Poll Where do you come from?

[Heather MM]

Vancouver Island, Canada. Lived here my entire life.

 

[NorthernLight]

I told a gullible friend it was reparations for looting and pillaging carried out by your Viking ancestors and she believed me.

You share the same Viking ancestors, so nicely done!

 

[Former member 49149]

@Pelen, see how you hit a nerve! It is really nice to see how many people have responded to your post. Well, we are from many places, and times, and climes, just ordinary people. Lovely to get a glimpse of the entire world. Never mind the limitations of the binary formulae that only allow ten options. On this forum, thankfully, there is plenty of room to shuffle around and dance! Thanks again, and I hope you are happy with your responses!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

@Pelen, see how you hit a nerve! It is really nice to see how many people have responded to your post. Well, we are from many places, and times, and climes, just ordinary people. Lovely to get a glimpse of the entire world. Never mind the limitations of the binary formulae that only allow ten options. On this forum, thankfully, there is plenty of room to shuffle around and dance! Thanks again, and I hope you are happy with your responses!

Well said, Kirkie! This thread has gone completely "viral"...and I love it cuz it's so fascinating to learn of the many little "nuggets" on this amazing planet that many forum members come from. It makes northern Illinois sound incredibly bland!

 

[Former member 49149]

Well said, Kirkie! This thread has gone completely "viral"...and I love it cuz it's so fascinating to learn of the many little "nuggets" on this amazing planet that many forum members come from. It makes northern Illinois sound incredibly bland!

Every place is some place, Chrissy!

 

[Mary Doll]

I put Northern Europe as i'm in NW Scotland but I swithered a lot between Western Europe or Northern. It definitely feels Northern at the moment!

Lucky you. Spent a week on the north west coast in September. Love it.

 

[lbrown498]

Off grid in New Mexico...

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Off grid in New Mexico...View attachment 68728

I've seen youtube videos of off grid living in the SW United States. I have a son who daydreams of similar to that...so interesting!

 

[DoughnutANZ]

While working at Rabanal a mixed group of young pilgrims checked in including a woman with jet black hair and startling, sapphire blue eyes.
"Would it be rude of me to ask where you're from?"
"I'm from Norway," she said in accentless English.
"Well thank you very much for the Christmas tree."
"You're welcome!"
Her friends looked very perplexed.
"It's a personal thing between Norway and England!"
And we left it at that.

The only people that I have met that speak accentless English all seem to come from NZ.

 

[Robyn Scott]

I live in Durban on the East Coast of kwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

 

[Icacos]

West Indies. Transplanted to Canada fifty years ago.

 

[MTtoCamino]

Montana & very glad our humanity gets shared.

 

[Robyn Scott]

And where would that be c

When I am asked where I am from, I reply:
"South Africa"
I often get the response:
"WOW! Whereabouts?"
Do they mean - where in AFRICA? - or which town in SOUTH Africa?
So I reply:
"Have you heard of Cape Town?"
"YES!"
"Well, about 1,000 miles away from there."
"Oh, wow!"

Africa is a big continent!!!
I am from Montagu, Western Cape, SOUTH Africa.

I'm from Durban and a friend of Alf Boyley from Montagu

 

[Annette london]

Am I the only one who, when on Camino, often finds it easier to remember people's nationalities than their names?

Yes I think you are right on this one !
I am not great with names
Not too bad with faces
But I am a genius with places and addresses ...and I studied Geography at school!!
Some years ago, whilst working as a District nurse in London, I got a referral re a lady who was very confused re her medication.
So off I went ....to 22 Oak Rd....not the real address you understand
Knocked at the door and a little elderly lady on a frame answered
Introduced myself ..."do come in dear" she said
Explained my reason for the visit and she showed me her medication ...all lined up on the table!

She knew exactly the name of each one
Knew what it was for
In fact, knew everything about the medication, so I said " you are not in any way confused about your medication are you"?

"No she said, I think you might be the confused one, are you in the right house"?

" isn't this 22 Oak Rd " says I
" No dear she says ....this is 22 Ash Rd ..you're in the wrong house!!!

We did laugh ...and oftentimes I still laugh today when I think of it.
Back at the clinic, I told the others what had happened......"sure, we've all done that at one time or another"!!!!

