Good luck and relax your next time up, the nerves are a real killer the first time up and doesn't help at all when the plane is twitchy like a squirrel on caffiene.

When setting the expo, first set your rates, mine are set to 50 on low. Watch the tail when you move it and see how its moving around center stick, then start setting the expo and see how it changes, you want it to where you can just notice a change, go beyond that and it can be detrimental. You should see a difference in rates just by going full up or down on the pitch and hold it there while flipping the rate switch, the elevator should reflect the change.

One more thing, keep the rudder on high rate, just dual the aileron and elevator, you will want as much rudder it can give you. In fact onmy DX6i Iuse the rudder rate switch to control the rate on both channels, so one switch for the rates instead of individuals makes it quick to change rates and can be flipped without taking my fingers off the stick.