Aster 🍝🌿: I'M HERE!!

Thy 😊: WE'RE COMING!!

Thy 😊: wait which airport is it

Aster 🍝🌿: that chatty American is taking me to your place

Thy 😊: we haven't decided rooms yet and as the last to arrive we shall give you first pick

Gi 🤘: NO WE WON'T

<<*>>

"Bonjour!" a knackered Aster wheeled her suitcase in, offering the others a weary smile. "I will happily room wherever there is a bed so that I may sleep."

"Relate," Thy nodded solemnly. "Also, guys, I think the best way to decide who's rooming with who is to pull names out of a hat."

Giani blinked. "Do you...have a hat to hand?"

"No, I hadn't thought that far ahead."

"Okay," Imogen interjected, "This is getting a little ridiculous. I'd like to room with Mila, if they're okay with that."

"Of course!" Mila smiled brightly. "You okay with the one closest to the bathroom? I like to bag first shower."

"Wait, that's not fair!" Aster complained, but the other two raced to their new room, laughing evilly. "I'm going with Thy. He has the best view."

"I guess that leaves me alone?" Carlos sighed, looking between Giani and Lou. "Whatever. We have to go to the HQ later for our first day of Travel Huggers prep, don't forget."

<<*>>

@thyrex40 was the view from my plane ✈️

#travelhuggers #aeroplane

❤️ 32 💬 13

@aspenthemacaron jealous :(

@asterelodie bonjour!

  ↪ @thyrex40 ah, bonjour! 💕

       ↪ @asterelodie 💕💕

@i.imogenhazel love it!

<<*>> 

"Hi everybody!" Frankie smiled at them all. Giani scowled at her. "Today is the beginning your Travel Huggers crash course! I hope you've all settled in well. I thought we'd start with a nice PowerPoint presentation covering all the basics, and then you can ask me any questions!"

"This is just like school," Giani muttered, her scowl deepening. "I do not like this woman."

Frankie pretended not to hear, instead beginning her presentation.

Over the span of the next few days, the group learnt pretty much everything they would need to know for their trip.

Frankie started by explaining to them what Travel Huggers 'really meant'. According to her, they were an organisation designed to help young adults find themselves in the different countries and cultures around the world. (Not a pre-prepared speech at all.)

She also said it was to push them towards making new friends that they would never have met otherwise, which seemed fair.

They then had a first aid walkthrough and a CPR lesson, during which they were told that every Hub along the way would give them a kit which would have the emergency service number on it (America's was 911).

An explanation of how to help someone having an allergic reaction was also given and Mila nodded along (having an allergy to cat fur, they already knew all of this).

When it came to medication and vaccinations, it was confirmed that they all had the right vaccines. Frankie reassured them that as a part of the trip malaria pills would be supplied in the countries where they were needed.

The visa and healthcare card checks had already been done repetitively online, but Frankie made sure to check these also (in case they were fraud, quickly stating that any criminal activity is prohibited).

They had to go through the insurance policy and sign a couple more documents, also agreeing not to be any kind of phobic towards people, no matter what.

Frankie told them to follow the laws of each country no matter what (to make sure that if they were drinking, they were the right age, for example).

After explaining that most places they stay at should probably be Travel Huggers approved, she finally got onto the fun part.

Work experience and choosing activities.

"You'll want to allow tomorrow to go shopping as you've been having most of your meals here, and I recommend a day to pack before travelling to your next location, but other than the countries order, which is laid out before you, you have freedom to book activities and work experience! Most mundane things won't need booking, but some others need booking months ahead, so choose wisely and quickly," she advised before leaving them alone.

"I hope I never have to see that woman again," Giani sighed.

"Okay!" Thy grinned, cutting off any potential response Carlos could have made. "Shall we look at what they're offering?"

"Sure," Imogen offered him an easy smile. "Is there anything in San Fransico that catches your eye?"

"Yes," Aster glanced at the list. "The sheer amount of Starbucks drive throughs."

Lou and Mila exchanged a look. They'd stopped at Starbucks when they had arrived. (Aster didn't need to know that.)

"How about the Presidio of San Francisco?" Carlos pointed. "They've got a lot of museums and stuff."

"What's a presidio?" Giani frowned.

"A fortified military settlement," Lou read aloud the google results. "The San Francisco one just looks like a park."

"Ooh, there's so many beaches!" Imogen stared at the map longingly. "We have to go to at least one."

They all started talking over each other in excitement, and eventually they settled on a couple activities. (Ginny did get to pick a nice beach.)

"Hey, we should go out for a meal to celebrate this," Mila suggested, eyes shining hopefully.

"Let's get some actual food for our apartment first," Aster brought Mila back down to earth, but she seemed to notice this as she spoke again, trying to seem cheery. "Maybe we can have a nice dinner with whatever we purchase?"

Mila perked up again. "Okay!"

"I am not ready for the culture shock of whatever you guys eat," Giani folded her arms.

'Too much sunshine, sis!" Carlos pitched in, ruffling her hair.

<<*>> 

"Okay, what's the plan, chief?" Thy turned to Aster, who was leading them to the local supermarket.

"Uhh," Aster startled, surprised at being thrown into the role of leader so quickly. "I think we should get two carts and split into two groups, because I don't see seven people crowded around a cart trying to cram it with what they want working."

Aster, Thy and Carlos went together, and the rest of the girls (plus Mila) grabbed another trolley.

'Should we get toiletries as well?" Ginny asked. "I brought some of mine with me but there was only so much room in my suitcase."

"If you want?" Carlos shrugged. "Depends on whether you want to go somewhere fancier later. I'm guessing this grocery store will have limited selection."

"Okay, bye!"

Lou turned to the others. "You guys better help me around here: the only supermarket I shop at is Tesco, and I don't even know if you have those here."

"Don't worry," Imogen linked arms with her, smiling. "I'll be just as lost as you."

A/N 

Long time no see! finally finished this for you and while it could have been a better chapter, it's really helped me get back into writing this!

I do have an excuse for not writing this for a while though: I've been working on the research behind this, which is finally done! :D (I sorted out the dates being wrong!)

Next chapter they start their real adventure and I couldn't be more excited to share it with you all. 

I'll probably be doing lots of writing ahead so I can update frequently as I currently have injured feet and even if I manage to go to school later on I'll still be doing a lot of sitting down so I'll have plenty of time over the next few days as I (hopefully) recover. (My dad has got in contact with our local doctors and is trying to arrange an appointment so I'm hopeful they can recommend more exercises/stretches for my feet and help me out!)

Lots of love, Im <333