¡Hola! ¡Buenas! My name is Persia, and I just finished my semester abroad in Madrid, Spain, as a student in the GW Madrid program. Like all good things, GW Madrid has officially come to an end. It was truly a life-changing experience, and I would do anything to go back—but instead, I’ll reminisce by sharing some memories from the second half of the program.
While not much has changed since I last shared my experience with you all, I’ve had the chance to visit more cities across Spain and Europe. One of the best parts of studying abroad in Spain is how accessible and affordable it is to explore other cities, countries, and cultures in the region. I traveled to Rome and Barcelona with my family, to Valencia with some of my program friends, to Lisbon with another friend from the program, and even took a day trip to the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. That site had the most underrated art and architecture I’ve seen in all of Europe! The beauty of living in a country for a few months is discovering places that aren’t as famous but can honestly outshine the more well-known landmarks. In my opinion, the Monastery of El Escorial impressed me far more than the Vatican Museums—and the train ride there was free! I’m incredibly grateful for the GW Madrid cohort. Despite not knowing anyone at first, I ended up traveling with them everywhere, and now they’re some of my closest friends.
Beyond personal trips, I also traveled to Northern Spain with the program. Just when I thought nothing could top our trip to Southern Spain, I was quickly proven wrong. On the first day, we visited Burgos and explored the prehistoric archaeological sites of Atapuerca. Not only is it a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it also holds some of the oldest evidence of human existence and evolution. We also visited the Museum of Human Evolution and a monastery, but my favorite part was exploring the town center. My friends and I rode a carousel in the Plaza Mayor, ate at a Michelin Guide restaurant, and strolled among the town’s stunning architecture. The next morning, we visited the famous Burgos Cathedral—arguably the most beautiful Gothic cathedral I’ve ever seen. As a Christian, it was a deeply surreal and emotional experience.
After that, we headed to La Rioja, and ate lunch with a breathtaking countryside view that looked like it was straight out of a movie. We then toured the Marqués de Riscal winery—the most renowned in the world. It was the coolest cultural excursion I had abroad. We visited the vineyards, production and storage facilities, and even did a wine tasting! The bodega is also famous for its hotel, designed by the architect behind the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao—absolutely stunning. Afterward, we made our way to Pamplona, where we toured the city and saw where the encierro (running of the bulls) takes place during the San Fermín festival. We also visited the Plaza de Toros and learned about the history of bullfighting in a unique, interactive way. I have to admit—my favorite part was when we chased each other around the arena with mock bulls (wheelbarrows) pretending to be bullfighters! Before returning to Madrid, we had lunch at a restaurant where Ernest Hemingway wrote The Sun Also Rises. This trip to Northern Spain was unexpectedly the most fun I’ve had, filled with amazing people, food, and sights. It was also personally meaningful: I discovered that my last name, Zurita, and my ancestors are from that region. I even walked past a restaurant in Pamplona called Zurita—and later learned that zurito means “little cup of wine” in Basque!
For our final program excursion, we took a day trip to Segovia and La Granja. Walking through the city, seeing the aqueduct, and visiting the cathedral were all surreal experiences—but nothing compared to the Alcázar (castle). Walking to and through the castle felt like an absolute fever dream. No wonder—it served as inspiration for Walt Disney’s early films and Disneyland castles. Strolling through the Arab-inspired rooms, gazing out at the forests and mountains, and exploring the medieval artillery displays felt like a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Climbing the tower’s narrow staircase to reach the top—despite the claustrophobia—was worth it for the breathtaking views. My favorite parts of these group excursions were often the free time when I could wander a city solo or share food and laughter with friends. Our second stop was the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso. Though the palace interiors were beautiful (as expected), my favorite part was the gardens’ fountains. Spain conserves water carefully due to drought risk, but they turned on the fountains for the first time that season. One fountain surprised us by spraying water outside its base, soaking many people, but we laughed and loved every second. While our destinations always exceeded expectations, it was the journey—the bus rides filled with chatter, laughter, and views of mountain ranges—that stood out as some of my favorite moments.
Although I had loads of fun with my program throughout the semester, the end-of-semester activities are what I still think about most since returning home. Finals were surprisingly nostalgic—they marked my last time in UAM classrooms with UAM professors and close friends I’d made in just a few short months. The final Friday of the program was probably my favorite day. That morning, we had our flamenco showcase where my classmates and I performed the routine we’d been learning all semester in front of our cohort and host families. My host sister, Celia, came to the show—and it marked a milestone in our relationship. The performances were a success, and afterward, we enjoyed delicious tapas together. Later that evening, our program hosted a final dinner where we dressed up and dined at a lovely restaurant in Sol with our cohort, directors, and professors. I laughed and cried during the speeches—it was all very emotional. I spoke with my cinema and comparative politics professors about my love for film and Real Madrid, which became one of my most meaningful networking moments. But saying goodbye to María Ángeles and Isidro was harder than I could have imagined. For our last hurrah, most of the cohort went out together that night—it’s now one of my most cherished memories from abroad.
During the second half of my time in Madrid, I tried to soak in as much of the city as possible. I attended the Mutua Madrid Open (tennis), visited the Mercado de Motores, toured the Bernabéu Stadium museum, and finally went to a Real Madrid game—a dream come true. I formed lifelong friendships with my GW cohort, a fellow madrileño, and my host family. Leaving was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I miss taking the metro and strolling through Sol, Gran Vía, Malasaña, Nuevos Ministerios, Retiro, and my very own Valdezarza. But I’ll be back—Madrid can count on that.
Persia Zurita
Spring 2025
GW Madrid (GW Study Program)
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs Major