So here is a non-exhaustive list of things I've learnt in the past six months that I've spent away from home, in no particular order or seriousness whatsoever (also a mini disclaimer that these are just things I've learnt on my own and do not apply to the general population and are also not meant to be offensive):

• You'll meet people who don't know where Singapore is on the map -- it's normal, open Google maps and zoom in on our little island
• Do not put an egg in a bowl of water into the microwave in an attempt to make a hard-boiled egg -- it will explode
• Because we're Asian, a lot of people generally don't expect us to be able to speak English -- make an effort to talk to strangers first because they probably won't make the first move in fear of embarrassing us should we not be able to speak English
• If in doubt (whether you're trying to get to somewhere or looking for something), always ask someone because they're almost always more than willing to help
• Download Google maps offline, it's a life-saver!!!
• Travel without data -- it makes you more aware of your surroundings
• It's impossible to travel glam carrying a massive bag pack (hell, it's impossible to travel glam period)
• Bring food with you in your bag to munch on if you're on a tight budget
• Travel light and don't overpack (seriously can be a pain in the ass carrying such a heavy bag pack)
• Always be kind because your smile can change a grumpy person's day!
• Don't overdo the electronics
• Don't overdo the cosmetics
• You'd wish you were a EU citizen when the customs queues move way faster than the non-EU ones
• Bring pads that you are comfortable with
• Pinterest is a great way to find easy recipes for cooking
• If you have dry, sensitive skin like me, moisturise and moisturise and moisturise (European weather is so so so so bad for my skin)
• Always find out how to get somewhere before leaving the wifi zone -- and screenshot it!
• Do not take first buses/trains or last buses/trains -- you will regret your yolo actions trust me
• You can save huge amounts of money taking overnight transport and hobo-ing at the airports/bus/train stations but make sure the venue is comfortable for sleep or you would feel like a zombie during daylight
• Bring more cash from home (change your currency) before exchange and deposit the money into a European bank account -- you'll save a lot on the exchange rates
• Always ask for tax refund forms if you spend a larger amount
• Don't be afraid to try new things -- new food new methods of transport new hostels new airbnbs etc
• Bring your portable charger with you -- definitely a life saver also
• Take a moment of silence whenever you come across gorgeous sceneries or sunsets/sunrises
• It's quite impossible to be a free-loader when everyone else in your group is also an exchange student
• If in doubt (in the kitchen), text your mom
• Bring more than enough pairs of contact lenses and contacts solution
• Save everything onto Dropbox and make them available offline -- especially important documents like a scanned copy of your passport/ID and transport tickets
• Check whether there are frequent checks of transport (train/bus/metro) tickets in the particular city you are going to be in
• Validate your transport ticket if you have already bought it!
• You'd feel so bloody good when you bought a ticket and a ticket master comes up to you to check it
• You'd feel like shit if you didn't buy one and a ticket master comes up to you to check it
• Shop plentiful but make sure you have enough baggage space to bring everything home
• Back up your pictures -- transfer them to a hard drive or something
• Drink but drink with people you trust
• Sometimes the best plans are the unplanned ones!!