See, I told you that Geography was my specialist subject, but I'm learning even more on this thread

 

[rappahannock_rev]

Hmmm, I live in the United States and always understood Central America as including Mexico and countries south through Panama.

I grew up in Mexico City in the 1960s -- and the UN diplomatic and cosmopolitan circles within which I then moved absolutely understood that there was a difference between Mexico and "Central America." ... With which I am quite sure that the ordinary non-cosmopolitan Mexican citizen would have agreed.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Montana & very glad our humanity gets shared.

I think you have low humidity, too...can you share that with me?

 

[KinkyOne]

Born and raised in Ljubljana, Slovenia (ex-Yugoslavia then), which I believe is in the Central Europe. Same as Austria, Chech and Slovak Republic etc. (Austro-Hungarian legacy).

A short promotional video clip of Ljubljana where I was co-director:

(and an extra on 02:30 puffing some cigarette smoke in the air )

 

[annakappa]

Back to Central America: 6 of my grandchildren have been born and educated in Costa Rica. They consider their country part of the 7 countries which make up Central America: Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. The whole continent comprising North, Central and South America is referred to as Las Americas. Mexico is included in North America.

 

[Derrybiketours]

Right Paddy

A Paddy or a Mick

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

The “true camino”, with the “real pilgrims”!

Seriously not Seriously

 

[annakappa]

And now to me: where am I from?
Born and raised just south of Manchester and then as a young adult, followed my Dutch Hotelier husband whom I met in Spain to various places: Rome, Aosta, Sardinia, Paris, Damascus, Cairo, Zurich, Lugano and finally to Costa Rica. I haven’t included all the many places that we had to move to in these countries. We moved 22 times!
On the occasions that I did request a Compostela, I use Costa Rica, considering that the first time we walked, only 23 Ticos ( as Costa Ricans are called) had registered for their country, so as to boost up numbers for this minority country!
The interesting fact is that my DNA is 100% British Isles, of which almost half belonging to West Yorkshire!

 

[Goran]

Zagreb, Croatia.

 

[WalkingJane]

Was it uphill both ways?

of course. Like the elementary school I attended in Indiana. (truly, it was downhill coming home)

Born in Kansas, then: Indiana, traveling as Dad preached all over the USA until time for school. Began in Winona Lake, Indiana; then Buffalo NY; Lockport, NY; Ransomville NY; , NYC; St Thomas VI; Horta, Faial, Azores; Chapel Hill, NC; Gastonia, NC; Charlotte, NC; Braga, Portugal; Lisbon, Portugal; Asheville, NC; Tacoma, WA.

 

[Nick B]

Western Australian Cattle Stations, sheep stations I had to walk when I was six years old five mile to school and back each day rain or heatwave aside.

Luxury(in a heavy Yorkshire accent)………….

 

[Micah26]

Born and raised in Ogdensburg NY on border of Canada... 30 yrs of my adult life Boston MA... 5 yrs ago returned home to Ogdensburg 50 mi from OTTAWA Canada...

 

[Silencio Por Favor]

Maybe I'm a Londoner? Well I used to be, migrated to Vancouver, Canada 16 yrs ago. Looks like Prince Harry is following me.

 

[dovgazit]

I am from Israel, which belongs to the middle east. problematic place does not belong to Europe or Africa nor really Asia. But in fact there are the three continents in this minority country.

 

[MitPunkten]

The country that gets confused with Sweden all the time. The white dot in the middle of the european union. Switzerland.

 

[Old Kiwi]

I am from a little town in New Zealand called Feilding. (Yes I have spelt it correctly). It is in a farming area about a quarter of the way up the North Island. It is interesting to see in the pole that Australia and New Zealand are rating third when you consider that the populations of both countries together are not much bigger than that of a decent sized city in any of the other areas. Kiwis and Aussies are great travelers and like to go for a bit of a walk and meet people from around the world.

 

[Rick Chollett]

Just curious.

I am from Sweden, live in Norway since many years, but have also been living in Italy and the US. So my answer is northern Europe.

I'm from Texas!

 

[Nick B]

Vancouver Island, Canada. Lived here my entire life.

