USA Pilgrims

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Comment by Joseph P Flavin on March 9, 2010 at 1:09am

Palma:

I am actually a White Sox fan. Northsider/Southsider thing in Chicago. You are one or the other never both. I will miss Baseball and Golf.

I am leaving 6 days after you guys so it is unlikely I will be catching up. If our paths do cross the first one is on me. Never met Tim but will keep an eye out for him. Arn suggested CoffebreakSpanish to me also. I plan to check it out and maybe borrow my sons i pod. I had not planned on bringing any electronics. Just a small digital camera.

Arn:

Also a SD marine, spent most of my time on the East Coast. My home base was New River Air Station in North Carolina. I was in a CH46 Helicopter squadron and on ships. Two tours in the Med and a 90 day stint in Guantanamo Bay.

Joe

Comment by Palma on March 8, 2010 at 11:19pm

Arn and Joe,

Marines AND baseball...I'll post (toast) to that

Isn't everyone a Cubbie fan, no matter where they're from? I won't tell you who my favorite AL team is. I have a couple of misgivings about doing the Camino this time of year. One of them is Spring in Virginia is beautiful and the other is I'm going to miss a lot of baseball!

Joe,
Cullen and I will be leaving SJPP on 19 Mar and also, "Tim the Fat Canadian" will be a couple of days behind us. We purchased the Rosetta Stone also but what I have found most helpful is a Spanish language podcast called "coffebreakspanish". You can download via itunes, load them on your ipod/shuffle. I've been listening and found it very helpful. "There is also coffeebreakfrench" for the few days in SJPP:
My spelling may be off, but....
"je vous dre un ver du vin rouge" may get you a glass of red wine.

Palma

Comment by Arn Manella on March 8, 2010 at 6:25pm

Joe,

Yes I am a Cubbie all the way. My Dad was a member of the Bear organization from almost the begining. I never missed a game until I entered the Corps. I graduated from SD in March 1966...arrived in Chu Lai as a LCpl June 1966 and remained until Feb 1968 when, as a Sgt, graduated Honorman from Embassy School. Came back to the states and went to Quantico for OCS and retired in March 1988 as a Major, I was selected for LtCol, but had a civilian job offer I couldn't pass up. My son Chris was in the Corps for seven years, medically separated following injuries entering Baghdad in the first go in 2003. Now on his third pump to Kabul with the State Dept. My daughter Romi was accepted for OCS, but when my wife's health deteriorated due to cancer...Romi stayed home. She's recently completed Phase 1 with the FBI and has also take the Foreign Officers test with the State Dept. So the family is busy all around.

Semper Fi

Arn

Comment by Joseph P Flavin on March 8, 2010 at 5:23pm

Arn:

Does that mean you are a Cub fan? I currently live at 13th and Indiana just South of Grant Park. I was raised on the South side. No political affiliations in my family youth, though Daley lives just on block south of me. My escape was the same as yours. Joined the Corps in January 69, 3years 11months and 6 days later I was honorably discharged. Semper Fi.

Joe

Comment by Arn Manella on March 8, 2010 at 4:27pm

Joe, I grew up on the near-Northside (California and Chicago ave. My family lived in the area since the early 1900's. Went to the same grammer school as my Dad and rest of the family. My Dad was heavily involved in the Dem party and I went to summer camp with the Daley boys. I escaped from the party to the Marines in 1965. My cousin, Jack Donavon, was the right hand man for Mayor Byrne.

So, that's my story and I'm sticken to it.

My Dad worked at the Sanitary District in Stickney.

Comment by Joseph P Flavin on March 8, 2010 at 4:00pm

Arn:

You have me ROFL as my sons have taught me. Thanks for the feedback and I look forward to other conversations.

Do you skype?

Not sure how long you lived in the Chicago area but I grew up less than 10 miles from you. Born in 1950, grew up in a place called Hometown, Illinois, located at 87th and Cicero.

Joe

Comment by Arn Manella on March 8, 2010 at 3:35pm

Joe,

Here is what I wrote on the Forum for "band aide" Spanish.

I'm American with an Italian father and a German mother. My dad's parents wouldn't speak English and my mom's parents couldn't speak German. Being born in 1945, and of mixed parents...my first day in grammar school I was already a loser and soundly thrashed by the "real" Americans...the Irish and the newly conquered Polish. My best friend was a Jew and we both looked with awe upon the 'numbers' who came into love's grocery. The "numbers" being Jews from the concentration camps. They spoke broken English but fluent Russian, German and Yiddish.

Is there a point here Arn?

Why yes there is!

I spent many $$ taking Spanish lessons, both on disc and with Spanish speaking friends...mostly Mexicans (who charges a lot of Negra Modello). And, here's what I found out on my Camino.

Spanish changes from region to region and country to country (South and Central America) for example. So, whether they're speaking Galician or Castillian and Catalan or Basque there's a good chance you'll not go hungry or without a bed for the night if you just try to be understood. Getting directions is a bit dicey but, if you have a good guide book and can point...you'll get there.

Here's a few combinations you can use...spelling is not an issue when you speak.

Una cana Estella cerveza por favor

dos cerveza grande por favor

un bottle Vinotinto por favor

mixed ensalade por favor

amblatoria por favor

farmica por favor

albergue municipal por favor

supermercado por favor

menu del dia/ peregrino por favor

Jamon en quesa bocadillo por favor

Pizza por favor

muches gracis...

da nada

and my all time favorite...said with a quizzical look and a shoulder shrug:

CAMINO??? (Just in case you miss a yellow arrow)

Notice..I don't give the translation...you should be able to figure what each means, oh...the Jamon en quesa is a ham and cheese sandwich... wouldn't want you to go hungry.

Hope that helps.

Arn

Comment by Joseph P Flavin on March 8, 2010 at 3:08pm

Arn:

Thanks for the feedback. I wish I knew this before purchasing Rosetta stone for significantly more money. I am aware of the forum and have posted several times. I will look for your thread on the forum. I imagine that there are several key phrases that one could learn to significantly help in communication. If you had one piece of guidance for me what would it be?

Joe

Comment by Arn Manella on March 8, 2010 at 2:42pm

Hola Joe,

If you haven't gotten into the Forum proper you're missing a lot of good info that answers your questions to the tee, i.e. opening dates for Albergues, Spanish needs, etc. I even have a tongue in cheek threat on needed Spanish for en enjoyable Camino and it isn't much you need to know. The Spanish are excited that you even try, but if you want just the basics, try this site: http://radiolingua.com/shows/spanish/coffee-break-spanish/

I graduated from Lane Tech back when there weren't any girls there and the majority of my family remains there. I currently live in Virginia.

Buen Camino,
Arn

Comment by Joseph P Flavin on March 7, 2010 at 3:52pm

I start My Camino from SJPdP on march 25th. I believe I am ready to go with the exception of the unknown. I have some minor concerns about weather, being so early in the year. Albergue's being open, same reason. I do not speak Spanish, are there key phrases one should learn. I am from Chicago and my email is jpflavin@msn.com. My skype address is Flavjoe. Look to skype or email fellow Americans about their experiences on the Camino or discuss upcoming trip with fellow Camino virgins.

Joe Flavin

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