But when I had to stop I balked.
>
> - "anonymous"
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