Ok, first off: I do intend on updating this more than once a month. I'm not too busy for you or anything, but what happens is its just one adventure after the next so I'm always saying, "Ok, I'll get pictures from this and then update the blog." Then 'this' happens and 20 adventures later I realize that I have enough photos to write a children's encyclopedia and that's when I feel like I can't find the time to sort this all out and update you.

Right, so anyway, I'm HERE!!!! Life is still amazing - it gets better every day! I've got a lot to tell you about, but I'm going to save Portugal for another entry because I haven't rounded up all the pictures yet.

I've been singing! One day like a month ago I was at Hannigan's - the Irish pub in my neighborhood where I can walk in any time of day or night and find friends and good times. They have Karaoke on Thursday nights and I sang Creep by TLC. When I finished, Erin (the DJ) told me about an open mic thing they do on Tuesdays so, I hooked up with her and a guy from Italy named Andrea and I've been singing there more or less regularly. Its been a lot of fun, but I haven't been practicing very much. I'm now sick for the second time, so that makes it a bit difficult. But anyhow, I am SO SO SO happy that I found a place where I can just sing and have a good time. It is exactly a goal I had in mind before coming here. Its been a lot of fun meeting other musical people and everyone just sharing what they have without any pressure.


The only trip I've gone on aside from Portugal was my program's trip to Toledo. It was a pretty remarkable town, unlike any other I'd seen until now. It is in Castilla La Mancha - the same 'state' of Spain that Madrid is in. La Mancha and Andalucia, where Granada is, are very very different. As we spent time exploring Toledo, I felt transported into land of Don Quixote, which as it turns out, is the truth! Its been a while since I read that book, but I definitely had the same feeling in Toledo that I had while reading it. I guess that proves how good Cervantes was with imagery.
Well, to be completely honest, our weekend in Toledo was not the happiest for me. For a number of reasons I was really emotional. In fact that whole week, I had been on a roller coaster of emotions - experiencing extreme joy for nothing in particular - just being alive. Then two hours later, falling apart at the seams because I remembered something a little sad from my childhood. I might have scared a few people, but the experience made me come to terms with what huge changes this year abroad will mean for me. After a week or so of keeping to myself, talking to my mom and David, and getting things a bit organized, I more or less leveled out, but I know some things have changed forever.
Halloween came. It was so nice to not have the hype around Halloween that there is in the states. It happens to be my least favorite holiday. There is no Halloween in Spain, except in Granada where some bars and clubs have events for it because of how many American students there are here. And I must say it was the best Halloween I've had in a really long time! Mandi, Katy (the same girls that are in the picture above) and I dressed up as Greek goddesses and joined the crew in the bars. Later there was a big party at Camborio - a nightclub here that is in a cave! But, I didn't go because I was leaving for Portugal the next morning. Anyway, I had a terrific night - everyone did! I have pictures, but they're not working right now, so when I put up the Portugal stuff, you'll get some Halloween pics too.
Thanks for tuning in! I'll be back hopefully within the week to put up the other stuff. My shutterfly webpage is not completely updated right now, but if you still want to see all the photos I have up there, be my guest: veronicamalki.shutterfly.com

HASTA LUEGO!!!