20 tips for future study abroad students

We're all given a lot of general study abroad tips before we jet off for wherever our program is located, but rarely are we given concrete inside information. Here are some tips that I've put together, some of which I knew going in and still think were helpful, others which I wished I had known before. A lot of these may apply more so for those who are in a place like Europe, where you will probably be doing a lot of traveling. ¡Buen viaje!

1. Travel a lot, but make sure to appreciate the city you're studying in.
2. It's a good idea to invest in a large travel backpack. Get something that's larger than a regular-sized backpack, but small enough to use as carry-on baggage on airplanes. REI sells a lot of good ones.

3. Bring empty travel bottles (100mL or less) for traveling. (Especially if you come with big bottles of sunscreen — you can dump some in these rather than paying a fortune at the beach.)

4. Get a credit card that doesn't charge international fees (like Chase Sapphire).

5. Tell your bank before you leave what countries you think you'll be traveling to.

6. Look for hostels with breakfast included or at least offered. If you can't get an ideal hostel location, book one with a high "good atmosphere" rating.

7. Neck passport carriers/money belts sound dorky, but are actually a good idea. You're probably not going to listen to me, but at least I tried.

8. Don't worry too much about fitting in. Wear what you want. People will know you're American no matter what you do.

9. Separate yourself from your camera. Selfies with the camels in Morocco may seem like a good idea at the time, but later you're going to wish you had let your own eyes soak in the sights more.

10. Go-to websites: skyscanner.com, hostelworld.com, airbnb.com, eurolines.com.

11. Don't always compare things to how things are in the United States. A culture isn't about how it's different from another culture — treat it as its own entity, completely detached from others. This will help you accept those "cultural differences" easier.

12. Don't be afraid to travel alone.

13. If you haven't already, start a postcard collection.

14. Download Viber and WhatsApp. And Google Translate.

15. If you learn how to flirt in another language, you'll come back a pro in your native language.

16. When you're traveling, get a city map and circle your hostel/apartment on it. Then stick that map in your boot when you go out.

17. Travel hand sanitizer is a very good idea.

18. If you have a tablet, use it to read books rather than lugging around heavy paper books.
19. Don't lose sight of yourself when you're abroad. Crazy things are going to happen, but don't chalk it up to "yolo" every time.
20. Your study abroad experience is completely your own. Do what you want. Don't feel like you have to do what everyone else is doing, or "live up" to everyone else's stories. You're studying abroad for your benefit. Grow, and have fun. :)