¡Hola! ¡Buenas! My name is Persia, and I’m studying abroad in Madrid, Spain, as a student in the GW Madrid program. As I’m approaching the end of the first half of the program, there is so much I’ve been wanting to share about my experience.
First off, studying abroad in Madrid has been a lifelong dream of mine, and it has honestly surpassed all of my expectations. I remember feeling incredibly nervous yet eager to move to Spain. So much was unknown to me, and I had not left the East Coast in more than a decade. Landing in Madrid and going through orientation felt like a fever dream—it was exciting, overwhelming, and promising. Walking around Gran Vía, Sol, Plaza Mayor, Retiro, and all the famous landmarks in Madrid left me in awe every time, and I was excited to be able to call it all my home for the coming months. I also came into the program not knowing the people in my cohort, and I’m glad it worked out that way. I never expected to grow so close to the people in my program—people I’ve walked by on the daily back on the Foggy Bottom campus are now some of my closest friends, and I even feel a bit of separation anxiety every time I go away for the weekend to another city in Europe. Lastly, our directors, María Ángeles and Isidro are the best GW Madrid “mom” and “dad” I could ask for. They have been the absolute best support system from day one, and I look forward to the days when I get to pass by the “despacho” (their office) to pop in and say hi!
Another incredible aspect of the GW Madrid study abroad program that has exceeded my expectations is the host family experience. We are all required to live with host families that are spread across the city of Madrid. I have been lucky enough to be placed with Ricardo (host dad), Carmen (host mom), Maria (host sister), and Celia (host sister). Ricardo and I are always having the most philosophical conversations during the post-dinner discussion, “sobremesa,” and I’ve learned a lot about Spanish society from him. My favorite thing about Carmen is her random bursts of energy, where she’ll come and shower me with hugs, and how she’s always “bromeando” (joking) with me. Maria is both a sister, as she’s always checking in on me and is super supportive, but also a built-in friend since we’re the same age, so I love the times when we’ll just sit in my room and gossip about all my adventures. Celia resembles the ideal little sister; we ironically share a lot of similar interests, which we have bonded over, and I love her little quirks and silliness. She never fails to make me laugh over the smallest things. My host family has been incredibly welcoming since the first time they picked me up from our hotel, and their care has only grown since then, making me truly feel like I’m part of their family. I have met the entire extended family, as we all live in the same neighborhood of Valdezarza, and I enjoy the times when I get to have lunch with “abuela” (grandma) and “tito” (uncle). While I continue to overcome waves of homesickness, missing my family and home friends, my family in Madrid has become the most unexpectedly perfect alternative.
I want to take the time to share what a typical Tuesday and Wednesday look like here in Madrid. On Tuesdays, I only have one class, which is International Economics, but it is at 9 in the morning, earlier than I’m used to in DC. The commute is also a lot longer. My commute to Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) is at least 40 minutes. I take the metro from Valdezarza, transfer lines, and take the Cercanías (suburban rail) to the Cantoblanco campus. Although my commute is long, it goes by super fast, and I’m a huge fan of the Madrid metro system, as it’s larger, cleaner, more accessible, and easy to navigate. Although UAM’s campus is outside the city—it’s located in Alcobendas—it provides a traditional campus experience, which is unique to my abroad experience compared to DC. After my International Economics class, a “café con leche” and “napolitana de chocolate” (chocolate croissant, but better) at the café with my classmates is a must. I believe this is the most Spanish thing we do.
On Wednesdays, I have a Spanish class with María Ángeles at 9:30 AM, where we learn about Spanish vocabulary, grammar, and slang, which greatly differs from Latin American Spanish. Directly after, I have my Comparative Politics of Western Europe class, which I took to gain direct insights about the region while living in it—an invaluable experience. Directly after that, I have my Spanish Cinema class, which is by far my favorite course and professor, as we have not only learned a lot about Spanish society but, as a film enthusiast, I have greatly enjoyed the excursions to the movie theater and always look forward to how our professor makes us think intellectually and creatively. I then eat lunch and take a “siesta” (nap) before heading over to tutor my neighbor in English. Then, I head over to my flamenco class, where we first learned theory and are now dancing to prepare for our showcase at the end of the semester. Lastly, after class, we often head over to play trivia, which completes my favorite day of the week.
While I have adjusted to my new life in Madrid, and my day-to-day commute, excursions, meals, conversations, and relationships feel quite normal, I want to take the time to highlight a few of the unique experiences that I’ve had the privilege of experiencing. Within the first month of moving to Madrid, our program hosted a weekend cultural excursion to the South of Spain, where we stayed in Córdoba, Granada, and visited windmills from Don Quijote, as well as a centuries-old theatre. I never expected that a seven-hour-long bus ride would bring the cohort so close. We visited La Alhambra and La Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba, which featured the most beautiful cultural and architectural sites I have ever seen in my life. Particularly, since I’m Middle Eastern and Hispanic, I greatly enjoyed observing the fusions of my identity displayed in Andalucía. I have also visited London, Toledo with some of the girls in my program, and Sevilla with a friend from my host university, and have plenty more trips in store. I have taken a Spanish cooking class, attended a comedy show hosted by the program, reconnected with childhood friends as well as home friends who are abroad, and even attended my very first Spanish soccer game, where I witnessed Atlético Madrid win and my favorite player, Julián Álvarez, score while sitting in the front row! Don’t be fooled though, I’m still a Real Madrid superfan and look forward to the day I get to attend a game. Yet, despite all the exciting things I’ve done, my favorite days consist of sightseeing with Madrid friends and attending events with my host family. I can’t wait for everything else in store for me in Madrid!
Persia Zurita
Spring 2025
GW Madrid (GW Study Program)
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs Major