Walked the end of the Frances in June 2018 with Marco and Christina from Vancouver Island, Marco was blind and his daughter Christina guided him all the way at the end of trekking pole.

Inspiring effort from both of them.

 

[OzAnnie]

A beautiful small community in south Orange County California named Dana Point.View attachment 68689

It sure is - I’ve been there a number of times over past 4 years.

 

[Tali]

I’m from Newton Massachusetts USA, (30 years) just west of Boston, vía Portland Oregon (20 years) and Los Ángeles (10 years).

 

[Leibniz]

A beautiful small community in south Orange County California named Dana Point.View attachment 68689

My (Belgian) uncle used to live in Dana Point (on his boat!) when I was a little kid in the early 1980s. I have beautiful of memories of visiting him there. Beautiful sunsets, laidback friendly people and lots of seals.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

The only people that I have met that speak accentless English all seem to come from NZ.

True enough, the Māori I've met do speak very nicely.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I’m from Newton Massachusetts USA, (30 years) just west of Boston, vía Portland Oregon (20 years) and Los Ángeles (10 years).

Home town of one of my favourite biscuits (favorite cookies if you will)

 

[daesdaemar]

On a scientific mission, apparently its too cold to live their permanently. You've been more than once, like me did you have to go back for your wooden staff

Actually as a tourist. Never went back fro a walking stick!

 

[igailfh]

Born & bred in Christchurch, New Zealand, lived in various parts of NZ for 47 years, got way too cold & moved to Brisbane, Australia. Who knows where next?

 

[Bannerman]

County Clare, Ireland, Western Europe.

 

[arch]

A city in Arctic Norway called Tromsø: https://www.visittromso.no/

View attachment 68641

Had a nice stop in Tromso aboard SS Nordlys

 

[Hansel]

OK, THAT tree ☺. But before that, it was your foreign born and married-into-the family Royalty who gave you the Christmas tree. I used to think that it was Prince Albert but Wikipedia just informed me that it was Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

You beat me to it, I was thinking it was Albert, don't know Charlotte,
Bill

 

[Hansel]

The only people that I have met that speak accentless English all seem to come from NZ.

I've yet to meet someone who speaks accent less English,

 

[Hansel]

I love that word "swithered"...it's new to me!

Must be a "Scottish "thing," good to know we have some different words,
Bill

 

[Hansel]

Love this thread, it's fun ...and nice to know where people are from when they post
When we're on the Camino, it's probably the first question ....well one of many anyway as I'm Irish and a bit nosey!!......that I ask other people.
Makes for more interesting conversations if people want to chat...or not

And where do they guess you are from ? Based on your accent.
You can usually , but not always tell from there hiking brands etc, Osprey is being sold all over now.
Bill

 

[Annette london]

And where do they guess you are from ? Based on your accent.
You can usually , but not always tell from there hiking brands etc, Osprey is being sold all over now.
Bill

Hi Hansel,
Everyone in the UK will know straight away where I come from based on my accent
However when we are abroad, everyone thinks that I'm from the UK

Are you English they ask us....

The husband nods like the nodding dog (he's famous on the TV ads in case you're wondering....the dog that is!)
Me...the head goes from side to side and I have to enlighten them...gently of course

Not their fault mind you and sometimes it's quiet a funny response........based on our relative political English/Irish histories you understand!!
Best wishes
Annette

 

[Hansel]

Hi Hansel,
Everyone in the UK will know straight away where I come from based on my accent
However when we are abroad, everyone thinks that I'm from the UK

Are you English they ask us....

The husband nods like the nodding dog (he's famous on the TV ads in case you're wondering....the dog that is!)
Me...the head goes from side to side and I have to enlighten them...gently of course

Not their fault mind you and sometimes it's quiet a funny response........based on our relative political English/Irish histories you understand!!
Best wishes
Annette

When registering at the albergues, a few hospitalarias, will see my passport, UK and NI , and assume I'm Irish, which could be worse, as like you I will be asked if I'm English, and given how good my Spanish accent is, it occasionally seemed the easier option just to agree.
Bill

 

[lindam]

I am from Toronto but am now permanently residing in Barcelona. I have enjoyed every day since moving here just over five years ago!

