Pre-Trip

I double-checked my bags and said good-bye to my family before heading towards my gate. This would be my first time traveling by myself and my first time in Asia. I had been on trips with my friends where I had to be responsible for myself. I was nervous, but I knew that I would be okay.

Communicating in Japan would be a challenge. I had completed the entire Duolingo unit on Japanese. I knew the hiragana and katana alphabet. I knew a few kanji characters, but not many. There were a few translator apps on my phone, but I did not want to make a fool of myself in those apps gave incorrect translations. I desperately tried not to be the dumb American stereotype while abroad.

I set off with my notebook in hand to record everything; every thought, sight, and smell. I wanted to remember this adventure for the rest of my life.

There were so many firsts on this trip. I lived in rural Pennsylvania, I had never been to a 7/11 yet alone a Japanese 7/11. There were so many things I never experienced that many of my peers have. From public transportation to navigating a city, these were things I had not ever had to do before. There is one more thing to know about my trip that added to challenge, I would have limited phone usage too. I would have to rely on wifi the whole trip, but wifi is not as widely available as one would think.

After 15 hour flight, I arrived at Narita Airport a little exhausted. I would have to ride a train to Tokyo Station and then ride a local train to Ueno and walk the rest of the way to my hostel. The next day my project would truly begin.


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