Any tips for a post-college Europe backpacking trip?

People are largely the same everywhere, Trying to learn a little language would be helpful, but I wouldn’t consider this necessary as in most countries you will find that people speak English as a second language as well as you do as your first, so it can just be a wast of time struggling to force out awkward phrases in their native language as you try to prove how culturally aware you are, when they speak English the whole time and could answer your question twice as fast if you just ask it in English. If you are genuinely interested in and respectful of the people and cultures you visit then it will show and you will be excused for not knowing the language and customs, If you spend a ton of time studying and learning these things before hand yet are a “typical” American elitist then it won’t help you at all. My advice would be to be yourself, be honest, and treat everything you encounter with respect and an open mind, the rest you will figure out easily.

As far as clothes, enough for one week should be enough I would recommend polyester travel clothes from a place like REI, they are made of polyester blends so wrinkle less, and absorb water and odor far less than cotton so you will be better off in the rain and can wear them longer without washing, a 60 Liter pack can hold this, a sleeping bag, a pad, and a one man tent if you choose to take one. any more than this is not needed. Taking your cell, computer, Ipod, etc. ruins a trip for me, people hardly take the time to notice what’s around them anymore and these things are just distractions, leave them at home. Instead of updating your twitter and facebook so everyone at home will known how cool you are, focus on what is actually happening around you, the people you meet, the interesting things you see, etc. and you will get some real stories that you can share when you get home, not second by second as they happen.

Cameras are a good way to be the annoying American, you may want some shots, but just keep in mind how ridiculous it would be to see someone outside your house ogling and taking millions of photos of the sights you see every day, if you keep this in moderation people won’t be annoyed.

Above all use your brain, intuition is a powerful thing even in a foreign place, if a situation looks off to you, stay away. In actuality most places in Europe are less dangerous than places like NYC yet just seem more dangerous because it’s all strange to you, as long as you use some common sense you can get along anywhere.