 

[Stefystar]

Hi ...well
born in the "O sole Mio"☀ country
(can you guess?)
But living in London since a very very long time

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I am from Toronto but am now permanently residing in Barcelona. I have enjoyed every day since moving here just over five years ago!

Is it true that the local Spanish living in Barcelona pronounce it "Barthelona"?

 

[lindam]

Is it true that the local Spanish living in Barcelona pronounce it "Barthelona"?

Only if they speak Castellano (i.e., Spanish). The locals, that is the Catalans, would pronounce it as Barcelona.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Hi Hansel,
Everyone in the UK will know straight away where I come from based on my accent
However when we are abroad, everyone thinks that I'm from the UK

Are you English they ask us....

The husband nods like the nodding dog (he's famous on the TV ads in case you're wondering....the dog that is!)
Me...the head goes from side to side and I have to enlighten them...gently of course

Not their fault mind you and sometimes it's quiet a funny response........based on our relative political English/Irish histories you understand!!
Best wishes
Annette

I often can tell if a person on the forum is from England because they say things like "straight away", or "it's a treat", or "brilliant" instead of hilarious. They add more unnecessary letters to words like "programme" instead of program; "colour" instead of color; "favourite" instead of favorite... Annette, I know you are from England and you know I am from the USA.

 

[Togabogie]

From a small village in co antrim!!
North of ireland/northern ireland/ ulster/ ireland
Just to cover all the political, cultural , and geographical representations that surround this area !!
Phew

 

[Togabogie]

From a small village in co antrim!!
North of ireland/northern ireland/ ulster/ ireland
Just to cover all the political, cultural , and geographical representations that surround this area !!
Phew
Ps obviously ulster not consisting cavan monaghan and donegal!!
Work that out lol

 

[Annette london]

I often can tell if a person on the forum is from England because they say things like "straight away", or "it's a treat", or "brilliant" instead of hilarious. They add more unnecessary letters to words like "programme" instead of program; "colour" instead of color; "favourite" instead of favorite... Annette, I know you are from England and you know I am from the USA.

Now Chris, we know that the Americans can't spell!!
Same as driving.....
We drive on the left side of the road which in fact is the right side!!
The Americans drive on the right side of the road which in fact is not the right side!!

 

[Hansel]

I often can tell if a person on the forum is from England because they say things like "straight away", or "it's a treat", or "brilliant" instead of hilarious. They add more unnecessary letters to words like "programme" instead of program; "colour" instead of color; "favourite" instead of favorite... Annette, I know you are from England and you know I am from the USA.

In a few years time this may be less likely, as the US influence takes hold , with Youtube etc, there are school children sounding American !

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Now Chris, we know that the Americans can't spell!!
Same as driving.....
We drive on the left side of the road which in fact is the right side!!
The Americans drive on the right side of the road which in fact is not the right side!!

Our spelling is "shorthand" and it allows more time in retirement to do... nothing!

 

[AlwynWellington]

@Pelen , kia ora and, like many others, I've enjoyed most of the banter your thread has produced.

It seems to me, and you might agree, the poll has produced a result that suggests members of this forum at least are from countries where the English language has a firm hold is either the primary or good second means of communicating.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Now Chris, we know that the Americans can't spell!!
Same as driving.....
We drive on the left side of the road which in fact is the right side!!
The Americans drive on the right side of the road which in fact is not the right side!!

I just love your humor/humouuur, Annette!

 

[Michael; Camino-addicted]

I always find it funny on my Caminos, when someone speaks English, to guess where he lives. Of course it is easy when English is your mother tongue, but as a German this is often a challenge .

I can understand English best when no native speaker speaks it . All those who learned the language had to learn "standard English" and to speak clearly. The best are the dutch and the scandinavians

That´s what I need.

During my Camino 2012 my whole Camino family (pilgrims from seven countries with six different languages) sat together in a bar. Then another pilgrim sat down and said in German: Hallo ich bin Günter

And I said -" and you're from Berlin"

It was a mystery to everyone how I knew this, but I could hear it at first sight by his pronunciation.

