I have been studying abroad in Madrid, Spain with the GW Madrid study program for about a month and a half now, and I have been absolutely loving it. Part of the program includes staying with a host family, which was definitely an adjustment at first as I adapted to living in someone else's home and getting used to their routines and way of life. However, I have really come to enjoy it. Living with a host family has given me a glimpse into everyday life in Madrid that I probably would not have experienced otherwise. Having dinner each night with my host mom has also been one of the best ways I’m practicing and improving my Spanish.
Exploring Madrid itself has also been amazing, despite the very rainy weather we have been having lately. The metro system here is wonderful and actually reminds me a lot of the DC metro, which makes getting around the city really easy. And of course, one of the best parts of studying abroad is being able to travel and explore new places, especially on the weekends,
One of the highlights of the GW Madrid program is that the program directors organize group trips for all of us. A few weeks ago, we took our first weekend trip to the south of Spain. Early in the morning on a Friday we all met and got on a large bus together to begin the journey. After about three hours of driving, we stopped in a small town called Campo de Criptana, where we visited a group of historic windmills that date back to the 16th century. These windmills are famous because they are believed to have inspired the famous scene in Don Quixote where the main character mistakes windmills for giants and charges at them in battle. We also got to go inside one of the windmills which was so awesome.
After that stop, we continued driving south for a few more hours until we arrived in Granada, where we spent the night in a hotel. The next day we visited the Alhambra, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most famous historical monuments in Spain. The Alhambra is a historic palace and fortress complex built by the Muslim rulers of Al-Andalus during the 13th and 14th centuries. Walking through the palace and courtyards and seeing the detailed Islamic architecture and intricate carvings was incredible.
After Granada, we drove to Córdoba, another historic city in southern Spain. There we visited the famous Mezquita-Catedral, originally built as a mosque between the 8th and 11th centuries by the rulers of Islamic Al-Andalus. At one point it was the second largest mosque in the world. We also walked through the Jewish Quarter of Córdoba, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. And part of the walking tour included the famous Calleja de las Flores, a narrow street filled with flower pots and views of the mosque’s bell tower. Luckily the sun came out so we got to walk around the old town in warm weather.
Beyond the incredible history and architecture, the group trips are also a really great way to bond with the other students in the program. We spent hours together on the bus playing games, talking, and getting to know each other better. Staying in hotels together and traveling as a group made the experience even more fun. I am already looking forward to our next program trip, which will take us to the north of Spain in a few weeks!
Abby Bowman
Spring 2026
GW Madrid (GW Study Program)
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs Major