If you have to test and learn on your own then do all the test gliding with the prop off and a small direct connect battery for the radio. This will ensure the model doesn't have a sledge hammer inside waiting to bust things up......

For your first trim tests you can learn a lot about the elevator trim by holding the model overhead with your hand at the balance point and just run with it into the wind. If the model is close to being in trim you'll feel it get light in your hand without trying to pull away. If it feels heavy or pitches down add up trim. If it tries to pitch nose up or pulls hard on your hand then add some down. At a good trot it should feel light but stable. When it feels right you can try just letting go but keep your arm bent so you can reach up and grab it if it tries to nose up. When it's just right you'll be able to let go and have it settle back into your hand after a 6 inch glide. At that point only can you go for a full test glide. Do the same run and just pull your hand away and this time stop running and get your hand back on the stick to be ready to add some control. Testing over tall grass can be helpfull too...... Try to learn that a little elevator goes a LONG way. Unless it tries to nose into the ground just let it land. If you see the nose coming up then blip in a quick stab of down elevator just for a split second or it can turn into a nose dive very quick. Once it comes up to the stall it's all over at that height. And you already know that no airspeed means no control so you gotta get it flattened out before it gets too slow.

Once it's test gliding well then you can move to a long shallow hill and test glide it off the top and extend your glides to learn how to control the model. With models perspective and model attitude awareness is everything. If you can project yourself into the cockpit you won't have any trouble with your background. But that projecting thing is HARD. Full size pilots are often the hardest cases at accepting this last point. Be humble.....

And finally a little hint about that coming at you control reversal confusion. It helps to just turn so you're pointing the antenna (cockpit) the same way the model is flying and then look over your shoulder. After a while you'll only have to turn the transmitter slightly to orient your brain and shortly after that it'll be automatic.

Good luck and welcome to modelling.