Moving home after year abroad!

Jessica Kravitz Start Date: Nov 1, 2018 - End Date: Mar 30, 2019
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Vacation/Personal Trip
  • Professional Development
  • New York, NY, United States of America

My Travel Story

by: Jessica Kravitz Start Date: Nov 1, 2018 - End Date: Mar 30, 2019
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Vacation/Personal Trip
  • Professional Development
Hi everybody! Welcome to my Travel Story!

My name is Jess. I am a 28-year old, world traveler, go-getter, adventurer, yogi, virgo, coffee addict, foodie and pescatarian.

I have just spent a year and a half abroad fufilling a life long dream to visit Japan and teach English as an ESL teacher. My time abroad is coming to an end and I am planning to move back to my hometown of the Big Apple (New York, NY) to pursue my dream career as an actor and start my masters degree in Philosophy. 

However, I need a little bit of help funding an apartment and my airfare home (Japan is expensive), mostly my airfare since my accomodation goal is going towards 1 months worth of rent in NYC. My most important goal is to fund my airfare home. I have listed a breakdown below to help you better understand why my airfare cost is so high. 

Here is the breakdown for my airfare cost: 

My goal is to book as near to a direct flight as possible (I will have to transfer in Tokyo regardless because of where I live). I am trying to mimimize my travel and transfer time because I am a tiny person with two large suitcases (sorry a girls charm can only go so far). I would rather not spend extra money staying in a hotel overnight in Tokyo to then fly directly home the next day or have to wait for a 5 hour layover in China or a 16 hour layover in Russia (I have looked long and hard and these are two of the most common transfer places for where I live in Japan).   

The nearest airport to me is about an hour away by bus or train in Ehime, Japan (on the island of Shikoku) in a city called Matsuyama. From where I live there is no direct way to get to the airport unless I can find a friend to drive me. The most hassle free way to get to the Matsuyama airport is by taking a 35 min limited express train (cost one-way is ¥1480 or approx. $15) plus a 15 min bus ride (cost one-way 460¥ or about $5).

 From where I live there are only three ways to get to Tokyo (minus driving 9 hours):

#1: Overnight bus which leaves once a day at 6:35pm and costs roughly 12,000¥ (approx. $120) and takes 12 hours plus the cost of getting to the airport and/or a hotel room if I have to leave a day early in order to make my flight. 

#2: 2 bullet trains plus whichever subways or trains I need to take to the airport once I arrive in Tokyo. It takes roughly 6 and a half hours and costs roughly 20,000¥ (approx. $200).

#3: Direct domestic flight, cost ranges anywheres from 5,800¥ to 30,000¥ ($58 to $300) depending on the airline and time.
*A great option if I can time the domestic and international flights right but again a bit tricky and a bit of a hassle because of how much luggage I have. Also, if I can't time the flights right, I need to then factor in hotel costs.

I know my flight cost may come across as somewhat expensive to some of you, especially to those of you who have travelled to Japan before and have had much cheaper flight experiences. However, I would really like to be able to book one flight which has a direct connection in Tokyo and not have to go through customs twice in two different foreign countries (once in Japan and once in whichever transfer city) where I don't speak the language and also fear they will lose my luggage. 

My trip here was truly a once in a life-time experience filled with so much professional and personal growth. I just want it to end on a happy note with as little stress as possible. There will already be so many other things to worry about once I arrive back in NYC.

So, I am reaching out to you -- friends, family, aquaintences and those I haven't yet had the pleasure to meet to help me reach my financial goals before coming home. In exchange, I will help out towards any philanthrophy in any way either financially (after my goal has been met) or by actively participating once I arrive back in NY. Feel free to get in touch: Jess.kravitz90@gmail.com. I am also willing to include a special shoutout for your social media handle on my instagram page: @kravitz_rabbit.

Love and god bless <3
  • New York, NY, United States of America

Updates

3

  • Thank You So Much!!

    Big warm thank you to Natasha Cassidy!! It means the world that you are supporting me to come home. Love you.

    Also, Thank you so much for your donation Ray. It means so much. xx

  • Big Thanks

    Christine! Thank you so much for helping towards my travel goals! You're amazing. Love you. xoxox <3

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