Don't know how much help you'll find here. The UDC's have only been standing for maybe a year and live for only a fraction of that, so they're new ground for all of us. As for general DC advice, get tough, durable shoes with some quality gel insoles, or you'll regret having legs. Get lots of sleep. Drink lots of water. Not really much of a dress code, however, there's no (effective) AC or heating, so in the summer and winter, you'll need to dress accordingly.