Embodied patience
Written on January 14th, 2026 by Pearl Ryder
During these first days as residents of a new country, I keep reflecting on my Camino experience. Walking from town to town required patience and faith. You didn’t need to have these at the beginning of the journey — the walking itself would teach you the patience and embody it step by step. Thoughts could help keep going but it was more corporal than cognitive. Sometimes I would see a town far in the distance, and I had to trust that if I kept putting one foot in front of the other, I would arrive, even if it took hours.
Adjusting to life here feels the same. Some days, like last Monday, fly by with the wind at my back. Other days are a slow uphill trudge. My daughter Cassie - only 3 years old - is adapting to school but it will take some time before school feels more supportive than stressful. Her teachers are very kind and have recommended only two hours a day at school for right now. I am eager for her to be there longer so that I can have more time for my own adaptation, of course, but also sympathetic — Cass is spending more time immersed in Spanish & Catalan than Craig and I combined. In the meantime, I remember the physical experience of knowing where you want to be and taking it one step at a time.
A few more concrete updates: the commute to her school includes a fun little gravel/singletrack descent on the way home! Drop off is pleasant, with kids from the littlest toddlers all the way up to high school arriving at the same time. We’re spending lots of time at playgrounds and the toy cafe, since she’s home most of the day. I love shopping in person — today I successfully found a cute little backpack for going to school and our first book in Spanish for practicing together. In “normal life” I would have bought both of these off the internet. I’m very active here, walking or biking all over town, and fueling it with sweet milky coffee and bread. Finally, I’m writing this underneath my favorite weighted blanket. Cassie fell asleep on top of me for her first siesta since arrival.
All the things on my wish list: secure our next apartment (we’re only in this apartment until February), start Spanish classes, later add Catalan classes, get out on more bike rides, climb up the hill behind the Old Town. Oh, and laundry. :) xoxo Ma Goodness
