Preparing for study abroad is an equally nerve-wracking and exciting experience.

Before I left, I had so many questions: How do I prepare? What should I pack? What do I actually need to know?

While there’s no one-size-fits-all guide — every study abroad experience is unique — here are a couple of do’s and don’ts you should keep in mind before and during your experience.

Don’t overpack
Act as if you’re going on a trip for a few weeks and bring the essentials and some extra comforts. You’ll be able to stock up on basic toiletries and items while abroad. While you’re away, you’ll also be doing tons of shopping, so you’ll need some extra luggage room when packing to go back home.

Do stay open-minded
You’re going to a foreign country with different cultures, customs and foods than your own, so there are going to be things you’ve never seen or experienced before. It’s good to go into your study abroad knowing you’ll be trying new things.

Don’t slack on your classes
Life seems so unreal while you’re abroad — everything is exciting and moves quickly, making it easy to forget the main reason you’re there. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by classwork, so make sure to pace yourself between trips.

Do explore your host country
You’ll want to take advantage of your close proximity to countries surrounding your host country, but don’t forget about the country you chose to live in. Take some time to explore your host country, and use your weekends to travel to different regions and learn about the culture.

Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable
Traveling across the world is a scary experience. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your family and friends for support, and lean on the people you surround yourself with while abroad. It was hard for me to leave my family behind, but calling them every day and surrounding myself with friends here helped me stay strong.

Do keep a journal
This will probably be one of the most memorable and meaningful experiences of your life. You’ll likely want something to look back on in the future and reminisce about. Make sure to get souvenirs as well: keychains, magnets, postcards, socks or something to collect to show where you’ve been.

I’m a month out from leaving Madrid to go back to the United States, and I already have a box full of mementos, keepsakes and gifts from my travels that I’ll be bringing back with me. My time here has already been so memorable, and I’m so sad it’ll be ending soon. I’ll definitely miss the culture and how different life is here in Spain compared to Philadelphia and the U.S.