1. Let go of the pressure to have the best time of your life.
Something about leaving the country makes you feel like everyday has to be a huge magical adventure. People will want to hear about your trip and you want to be able to say it changed your life/it was incredible/you wish you could go back. The truth is not everyday is going to be perfect. If it was it wouldn't be real life. Embrace the good days as well as the bad and let yourself be free to just exist.
2. Challenge yourself to be less needy.
In America we know exactly how to get everything we want when we want it. Traveling requires us to be problem solvers such as to find the nearest bathroom, buy water, get food, etc. As you're going about your days ask yourself if what you're looking for is really necessary. You'll be surprised how long you can go without things and if you just go a minute more without whatever it is you may realize you don't actually need it.
3. Take at least 5 minutes a day to reflect.
There's no way you're going to be able to process everything as it's happening. Slow down at the end or middle of each day to talk through what went well, what didn't, how you want to improve tomorrow, and make a list of things you're thankful for.
4. Break free from the group more than once.
It's easy to go with the flow of the group and just do what everyone else wants to do. It's a safe choice because if it's fun you're having fun too and if it's not so great you're not the only one having a not so great time. But maybe what the group is doing isn't truly what you want to be doing. Slip away a few times and you may surprise yourself. You may find something you didn't even know about or discover independence is not such a bad thing at all.
5. Be kind to everyone you pass.
You represent the country you are from and you'd be surprised how easy it is for people to tell where you're from. Maybe the country you're in isn't as polite as your country. Be polite anyway. Maybe people push and shove more than at home. Don't get upset. Don't be less you. If you don't shove people at home don't shove people in the country you're visiting.