Meet Jenny

Hi, I'm Jenny!

A few years ago, I made the decision to step outside of my comfort zone and move to Tokyo, Japan to study Japanese at a language school. It was a decision I put off for almost a year because, in many ways, my life was exactly how I had always imagined it would be. I had my dream high-rise apartment overlooking Lake Michigan, my two cats by my side, a brand-new couch, and for the first time in my life, I was living completely on my own.

But despite all of that, I couldn't shake the feeling that there had to be something more.

I had always dreamed of traveling and seeing the world, but I convinced myself that I needed a lot of money to do it, (stems from growing up in a low income immigrant family). I also spent years waiting for the "right time" or for friends or boyfriends to want to travel with me. It wasn't until one of my best friends decided to spend three months traveling solo through Europe that I started questioning what was stopping me from doing the same.

Through Jenny En Route, I'll be sharing my travels, Japan guides, and the lessons I've learned along the way in hopes of inspiring others to stop waiting for the "perfect" time and start creating a life that excites them. Whether you're planning your first trip to Japan, dreaming of moving abroad, or simply looking for the courage to take a chance on yourself, I'm so glad you're here!

After all, life isn't about having everything mapped out, sometimes the best adventures happen when you're simply en route.

Then one day, while scrolling on TikTok, I came across a video asking, "Do you want to study Japanese in Japan?" I was immediately hooked. I scheduled a call to learn more about the process, but afterward, I still wasn't sure how I could save enough money to make it happen. So, I waited.

Until one day, I realized that if I didn't do it now, I might never do it.

I was approaching 30 and still hadn't traveled nearly as much as I had hoped. Japan had always been at the top of my bucket list. Ever since I was little, watching my older sister play the video game Shenmue, I dreamed of visiting Japan, and now I had the opportunity to actually live there.

I didn't have everything figured out, but I finally understood something that changed my life: you don't have to have all the answers before taking the first step. Sometimes, you make the decision first, and the rest will fall into place.

That leap of faith led me to one of the most transformative experiences of my life.