By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Eleven-year-old Amanda, DeForest of Niles recently took the trip of a lifetime.
As part of the People to People program Amanda, spent 16 days down under and had the greatest experience.
Amanda was nominated by a teacher at Oak Manor to be part of the People to People program.
She was selected as one of the top 100 kids in Michigan, through her activities in school.
After Amanda found out she was one of the finalists, she had to go to a series of meetings and things to find out what her trip was going to be all about.
Amanda started her journey in Detroit with a five hour flight to Los Angeles and then it was a 14 hour flight to Australia.
While in Australia, Amanda and her mates from People to People learned how to properly throw a boomerang and to crack a whip, traveled to the outback and did a hike through the bush.
Amanda added, she hopes to travel back to Australia someday when she is older. On this trip she got a bit homesick but still had a great time.
One of Amanda's most favorite things she was able to experience on the trip was getting to see the famous Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Bridge both located in Sydney Harbor.