Useful things I've learned and now can impart..

How to talk to people you’ve never met before:
v Introduce yourself. (Then they’ll introduce themselves back—seriously… this is like magic)
v Ask them were they are from. (They will then ask you where you are from and the conversation will continue).
v If either of you have visited each other’s homelands you can proceed to talk about that.
v Ask what they are doing (They will then ask you what you are doing).
v If either of you have done similar things, want to do similar things, or would hate to do similar things you can talk about that.
v These two questions “Where are you from”, “what are you doing” when paired with a friendly hello can lead to long conversations, the exchanging of contact information and the eating of burgers.

Things you should always have with you (because when you don’t have easy access to them you will go crazy)
v A watch or time-telling device- to figure out when you are supposed to get off planes and on planes. *bonus is if it has an alarm: so you can sleep in peace knowing that you will not forget to get on planes or off planes.
v A pen- for all the forms and for writing other things that you will undoubtedly want to write.
v Chargers for electronic devices you will undoubtedly want to plug in (because murphy’s law says all electronic devices will have their batteries die simultaneously if you are ever really bored and needing to use them).
v A bandaid (if you get blisters doing all that walking around the airport).
v Gum (after flying for a bazillion hours you just want gum).
v A hair-tie or elastic… you’ll just want one.