Valerie from Belgium has always said: You must hear that someone comes from Quebec, he speaks very differently from me. But I only realized it was French and thought I was good.

But whether I found a common language with a pilgrim or not, a minimum of communication has always worked and that is also what makes the Camino so special.

 

[dougfitz]

Interesting. Greenland is not Western Europe, but as far as I know citizens of Greenland are EU citizens

I haven't checked whether there has been a response to this, but Greenland is a Danish island, not an independent country. So they are EU citizens on an island that sits on the North American continental plate. Iceland is on the boundary of the North American and European plates, not in the EU but a Schengen member, so it picks and chooses when it can!

 

[Nigel Clark]

A little working harbour on an island not far from civilisation https://www.shoreham-port.co.uk/

I have been a resident of Shoreham-by-Sea for 40 years - what a small world !

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I have been a resident of Shoreham-by-Sea for 40 years - what a small world !

Sounds like you two "Shoreham" guys should meet up for a drink sometime!

 

[Tincatinker]

@Nigel Clark I'm often found at the Ropetackle: loitering in The Star or the Welly or hiking the Downs pretending I'm on Camino.

PM me if you want to talk Camino over a pint one evening.

 

[Carlos H]

Just curious.

I am from Sweden, live in Norway since many years, but have also been living in Italy and the US. So my answer is northern Europe.

I am from the Philippines and currently divide my time between Arlington, Virginia, USA and Bohol, Philippines.

 

[Nigel Clark]

I would be delighted to meet up and talk Camino .

 

[Mary Colleen]

Santiago, Chile

 

[mmmmartin]

Am living in Europe. Soon not to be.

 

[GettingThere]

I always find this a very awkward question - as I think it can often be for those with migrant backgrounds or multi-national parentage. I was born in the UK to an English father and a New Zealand mother. I grew up there and when I was 18 we all moved to NZ, where I have lived ever since, apart from some extended travelling, Caminos etc. I've been an NZ citizen since I was 16. As I'm now (gulp) almost 53, I've been here for a lot longer than I was there. I have many more family members here than there, because all of my mother's (much bigger) family are here and have been for around 5-6 generations, depending on the branch of the family. Those for whom "where are you from" is synonymous with "where were you born" would say I am from the UK. I don't feel that, and when overseas and asked that question, I say I'm from New Zealand. As I have done in my Forum profile, where it asks.

I've recently been thinking a lot about this (hence the long post - sorry!), and have discovered that "place identity" is a thing, and a subject of much research in the social sciences. It is always relative and subjective - if talking to someone who lives in the same city, you may say you are "from" your respective suburbs. If from different parts of the same country you might say you are "from" a City or region. And so on. The replies to this thread are a great mixture of the local and regional and transnational. But I digress... The UK is still where I was born, I still have friends and some family there and it will always be important to me (slightly less so perhaps, once it doesn't give me an EU passport...!. ) But I consider myself to be "from" New Zealand. That can be hard to explain to the "place of birth" brigade, but it is what it is.

So I've responded to the OP's poll under "Australia New Zealand" - which by the way is not a country, nor a continent - we are two separate friendly nations some 1,000 miles apart, which those "from" elsewhere seem perpetually keen on uniting! Nothing personal, Aussie cousins - I do enjoy visiting you!

 

[Kanga]

Yes, @GettingThere - I think "Oceania" would be a better term. Until we annex you.....which might be the only way we will ever win the rugby.

 

[DBride]

East Europe. Bulgaria. Born and live here.

 

[AlwynWellington]

Until we annex you ...

Sorry @Kanga , a reverse takeover is more likely considering recent events.

some 1,000 miles apart

Around 1900, according to stuff published in 2017, there were generally understood to be 1,200 impediments to New Zealand joining the pending federation of Australian states. The 1,200 being the then understood distance in miles between the two countries.

To put this distance in context an online search for distance between two points says:
2 240 km Wellington and Sydney
2 256 km Paris and Istanbul
My conflict is choosing between Paris and Istanbul.

Kia ora katoa.

 

[GettingThere]

2 240 km Wellington and Sydney
2 256 km Paris and Istanbul

Haha yes - or to put it another way: flight distance from London to Casablanca is only 1746km!

