On the Way of St. James
For College President Scott Bierman, the journey was one of continuation. He originally walked the French route with his youngest daughter Emily after she completed her master’s degree in 2010. This time, they decided to hike the Portuguese section, starting in Lisbon, before she began her new job as a history teacher. Taking this alternate route—which stretched for approximately 540 km., or 300 miles—proved to be a fascinating experience. “It was a delight to be introduced to the generous, thoughtful, and non-judgmental people of Portugal who helped us on our travels,” Bierman says.
Bierman describes the experience as “really impactful.” “To do this alongside all these other pilgrims who are being deeply impacted in their own unique ways added to the gravitas of the moment,” he says.
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Spanish Gabriela Cerghedean made the trek for academic expansion. She specializes in medieval Spanish literature, history, and culture, and as a result, “Camino de Santiago was something I always read about and heard about, but I never had a chance to do it,” she said. She got her chance during a summer program led by the Council on International Educational Exchange, which involved a series of interactive lectures at points along the last 100 km. (62 miles) of the French route. “Everything comes to life from the texts we studied in class,” she says. Her goals now are to incorporate the experience into her classes as a way to complement the textbooks, to get students engaged, “and maybe invite them one day to come along on an ancient way of discovery.”
Bierman sees the encounter as further evidence of the way that Beloit students—and their families—seek to engage meaningfully in the wider world.
“It should not surprise us, when at the end of some particularly meaningful adventure, we often run into another Beloiter,” he says. “This is who we are.”
Kiernyn Orne-Adams’16 is a creative writing major.