你可以！ I can see why you would think they are similar, even I think they are similar. However, another way to look at "describe a long journey that you had" is your goals. Your goals in life are a journey. :)

"A long journey" is usually the time you spend traveling somewhere (going from A to B), although it can be, like Rosey said, a long process to achieve something. "Tie spent away from home" could also be the traveling but could be many more things as well. You don't necessarily have to be moving anywhere.