(sorry for hijacking the thread, @Pelen - back to work now!)

 

[AlwynWellington]

flight distance from London to Casablanca is only 1746km!

I think you are confirming my point.

Which is, some/many would say there is as much in common between NZ and its larger neighbour as there is between London and Casablanca.

But for continents @Pelen , Oceania is a more inclusive name, than any other, for a very large and diverse area even though the land mass, by comparison with most others, is not great.

 

[Ralph Ayling]

Great thread.
In my case, born and raised in South Africa. Now resident in Sydney Australia.

 

[grayland]

the Numbers are very interesting. At this point there are 103 from Europe and 119 from North America.(Canada, USA, Mexico, Central America) and 53 from Oz and NZ.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

the Numbers are very interesting. At this point there are 103 from Europe and 119 from North America.(Canada, USA, Mexico, Central America) and 53 from Oz and NZ.

I know there was a surge of USA pilgrims on the camino after the movie "The Way" came out. There are many Canadians walking too, and I've wondered what draws them. Possibly the same movie?
Many folks are drawn by their Catholic faith, but for many of us it's from learning of the pilgrimages to Santiago from a certain popular book in our countries or the movie.

 

[Pelegrin]

[/QUOTE]

the Numbers are very interesting. At this point there are 103 from Europe and 119 from North America.(Canada, USA, Mexico, Central America) and 53 from Oz and NZ.

Only 4 from Southern Europe. I am one of them (Galicia/Spain).

 

[NorthernLight]

I know there was a surge of USA pilgrims on the camino after the movie "The Way" came out. There are many Canadians walking too, and I've wondered what draws them. Possibly the same movie?
Many folks are drawn by their Catholic faith, but for many of us it's from learning of the pilgrimages to Santiago from a certain popular book in our countries or the movie.

Historically, most Canadians walking the camino were Quebecois, who were predominantly Catholic. There will be some who learned about the camino from the movie, just as in other places. The prospect of being able to walk long distances without carrying wilderness gear, combined with cute villages, good food, history, lovely scenery ... well, hard to replicate that outside Europe.

 

[Johan]

Worcester, Western Cape, South Africa

 

[Camino Chrissy]

The prospect of being able to walk long distances without carrying wilderness gear, combined with cute villages, good food, history, lovely scenery ... well, hard to replicate that outside Europe.

Exactly! Your reasons are my big reasons, too, for walking the pilgrimages or GR routes, which the movie brought to light. Our national parks and other areas are beautiful, but offer almost no lodging or food on a day by day basis.

 

[David Tallan]

Sorry @Kanga , a reverse takeover is more likely considering recent events.



Around 1900, according to stuff published in 2017, there were generally understood to be 1,200 impediments to New Zealand joining the pending federation of Australian states. The 1,200 being the then understood distance in miles between the two countries.

To put this distance in context an online search for distance between two points says:
2 240 km Wellington and Sydney
2 256 km Paris and Istanbul
My conflict is choosing between Paris and Istanbul.

Kia ora katoa.

Not expressing any opinion on the pros or cons of any hypothetical and unlikely union between Australia and New Zealand, I will just note that Vancouver British Columbia and St. John's Newfoundland are both in the same country, despite being over 7,000 km apart (according to Google).

 

[Michael; Camino-addicted]

I always find this a very awkward question - as I think it can often be for those with migrant backgrounds or multi-national parentage.

As someone who still hears the same church bells as when I was a child, I probably cannot understand the awkwardness of this question. I find this question quite innocuous - on the important condition that I accept every answer I get and do not make any "highly political" comment.

For example, if someone tells me he is from Catalonia, I will never answer: "So you are Spanish".

My pilgrim family 2012 included Betti. She has a Romanian passport and belongs to the large Hungarian minority in Romania. She always said: "I am Hungarian from Transylvania".
It is important for her to stress this fact - so for me she is Hungarian from Transylvania, even if I know, that this area belongs to Romania for around 100 years.

Can I say, what is the "right answer" from someone from Belfast - Ireland or Britain or both - and who determines that, if not the person himself?

Of course there is a big difference between someone who voluntarily leaves his home country to live somewhere else and become part of society there, and someone who did not leave voluntarily.

