Who she is

Elaina is from Canada and was 24 when she joined our Japan trip, departing 17 November 2025.

Going in

When she first booked, she was miserable in her job and questioning whether she even wanted to stay in nursing. By the time the trip came around she had left her ER nursing position and finished training in a new department at a different hospital. She was also going through a friendship breakup that devastated her.

Her biggest fear was not clicking with anyone and ending up alone. That disappeared almost immediately. She met some of the women who had arrived early on the first day, and within minutes she knew everything was going to be okay.

The trip

The memories were hard to narrow down. A sushi-making class in Tokyo was a highlight for a self-described foodie. Seeing Mount Fuji from the viewpoint and again from the Shinkansen felt surreal after dreaming of Japan for so long. In Takayama she stayed overnight at a temple, took part in morning meditation and ate some of the best Hida beef of her life. On the way to Osaka, feeding the deer in Nara was another favourite.

What surprised her most was realising almost everyone had the same fears she did.

What changed

She came back with new confidence, amazing memories and friendships she never expected to make.