This family traveled for a year. Here are the biggest mistakes they made

Life-changing experiences, unforgettable memories and beautiful pictures — these are things that come to mind when people think of a year-long family trip. 

But there are also blunders behind the adventures, said Margaret Bensfield Sullivan, recalling the year she spent abroad with her husband and two kids.

From encountering piranhas in Brazil to getting trapped in an airport in Mozambique, the Sullivans endured many unexpected challenges during their trip to 29 countries.

"I think people were very surprised that we were doing this because we did not fit the profile of a family that you picture when you think of a family that would do this," Sullivan said. "Our lives were good. We were settled, coming along — two great kids, nice careers, apartment, a dog."

But that changed after Sullivan, who previously worked as a partner at a brand marketing agency in New York, came back from a work trip in Tanzania in 2017, which she described as an "eye-opening event." 

The trip made her realize the world was big, and her life operated in a such a small fraction of it.

"So I had to ask myself: 'What else am I missing because I'm busy at work or consumed with the daily tasks of my life?'" she said. "And I realized our family kind of needed a shake-up. We needed to get out there and see what was going on."

Plus, Sullivan said she wanted to spend time with her family while she still had the chance. 

"I worry that I will wake up one day, and ask myself: 'Where did the time go?'" she said. "Taking a year off like this was a way to future-proof against regret."

Before they left, Sullivan and her husband Teddy, an entrepreneur, spent months preparing for their year abroad. She said they had both reached natural stopping points in their careers, so