Traveling can be so much fun and you will make some of the most unforgettable experiences of your life! Traveling can also be terrifying and you will make some life experiences that you will probably hope to forget forever. Either way, there’s a lot of things you’ll learn on your adventure, especially when you have stayed local or haven’t traveled by yourself much.

1. How in the hell do you call for a taxi?!

It’s okay to sit on the curb crying while trying to google how to get a cab in Italian. Just remember to ask the old man next to you for help, because he might, in fact, be a taxi driver.

2. Public transportation isn’t as scary as it seems.

Although crime shows may tell you otherwise, buses, trains, and planes are generally very safe ways to get around the country. Strangers are usually pretty friendly and will try to help you if you are also friendly.

3. Locals can, and will, make fun of you.

Whether it’s because you’re vegetarian, wearing a silly fanny pack, or pronounced hello wrong, local people will probably laugh at you, sometimes frequently. Don’t take it personally.

4. You should have practiced Duolingo more than 30 minutes.

Whether it’s the basic; “dondé está el baño?” or something more serious like explaining an allergy, you definitely should have familiarized yourself with the language more before you came.

5. Always have an extra roll of toilet paper.

Maybe you’re in Europe and the toilet in sans paper. Maybe you’re in the middle of the country with no close bathroom. Don’t forget your roll, just don’t.

6. Jet lag is the biggest b***h ever.

Forget the museum tours, it’s time to sleep for fifteen hours straight.

7. Your mom was right when she told you to pack extra medicine.

Traveling takes advantage of you and your compromised immune system. If you don’t want to suffer from coughing your lungs up for a week, you should probably buy some DayQuil or at least some cough drops.

8. You don’t have enough storage on your phone to keep taking pictures of everything.

Your friends really don’t need to see a tenth picture of you next to some building. Pictures are amazing memories, but you really should stop. Please.

9. There can be villages of ONLY 10,000 people.

Just because your town was population 300 doesn’t mean small towns are that tiny all over the world. In Europe, there can be small villages of many people and it can seem just as small-town as your hometown.

10. Smoking is still cool.

Cigarettes can give you cancer, but that doesn’t stop the majority of Europe and the world from using them.

11. Bartering is normal.

Haggling to bring a price down is something you should expect when you go shopping, so be prepared to negotiate with vendors.

12. America is everywhere.

No matter where you go, you can usually find at least one, if not more, people who speak English. Stores will sell Oreos, Nike, and other things from the US. Whether you like it or not (I personally don't), other cultures are becoming increasingly globalized.

13. It is okay to be lazy.

Lazy isn't a great descriptor, but it is very normal in other countries to be slow with work or to spend an hour or so at meals. It is okay to sit around and do nothing, not everything has to be productive or done in a rush.

14. Kisses on the cheek are your new favorite thing.

In many other cultures, kisses on each cheek are a usual greeting. Personal space sometimes just doesn't exist, so get ready to be out of your comfort zone.

15. Living in the moment is important.

Stop thinking about what you'll do when you get back home. Forget about the caption you need to devise for your latest Insta post. Don't Snapchat every little thing that you do. To truly enjoy your travels, get to know the people that you're with and learn as much as you can from them. Live in the present and love every minute of it, because this is a trip you'll never forget.