Sometimes a little "Fingerspitzengefühl" (one of the wonderful word creations of the German language) is necessary. It means a very highly sensitive feeling in the tips of the Finger to avoid an affront or missunderstanding. We use "Fingerspitzengefühl" quite often, but usually only metaphorically.

Maybe we should get into the habit of asking: Where do you live and not: Where are you from.

 

[David Tallan]

I know there was a surge of USA pilgrims on the camino after the movie "The Way" came out. There are many Canadians walking too, and I've wondered what draws them. Possibly the same movie?
Many folks are drawn by their Catholic faith, but for many of us it's from learning of the pilgrimages to Santiago from a certain popular book in our countries or the movie.

As a Canadian, I must admit I learned about it as a route modern people were taking from an American source. I am referring, of course, to the 1989 edition of Let's Go: Spain, Portugal and Morocco. For those unaware of the series, Let's Go is a series of guidebooks aimed at the young, budget-conscious backpacking traveler, and published by the Harvard Students Association. In the eighties, it dominated the field. I'm not sure that it is so dominant now. This predates the movie The Way by a few years.

 

[Pelen]

(sorry for hijacking the thread, @Pelen - back to work now!)

Hijacking is excellent.

 

[Kathor1]

The 1,200 being the then understood distance in miles between the two countries. To put this distance in context an online search for distance between two points says:
2 240 km Wellington and Sydney
2 256 km Paris and Istanbul

That was in 1900, more than a hundred years ago. Such impediments can be overcome:

2 300 km Lisbon and Vienna​

2 300 km Madrid and Warsaw​

2 800 km Dublin and Athens​

No annexation took place, just voluntary accession, and you can even leave again. An example to follow? ☺

 

[AlwynWellington]

Vancouver British Columbia and St. John's Newfoundland are both in the same country, despite being over 7,000 km apart.

In your example there is something "between the ears", including your good self and my elder niece and her family.

 

[AlwynWellington]

That was in 1900, more than a hundred years ago. Such impediments can be overcome:

I take your point.

On the other hand you currently have 27 countries (anticipating by 10 days) and a representative Council of Ministers with the larger countries (however measured) having no more formal voting etc than others.

It would be hard to say how a union would work in Oceania with one country having about 80% of the total population, and the small island states subject (possibly disastrously so) to climate change in the foreseeable future.

But coming back (to ease the moderators minds a little) to the purpose of this thread, @grayland , at post #276, has clarified the responses by continent. Or has he?

A starting point might be to consider tectonic plates as helping decide which country is in which continent. A starter for 10 can be found at Wikipedia's list of tectonic plates and the diagram in particular.

For example, this suggests that North America, as defined by tectonic plates, ranges from the Eastern Russia to Greenland and from the Arctic down to southern Mexico.

The Caribbean plate includes the central american isthmus and islands to the east.

Europe (including Iceland, Ireland and the UK) forms part of the Eurasian plate extending towards eastern Russia and down to Indonesia (but not including Irian/Papua) with any division being arbitrary. Given we are all descended from eastern Africa any division might only be by apparent differences in life style. The Urals used to form an arbitrary division line, but that only got one so far.

The Australian plate includes Australia and Irian/Papua some of Aotearoa-New Zealand.

The Pacific Plate includes populated islands of Aotearoa-New Zealand (some) and from Samoa across to Pitcairn Island and north to Hawaii. In size the Pacific plate is significantly large than any other, but without a population to suit.

So, a future version of this questionnaire, bearing in mind the anglophone weighting of members, might ask:

Where do you currently live?
Africa, or
Americas (north, south and central), or
Antarctica, or
Australia and Papua/Irian, or
Europe, Asia and Indonesia, or
India, or
Pasifika

Done in seven categories.

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

My (Belgian) uncle used to live in Dana Point (on his boat!) when I was a little kid in the early 1980s. I have beautiful of memories of visiting him there. Beautiful sunsets, laidback friendly people and lots of seals.

True enough ! We have many Europeans living in this community (And they are ALL welcomed). As far as the seals they are still here and I saw and heard them this morning !

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

It sure is - I’ve been there a number of times over past 4 years.

