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Not much to add to the previous posts, really. Don't worry, be happy. The hint to learn about how the clutch and transmission works is a good one. You'll eventually get a feel for the "clutch engagement point".. the spot where the engine and the wheels are first introduced to each other as you release the clutch pedal. Once you can find that spot reliably by feel, the rest will all come together quickly.
When I was taught, I was told to give it gas first, get the revs up a bit, then slowly release the clutch until I felt the car start to move, add a bit more gas, and continue releasing the clutch. It works, but most folks tend to panic a bit at that point and either pop (release quickly) the clutch resulting in a stall or give it too much gas and end up peeling out and squeeling the tires (if the car has any power). When I taught my sons and my wife, I had them release the clutch slowly WITHOUT adding any gas until they heard the engine start to slow down slightly, then keep the clutch right there.. the engagement point. THEN slowly add gas and simultaneously slowly release the clutch the rest of the way. That seemed to keep the beginner "panic" factor lower.
Of course, neither is exactly the best way to do things. You don't want the clutch partially engaged or slipping for any longer than absolutely necessary; in real life, the clutch pedal and throttle pedal dance happen pretty quickly. Like all things, though, slow practice is sometimes the only way to get a rapid motion learned smoothly. Clutches don't particularly like "slow," i.e., slipping, but they REALLY don't like it under high power situations. Take your time, get the feel, and it'll come together quickly.
Once you've got it down, you'll never look back. The feeling of control you have with manual transmission... well.... with no disrespect to those who prefer the convenience and, at least in modern cars, the admitted better efficiency of recent automatic transmissions ... now you are DRIVING your car, always selecting the exact gear you want for the task at hand; prepping for accelerating through a curve, anticipating a steep uphill, upshifting sooner than usual on snowy roads so as to minimize torque. To this day I still would rather drive my manual FR-S on snowy or icy roads than my wife's Benz ML500. Her SUV is a tank.. but I still can predict and react better to what the FR-S will do when it loses traction than I can the ML500.
Just some thoughts. Opinions vary; take what you like and ignore the rest. Good on ya for taking the plunge; you'll be grinning and having fun in no time, and you'll never look back.
Best to ya,
Barry
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