I am writing to you all now in a state of delirium, as I have not slept in 32 hours (excluding a one-hour power nap). I am currently in my new bedroom in Seville, Spain and am reflecting on the past 17 hours. There were laughs, there were a few tears and there were many surreal moments as I journeyed over to this beautiful city. Here are just a few lessons I learned while traveling internationally with just me, myself and I.

1. Do not get too stressed or anxious.

My trip began with an emotional breakdown in front of the bag check lady when she told me I needed my return flight information to go on this trip (which I did not have). She phrased it as "Your return flight e-ticket number is necessary for you to leave the country. Either find it or book a flight back to America right now." My dad had just left JFK airport 15 minutes prior and was facing heavy traffic on his way back to New Jersey. Did he even book the flights yet? Will I be able to reach him? Basically, I was a nervous wreck attempting to think of ways to tell my professor that I would not arrive in Spain on time -- if at all. However, I was thankfully able to fix everything in less than 40 minutes. Crisis averted.

2. Do not be afraid to ask the airport employees for help.

I was surprised at how many people knew English in Spain. Many airport employees and even local passengers are bilingual or can at least speak a basic level of English. Do not waste your time walking around in circles trying to find your gate. Ask them for help and they will guide you in the right direction. It will save you a lot of time and energy.

3. Do not order coffee in another language unless you are 110 percent sure it is correct.

This was also before I knew that the employees spoke English. I tried to order a regular iced coffee but somehow got a latte with whole milk. Close enough.

4. Pack light.

As I was unpacking my suitcase an hour ago, I realized that I probably will not end up wearing a quarter of the clothes I brought. Save yourself a suitcase and pack light. You will also definitely buy souvenirs and clothes while abroad, so save room in your suitcase to bring things back home to your family.

I have learned from these travel mistakes and will continue to make mistakes during my time abroad this summer. The best piece of advice that I received from my friend was to enjoy every moment of your study abroad or vacation abroad. Time will go by fast, so don't waste your time being stressed or upset. Just soak it all in.