Japan 2023: Gratitude for the Journey

Japan 2023: Gratitude for the Journey

By Travelgirl Abisola

To our beloved Cinnamongirl family, the Travelgirl cohort would like to express a heartfelt 'arigatou gozaimasu' (thank you) to our wonderful donors, incredible parents, and our committed travel girl leads. This journey would not have been possible without any of you!

Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, the world's busiest pedestrian crossing, was a great welcome to Japan. Our exploration of the Tsukiji Fish Market led us to traditional flavors of Japan, such as fried fish cakes, fresh tuna, and so much more. We stepped into a whole new world at the Team Labs immersive art experience, and dove into the past at the historic Kaminarimon Gate. A meeting with Motoko Rich at the New York Times office in Tokyo broadened our perspectives about journalism and the lives of women in Japan.

A day trip to Hakone offered us an entirely different perspective of this beautiful country. Our highlight was a visit to the Hakone Jinja shrine, where we deepened our understanding of Japanese religious practices. We embarked on a breathtaking boat ride to the base of Mount Fuji, culminating in a stunning aerial tram tour over the serene landscape. 

We had the privilege of meeting several Black Expats in Tokyo and Osaka, including Tia Haygood and Ayana Wyse, who shared their experiences and perspectives on Black lives in Japan. This was an important step on the journey to building global mindsets and really helped us Cinnamongirls imagine living a life outside of the states.

In Osaka we got hands-on experience at the Ramen Noodle Museum and were able to see Osaka Castle. In Kyoto, we engaged in insightful discussions with Dr. Fumiko Sakashita at Ritsumeikan University's Kinugasa Campus about the study of Blacks in Japan. We also immersed ourselves in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

At the heart of Cinnamongirl is our motto, "Girls Destined for Greatness." This sentiment resonated throughout our journey in Japan. Each experience, each cultural interaction, and every new understanding reflected this motto. It was not just about visiting a foreign land, but about expanding our horizons, understanding our global community, and appreciating the diversity of cultures that make up our world.

We Travelgirls are so grateful to everyone who supported us and helped us to see that the world is big, beautiful, and full of lessons for us. Here's to learning, growing, and journeying together!

With love and gratitude,

Travelgirl Abisola

Travelgirl Mexico City Trip – A Cinnamongirl's Perspective

Travelgirl Mexico City Trip – A Cinnamongirl's Perspective

By Cinnamongirl Masai'a

This summer I got the opportunity to travel to Mexico with twelve other Black and Brown women and girls. The cohort consisted of eight Cinnamongirls, including myself, and five adult mentors. This trip was originally scheduled for last summer and the destination was Cargetena, Colombia. We had already researched the history and lifestyle of Colombia and fun activities to do there. However, due to the pandemic, our trip was postponed and eventually the location had to change. Even though we were disappointed not to be going on the trip we had planned for, I was still enthusiastic about our venture to Mexico.

For the first part of the trip, we stayed in the heart of Mexico City. It was interesting to see how urbanized Mexico City was; I felt like I was in San Francisco. Some of the highlights of this trip were the Frida Kahlo museum and Teotihuacán, an ancient archaeological site. Both of these places were inspiring because it exhibited some of Mexican history. The Frida Kahlo museum, which was in Kahlo’s actual house, gave me a deeper understanding of her life and the meaning behind her art. In Teotihuacán, we learned about the mysterious people who built this enormous citadel and the pyramids beside it. The pyramids, culture, and the polytheistic nature of the Teotihuacán religion reminded me of ancient Egypt. This made me wonder if there is a connection between these ancient peoples. 

The last few days of the trip we spent in Zihuatanejo, a beach city on Mexico’s Pacific coast. We stayed in this beautiful villa right by the water. The peacefulness and tranquility of the villa was definitely a big highlight of this trip. It was nice getting to relax and enjoy the company of the other Cinnamongirls.

Being able to travel to another country with girls my age is a wonderful opportunity. Considering the year of isolation we’ve had, this trip was much needed. I appreciated exploring a new country and learning new things with my fellow Cinnamongirls.

A Day in Sydney

A Day in Sydney

By Cinnamongirl Mariah

To commence our last full day in Sydney before heading to Cairns the cohort started the day by branching off: Everyone could do what they preferred. Some of us went to the mall to take advantage of great deals, while others, including me, went to the Museum of Contemporary Art. 

At this time, the Museum had only one floor open which provided us with ample time to look at all of the unique and colorful pieces without feeling rushed. Memorable works included a cartoon series by Joseph Selleny, images of the Hazara people by Khadim Ali, and oysters by Megan Cope. My personal favorite was a wall where every country was depicted as a room in a floor plan with all of the doors propped open, symbolizing the internationalism countries should adopt. 

After we soaked in all of the wonderful sights, we went to a local cafe and walked around the city. We tried the local version of hot chocolate and common pastries to see what Australians enjoy on a Sunday morning. My favorite was an apple crumble sprinkled with sugar even though it was devoid of the cinnamon I was accustomed to in American apple pastries. Another thing we noticed while walking around was that every alleyway was safe and smelled pleasantly inviting. Even on a chill day, many of the residents still donned chic clothes and designer handbags, as they walked the streets.

After returning from the Westfield mall or the museum, the cohort reconvened to walk to the Central Railway Station. The station looked like a building that could be in London. The train ride to Featherdale Wildlife Park, in the City of Blacktown, about 20 miles outside Sydney’s city center, was extremely smooth and we enjoyed playing games and laughing. 

Once we arrived at the Featherdale Wildlife Park we were all amazed at the freedom of the animals as they roamed right next to the visitors. It was nerve-racking to walk right next to kangaroos as they hopped around, especially with the fear in the back of my head that I would get kicked thanks to Instagram. After seeing parents feel comfortable letting their young children explore without restraint, I adopted the same trust with the calm animals. Luckily they did have a safe space within a fence where they could have a break and enjoy some lunch. Australian birds also appeared to be fearless as they flew around and went into the cages of every other animal in the park, including one of the deadliest birds in the world. The terrain consisted of mulch, trees, and grass in some areas for the animals to munch on. Each girl was given a passport and was able to check off the animals they saw with the stamps provided along the way. Many posed for pictures with kangaroos and a professional photo was taken with a koala. Both animals were extremely calm and remained relaxed even with all the people and traffic around them; this included them continuously being chased by children. 

We explored more and found wallabies, cassowaries, baby penguins, crocodiles, emus, tree kangaroos, and dingoes among other birds. On the way out souvenirs were purchased to document the experience and we went back to the station. While waiting in Blacktown for the whole group to arrive, we met three Black Australian girls who expressed interest in seeing Cinnamongirl expand to Australia! We exchanged information and promised to keep them informed of any future Cinnamongirl plans. After we arrived back at our hotel we enjoyed some quality time with one another and headed to sleep to prepare for our next flight. 

A common theme we’ve noticed in Australia was the amount of attention we attracted from others. It usually involved constant stares but one man on the train vocalized his surprise. “I’ve never seen so many of them in one place,” he explained as he was walking by. While he most likely meant well, that did not stop an awkward silence from descending over us for a few seconds. Regardless of those rare incidents, many Australians have been extremely welcoming and even complimented our intricate braided hairstyles. They appear to be more hospitable than Americans as a whole and it encouraged many of us to consider acting the same once we return home and notice tourists visiting California. This experience has been amazing so far and we are all excited to see what awaits us in Cairns, Queensland.