Spend some time in the gym and lift a few weights. Never hurts in advance.
Go ahead and put a flag on your pack. The only people who get pissed about it are drama queens in my experience. If you want to o it, then do it. I did it and never got much in the way of grief, aside from a few Canadian drama queens - like maybe 2 or 3 ever.
Spend they money on a good pack. It's worth it. Next is a good pair of shoes. Dont be afraid to spend some money on new socks or shirts while on the trip and dont be afraid to throw stuff out as you go. Dont cheap out on laundry. The worse you smell or more dirty your clothes are, the less likely anyone will want to hang out with you if there are any other people they could hang out with instead.
Always keep $100 US or euro on you stashed away in a sock. This is the "oh crap, i need to get help" fund. Ive only had to use it twice, but the one time was a medical evac on a remote hike. Everywhere will take USA $. Even the most remote regions where they don't even have electricity will still take USA$. Keep it in bills under$20 though.
Ive hit all 7 continents and stayed in hostels or lodges for a lot of my travels. Most important thing is to keep an open mind and be yourself.
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"OOOOOOHHHHHHH those Russians" - Boney M
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