Prepping for my trip!
Hey friends! So as you read in my previous blog, I joined a travel group, and it was already exciting enough to be heading to South Korea. BUT plot twist—since it's a group trip, we're also going to Japan! Not just one city either—THREE cities!
Now, here’s the thing: I didn’t know a single thing about Japan. Nada. Zip. But with only three months to prep, I knew I had to get my act together. Cue research mode!
My Japan Prep List 📋
I started listing out all the things I wanted to figure out before the trip:
- Must-see spots (because FOMO is real)
- Where to get my nails done (Japanese nail designs are the best!!)
- Restaurants near the hotels (priorities, okay?)
- Coffee shops to vibe at ☕
- Shopping must-haves
- Currency conversion tips (iykyk 💸)
After a month of deep internet dives, the travel group chat was finally created! There were about 13 of us, mostly from the UK. One girl named Fatima, who lives in the NY area and is around my age, slid into my DMs. We exchanged contact info and decided to be roommates—yay, roommate secured! 🎉
Booking the Flights ✈️
Next on the list: book those tickets! I asked my dad to help me find the best deal. I also told him I wanted to stay a bit longer in South Korea to hang out with my friend Kimmy. After some back-and-forth, I booked my flights from May 24 to June 10. It's happening!!
Getting Travel Ready 🛍️
With just a month left, I went into full-on prep mode. Here's what I did:
- Got my international driving license for $20 because I really want to do the Street Kart experience in Tokyo (driving in a go-kart around the city? Yes, please!) 🚗💨
- Hopped onto Amazon and bought:
- Mini makeup wipes
- Compression socks (24-hour travel day vibes)
- A cute little bag for my wallet and passport
- And way too many other “essentials” 😂
- Bought some American candy for Kimmy because she made a special request (friends who love candy are the best, right?)
The Countdown ⏰
The day before my trip was my sister’s graduation, so I celebrated with her, got home, and then woke up at 4 AM to get ready for my flight to JAPAN!!!
Stay tuned for my next blog where I'll spill all the details about my super long travel day and what it was like flying alone as a young Muslim girl.
Catch ya soon! ✨