Everyone said this trip would be a life-altering experience. As much as I hate to admit it, and as cliché as it sounds, it's true. Getting out and seeing the world is something everyone should do for himself or herself at some point in life. When you go, be sure to take these tips (which I gathered from a few mistakes I made along the way)with you:

1. Do not be fooled by phone cards that offer ridiculous rates. When something sounds too good to be true, like 5 cents per minute to the United States, it usually is. Hidden in the small print are the words "not a flat rate" and "connection fee." The real costs are closer to five cents from 2 a.m. until 2:30 a.m.; all other times of the day run you about $2/minute. What's more, there's usually a connection fee every time you connect, even if it is just to leave a 30-second message. Phone cards are a great way to keep in contact with people back home, so long as you read the fine print.
2. Do not be tempted by the little things. They add up. Skip the afternoon coffee or the midnight candy bar. Save money for things you couldn't get elsewhere. Coffee and chocolate are still available in the United States, so just wait until you get back to get these everyday items.
3. Do spend money on the one thing that warrants it: pictures. When you get home, pictures and memories will be all you have left. Take lots of pictures. So what if you look like a stupid tourist? You are, in fact, a stupid tourist. And, while on the topic of pictures, don't let your camera get stolen or damaged. Apparently, cameras don't like sand and lens caps are there for a reason.
4. Do use online banking. Although checking my account usually caused me to shed a few tears, I found that transferring money online was much less painful than getting denied by an ATM.

Hopefully, I've given you a head start to wherever your final destination might take you. Now, instead of worrying about which phone card to go with, you'll be able to spend time discovering things about yourself you never knew existed on the white sandy beaches of some tropic locale.
 

Editor's Note: On February 4, Jennifer Gerwick, assistant editor at brass, and friend Moya Duncan left for five months to visit the land down under. With little money, no experience, and absolutely no clue of what was in store for them, Jennifer and Moya went to Australia to work for room and board at a local sheep ranch. We decided to follow her journeys with an eight-part series titled "Aussie Down Unda."