Dantzel Petersen

1st week in Seville  Spain is an absolutely delightful place! I have loved my first week in Spain because it has been simple but very enlightening. This week we started classes. One of my classes is on the history of Spain and being able to study the history while simultaneously walking Sevilla's streets is impactful.   This might seem silly. But this is my friend and I at the historic Plaza de Espana. It was created in 1928 and it is specifically impressive because it is a mix of Baroque, Renaissance, Moor, and Spanish art. We have been taught a lot about how Spain is a sort of melting pot for different peoples and being able to see physical evidence of that helps me really understand what a mixing of cultures means and how it impacts a place.   Here is a simple picture of my friends and I getting tapas in Spain! Getting Tapas might seem not education at all. Nevertheless it very much is. I know that personally for me that I believe that everyone is li...

Lisbon and Sintra Portugal I don't know if it because Lisbon and Sintra were the first cities I have explored outside the U.S. but my heart was absolutely taken by them. They were completely awe inspiring! Here are some of the things I learned from staying in Portugal. Cathedrals are out of this world. This might seem like the stupidest thing you have ever heard of. But previous to this study abroad I had no idea how impactful Cathedrals can be. I think seeing my first Cathedral in Lisbon taught me that a  good chunk of the world has overlapping believes. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and being able to feel the spirit and ponder in those Cathedrals was powerful! In regards to my career being able to recognize similarities among cultures will be essential! I want to be a diplomat and being able to witness this cathedral and see a peoples similar dedication to Christ was very impactful. . I also had the opportunity to be able to see Sintra Portugal which was absolutely i...

I feel like often in life we don't share our whole journey of any part of our lives and I am hoping to avoid that as best I can in this blog. My journey for my study abroad began 8p.m. on a Saturday night when I was dropped off about 10 hours before my flight. I filled the hours with a call to my beautiful sister Addy, watching the POST which due to the suspense in the movie left me kind of on the edge and then of course my nightly scripture study. a side note...Boy do I love the Book of Mormon! I was really impacted by a verse in Jacob 3:2 where  Jacob admonishes us to feast upon ...... nope not the scriptures Gods Love. I had never noticed that scripture before and have begun to wonder how I can actively feast on God's love! After that I tried to sleep. Now picture this I am in the huge Seattle Airport.. basically completely alone besides the occasional passer by. I fell asleep and woke up now and again until I fell in a pretty deep sleep from 12-2am at which point I cra...

The start of every new year is both taunting and exciting. I believe it thrills the hearts that seek constant newness of life or those of us with dreams that never stop giving. This new year I have been blessed to be presented with the gift of so many wonderful adventures. January through April I will be in Spain, Portugal, and then briefly in Italy, France, Denmark, and possibly Germany. In May I will be taking a trip that will ultimately be one of my biggest dreams coming true. I will be seeing Kenya with MY FAMILY. After that in June, July or August I will head out to serve the Lord. This year will be one of excitement but I hope that it will ultimately help me gain more perspective. I want to understand more of my fellow siblings across the world on the must human level possible.