Andrés López Schrader participated in the Artistic Activism, Social Justice, and Radical Education in Third Space Study Abroad program during Summer 2026. Read more about Andrés's experience studying in Madrid, Spain.
Favorite Moments From the Experience:
Favorite Food: Vegan food at Forbidden Fruit
Right across from the Condeduque museum, Forbidden Fruit topped my list of favorite culinary spots in Madrid. This vibrant vegan restaurant instantly won me over with its unique, colorful decor, fresh fruit smoothies, and incredibly thoughtful, purposeful flavor profiles. It became the perfect, nourishing spot to refuel.
Favorite Experience: Hearing my peer final projects
Our culminating class session was a top moment for me. After living and learning intensely together for two weeks, hearing my peers present their final projects was incredibly inspiring. Each presentation beautifully illuminated their unique personalities and professional passions, woven together with the academic coursework and shared travel experiences we had just lived through. It was the perfect, bittersweet celebration of our cohort's growth.
Favorite Human connection: Dancing in El Retiro: Quien Baila no Pena with POM
We visited POM, a dance space and residency program associated with Condeduque, and were invited to join their outdoor workshop, "¿Quién baila, no pena?" (Those who dance, do not suffer), in the iconic El Retiro Park. Spending a gorgeous, sunny afternoon learning traditional Spanish folklore dances alongside local Madrileños and tourists alike was pure magic. It was the ultimate embodiment of a joyful, active "third space" where art, culture, and community effortlessly collided.
What is something I want to remember about today or this week?
Here, a friend and I are participating in a folklore dance session led by POM in El Retiro park.
Today I was reminded of the beauty of spontaneity in Madrid through sweet treats and an unexpected community connection. Arriving early for our workshop with Pedagogías Invisibles and Basurama, I stumbled into an Ecuadorian bakery and had a wonderful conversation with the baker about how she introduces South American flavors to the Spanish palate. The serendipity didn't stop there; shortly after the workshop, while we were relaxing outside a local restaurant, we struck up a spontaneous conversation with Dwayne, a Villaverde local. He noticed our group and, after a casual introduction, we discovered he had unexpectedly heard about the activist groups we encountered during the course and had even partnered with Basurama on multiple projects! Hearing his firsthand experiences and worldview felt like our syllabus coming to life right at the lunch table. It was a powerful reminder that "third spaces" and activism are actively shaping the neighborhoods around us.
How Has This Experience Impacted My Worldview?
We participated in a street art and graffiti walking tour that ended in a hands-on stencil and spray workshop. These are some of our masterpieces in development.
Studying in Madrid deeply strengthened my belief that family histories and "democratic memory" are vital, legitimate sources of knowledge. During a workshop with the collective Liminalidad at the Matadero cultural center, we were tasked with mapping history using our own senses and personal experiences as primary sources. Hearing about the historical silencing of Franco’s regime unexpectedly resonated with my own family’s reticence to discuss their experiences with violent conflicts in Colombia, proving how deeply intertwined our personal geographies are with global history. While I already center my students' lived experiences and cultural wealth in my French and Spanish classes, this trip inspired me to push those boundaries further. Moving forward, I am excited to intentionally integrate my students' own family stories and place-based memories into our curriculum, using language learning to cultivate a deeper level of intercultural empathy.