Prep for Departure

Phone Service:

1. Check with your carrier/phone provider to see what type of plan you are registered under.

- in my case, my carrier is T-Mobile and my plan includes free texting and free data when I go abroad. Basically, except for phone calls which cost 20 cents per minute, my phone functions as it would in America.

2. Unlock your phone (if needed)

- this process might take some time depending on your carrier so make sure to call them ahead of time. Unlocking your phone simply means you can buy a SIM card and use it abroad.

Money:

Note that this would be my first time in Japan so I'm not 100% sure how this whole currency exchange would work.

For credits/debits, there are ATM machines and words on the street is that their 7/11 is the to go place for this. I, personally, am bringing cash in addition to my card. You can exchange U.S. dollars to Japanese yen at places like the airport.

Pocket Wifi:

Pocket wifi are small devices that serves as a hotspot basically everywhere you go. Two popular pocket wifi websites are CD Japan and Sakura Mobile. Both offer good services as well as (I'm pretty sure) no return fees.

CD Japan is relatively cheaper from what I've seen about $78 for a month and a half of service, and of course the price will increase if you want to rent the pocket wifi for a longer time and at a faster internet speed.

Packing List

- 2 copies of passport, credit/debit cards, insurance info, acceptance letter, driver ID, flight itinerary, emergency contact info

- Clothes that can be layered and hand washed (dresses, shirts, pants, jackets)

- Comfortable shoes, dress shoes, socks

- Purses, wallet

- Laptop, phone, chargers, adaptors (if needed)

- Glasses, contacts (if you wear them)

- Personal items like makeup, skin-care, lotion, nail clippers/filer

- Basic toiletries (toothbrushes, shampoo)

To purchase:

- Medications (stomach ache, headache, allergies, colds, anti-malarial)

- Presents for host family