Hello from the other side of the ocean. It's been a month, but honestly it feels as if I'm been in London for much longer. At the same time, I really did just get here. I am both engaged and disconnected at the same time with the goings-on of this city--I don't yet feel at home here, and yet things are starting to feel familiar. I keep asking myself, "am I doing study abroad correctly?" and then grappling with my thoughts because who am I, at just a month in, to know if I'm doing it the right way or not. It's an odd sensation, honestly. What I'm beginning to realize, however, is that there's no real right or wrong way to do this. But there are some things that every student studying abroad should know--not so that they have the right experience, but so they let themselves have a good one.

1. Missing your friends is okay.

You might have one or two friends with you while studying abroad, but the majority of them are still back across the ocean. You'll miss them a lot. And you might not think so, but they miss you, too. And while it's okay to miss them and want to keep in touch, it's also okay to make new friends with the people in your study abroad group. Don't let snap judgements you made in your first year of college stop you from getting to know someone while you're here. You might not have run in the same circles back on campus, but you never know how cool they might really be. Also, don't always hang out with the same two people, either-- go to group lunches and events, find people with common interests or places they want to visit, be a tourist with the people you don't know as well. You're all here to experience this amazing country and culture, so why not do it together? You're not replacing the friends you have back home, and you'll still Skype with them and talk through Facebook, but also let yourself make new friends, too. It's okay if that takes some time.

2. Don't be afraid of being a tourist.

I know none of us want to be the person that the locals laugh at as we take selfies in front of all of the tourist locations, but also let yourself experience everything the country you're in has to offer. That means spending a few days to do those touristy things. It's worth it to get a selfie in front of Big Ben or the Eiffel Tower, or whatever big landmark the country you're in has to offer. Go to the museums. Take pictures. Post them on Facebook or Instagram. One, you'll be able to look back on all of your experiences and two, your friends and family will be happy to know you're having a good time. In all honesty, the locals aren't going to care much if you go to all the tourist spots, odds are you won't see much of them there anyway. As long as you're polite in your adventures, I promise that no one is going to laugh at you or judge you. After you're done being a tourist, check out the local favorites and experience that side of things, too.

3. You have a lot of time, but it will go so quickly

It'll feel like there's no time to do everything you want to do, but there is. During your first few weeks, sit down and make a list of all of the places and sites you want to go to. If you're traveling, book those flights and hostels as early as possible. You'll feel better once you'd made some plans, but also leave weekends and evenings open so that if the moment hits you, you can go to that one museum or see Buckingham Palace, or try that restaurant every magazine was raving about. You have time to experience everything, you just have to slow down and let it happen. However, four months (or however long your program is) will go by very quickly. It can sometimes be overwhelming how fast time is flying. But you're doing okay and you're making wonderful memories. It might feel like you're wasting time, but I promise you you're not. Even if you go to the same market every weekend, or only go see one show, you're living in another country and that's amazing. Make the most of your time, but also don't forget about the magic of the little moments.

4. Try new things

Eat lots of new foods. Go to places you don't know anything about. Ask questions. Immerse yourself in this new culture and country and everything it has to offer. A lot of times people let their fear of trying something new stop them from some of the best experiences. As someone with anxiety, I 100% feel this, but try as much as you can to go out of your comfort zone. That may mean doing things alone; sometimes taking yourself on a solo-date can be the most liberating thing, sometimes traveling alone can open your eyes to new perspectives, and sometimes getting lost in a city is really fun. Don't be afraid to go out there and find new experiences--that's what being abroad is about.

5. Know your public transport

Seriously, learn your way around your city. Know what train line you need to get to and from your classes and where you're living. Know how to get to the grocery store, and how to get to at least a hand-full of cheap restaurants (trust me when you're craving a burger and fries it pays to know where to go). Learn the bus routes, too, in case you're out past when the train stops running, or in case of emergency. As long as you know the general area around you and what line you live off of, train-wise, no matter how lost you get in the city, you will be able to find your way home. And that's important. It's really stressful at first, but once you get it, you can really start going out and exploring and letting yourself have a good time.

6. Budget budget budget

Depending on your program, you may get a food and/or travel stipend. Your program may supply you with a certain number of meals a week, or it may not. Either way, it's so so so important that you budget your money and make sure you have enough so that you can eat. Souvenirs are great, but surviving is better. And while yes you can survive on cup-noodles and plain croissants, it's a lot more satisfying to be able to eat real food, even if it's just every once in a while. If you can, go grocery shopping--pick up some pre-made sandwiches or snacks so that you have some food. Keep track of how much money you spend every day (write it down if that helps) so that you aren't ever taken by surprise by your wallet. But also be prepared that you might be broke during your experience--don't panic if it happens, just do your best to keep going until you get your next stipend/etc. Again, food is more important than buying 10,000 keychains.

There are other things that are also important, like not losing your passport and papers, and making sure you do some research before you get to your country, but these are the things that have been the most important for my experience so far. Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity--do your best to make the most of it! And that could mean scrapping every single thing I've said here; this is a personal experience, so do what's good for you, and just try to have fun.