Life lessons aren’t always the easiest things in the world to deal with. I learned so much about myself, interacting with others, the world around me, and traveling alone on my recent study abroad trip. And of all the countries out there, I chose Australia. Meanwhile, literally halfway across the globe, my sister, Lisa, spent her time learning that in order to ensure a good future for yourself, you need to make sacrifices in your life. When we recently got together in the Dominican Republic for our first trip traveling by ourselves, with no other family around, it was interesting to see how for the past few months we had lived entirely different ways yet still found common ground and probably grew to know more about each other than we have ever known. It’s amazing how travel can do that to people – you become someone outside yourself and let things happen that you normally would object to; you see people for who they really are while on uncommon ground. My one hope is that by traveling back to Australia, with my sister along this time, it will give her as much purpose and meaning as it did to me. Going back would mean the world to me because before I had gone, I knew nothing of budgeting money. Because of that, I missed a lot of great opportunities to travel around Australia and see what it really has to offer besides just amazing people and great education. People are actually shocked to learn that I didn’t even see a kangaroo or visit the Great Barrier Reef. To me, it would mean redemption and seeing all the amazing people I met once again. To my sister, an amazing experience before she settles down completely to the long haul of school and her future. To both of us, it would mean an experience that could bring us closer than any time before. After all, there’s just something about traveling that does wonders for sisters … and friends.