C,mon back ! Give us advanced notice and we have no issues with meeting other Pilgrims from throughout the world.

 

[volleyjanice]

I'm late to the game but chiming in never the less! I am from Victoria, British Columbia on the south west coast of British Columbia. Victoria is on Vancouver Island which confuses the heck out of many a tourist because the city of Vancouver is across the Strait of Georgia from us. Victoria has most recently been known for harbouring the soon to be former Prince Harry and Megan Markle over the Christmas holidays. Shhhh!

 

[Ducks]

Stoke on Trent in England has been home for the past 10 years. Close to the Peak District. Lots of lovely walking.

 

[Robo]

Given that Australia is about 0.33% of the Global population we are well represented

Not forgetting the Kiwis of course! another 0.06%

Population by Country (2024) - Worldometer

List of countries and dependencies in the world ranked by population, from the most populated. Growth rate, median age, fertility rate, area, density, population density, urbanization, urban population, share of world population.

www.worldometers.info

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I'm late to the game but chiming in never the less! I am from Victoria, British Columbia on the south west coast of British Columbia. Victoria is on Vancouver Island which confuses the heck out of many a tourist because the city of Vancouver is across the Strait of Georgia from us. Victoria has most recently been known for harbouring the soon to be former Prince Harry and Megan Markle over the Christmas holidays. Shhhh!

Those two cities beginning with a "V" have been on my bucket list for a long time...lucky you!

 

[Deleted member 73892]

London, England... but I've had my DNA tested and its amazing if you ever want to know your ancient origins! Dr Alice Roberts sums it up perfectly and succinctly:

“We’re all members of a young species… Wherever we’ve ended up, all over the world, we’re Africans under the skin. And uncovering that story, retracing the steps of our ancestors, has given me a profound sense of our common humanity: our shared past, and our shared future”

— Alice Roberts, 2008

Science and DNA do not lie, have no myths or legends.
Love, Light & Nature to you all.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

London, England..

So, Keith, you now live in London or Inmsbruck?

 

[Deleted member 73892]

Innsbruck. I live in Innsbruck, Tirolshire. In the alps. A far cry from London. But a true cockerny boy at heart.

 

[Deleted member 73892]

The country that gets confused with Sweden all the time. The white dot in the middle of the european union. Switzerland.

I'm in Austria - often confused with Australia... I've had post and packets sent to down-under and returned stamped all over.

 

[Icacos]

London, England... but I've had my DNA tested and its amazing if you ever want to know your ancient origins! Dr Alice Roberts sums it up perfectly and succinctly:

— Alice Roberts, 2008

Science and DNA do not lie, have no myths or legends.
Love, Light & Nature to you all.

I’ve had my DNA tested too. Born in a former Spanish colony in the West Indies and of mainly English, Irish and French origin, my DNA results indicate I am also 12% Spanish and 3% Basque. Columbus and his ships sailed from A Coruña ... according to The Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books, by David Wilson-Lee, a book that I found fascinating, and which I recommend if one is interested in things past. Yes, it all makes the mind boggle.

Sorry, don’t mean to hijack this thread.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Innsbruck. I live in Innsbruck, Tirolshire. In the alps. A far cry from London. But a true cockerny boy at heart.

A gorgeous city and country for sure, although I've only seen it online!

 

[Deleted member 73892]

I’ve had my DNA tested too. Born in a former Spanish colony in the West Indies and of mainly English, Irish and French origin, my DNA results indicate I am also 12% Spanish and 3% Basque. Columbus and his ships sailed from A Coruña ... according to The Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books, by David Wilson-Lee, a book that I found fascinating, and which I recommend if one is interested in things past. Yes, it all makes the mind boggle.

Sorry, don’t mean to hijack this thread.

No, its not hijacked. These days with DNA the question 'where do you come from?` has resounding meaning. Its fascinating, as are your origins. I don't look English - I'm not your cliché Englishman with red hair, freckles, shorts and socks and sandles wearing type. I tan easily and quickly. So when people ask me the question and I say 'England' they look surprised and ask 'but what are your roots?', I answer 'England for over a thousand years, and Scotland, Ireland, Scandanavia... ' etc etc. It bafles them and shuts them up, but is the truth.