Journey to the End of the Earth

I am pleased to announce that Illinois College has approved the proposal submitted by Emily Adams (in French) and myself to take students to hike the Camino de Santiago de Compostela (the Way of St. James) in France in Spain next summer.

The travel course - or in Illinois College's parlance, "Breakaway" - is called

"Journey to the End of the Earth: Hiking the Way of St. James in France and Spain"

I am very excited to have this opportunity to lead this trip.  Here is a description:

Hiking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela – the Way of St. James – has recently become the most recognizable and most traveled pilgrimage in modern Christianity.  While recently touted as a symbol for European unity, the Camino has a long history and provides extensive opportunities to see medieval churches, castles, palaces, ancient ruins, as well as stunning views of the countryside.  Hiking the Camino offers a multifaceted experience.  This trip would be ideal for student-athletes looking for a physical challenge, language students who want to test their French and/or Spanish, and those interested in the history, religious landscape, and cultures of southern France and northern Spain.  While officially a Roman Catholic pilgrimage route, today one can also find Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and atheists from around Europe and the world walking the “Way.”  The reasons why so many people take such a pilgrimage are varied, from seeking a religious experience to losing weight; nonetheless, most seek some sort of personal transformation. 

            In this BreakAway course, students will encounter their peers from multiple religious and cultural backgrounds from around the world, who tend to walk the Camino during the summer months.  Our trip will break into two roughly equal parts.  First we will walk the “Le Puy,” a route in Southern France.   On this part of the journey, students will see the French countryside, local farms, old Gothic churches, and a Roman ruin.  Then we will turn our attentions to Galicia in Spain, walking the last portion of the French Way leading into Compostela.  This is the most-walked part of the Camino, making it a prime opportunity for students to mingle with people of all ages from other countries.  Students will also see the extensive French influence along this route in terms of the Gothic architecture of churches, which made it into Spain with the medieval pilgrims themselves.  In both France and Spain, students will have the opportunity to share in common meals with other pilgrims, as well as partake of the local cuisine.  Since this is the time when large numbers of students from around Europe, Latin America, and Asia walk the Camino, our students will meet and interact with people their own age from many different countries.   It will be a truly international experience.

The reference to the "End of the Earth" refers to the final stop many pilgrims often make on the coast at Finisterre (literally, the end of the earth).

If you are an Illinois College student, and are interested in joining us next summer, please contact either Emily Adams or myself.

If you would like to learn more about the BreakAway program, learn how to apply to a BreakAway, and see what BreakAways have been offered in the past, please visit here.