Sunlight streams through the highest windows in my house, here in Texas. Sunlight, false testimony to a winter that has already provided its first hard freeze. Away to the south and east, the ocean beckons, this time hundreds of miles away, the air here robbed of that vibrant tang of the sea.

And so my third week back home begins. As I’ve become accustomed to the rural life once more, I’ve taken care to pause every now and again for a bit of reflection.

This is the sad conclusion of things for my abroad experience. Yes, already. For those of you who are new to my blog and curious about my time in New Zealand, I urge you to click the “Blog Index” or “Tag Index” button at the bottom of this page, and select topics according to your tastes.

I must apologize, though, to the rest of you. Because to me, this really isn’t the sad conclusion of anything at all. I went to Aotearoa, I had my time there, and now I’m back. While I miss places and people, I’ve decided to focus more on the fact that I was blessed enough to have my time with them in the first place, replacing sorrow with joy.

No, instead this is how my story continues. If you—as in the MindSay community—would like, I’ll continue my Adventures in America on another blog, the name of which I will post in the Comments section of this post as soon as I have devised it.

But before I head off into that wild Texas sunset, I would like to give some advice to those of you thinking of studying abroad, whether in the near or distant future.

Ahem, without further ado, I present to you Jon’s Thoughts on Studying Abroad:

•    A sturdy pair of basketball shoes serves almost as well as hiking boots. Almost.
•    Take as many pictures as you can. You’ll regret those blurry pictures of someone’s elbow a lot less than missing that spectacular sunrise after all is said and done.
•    Enjoy the little triumphs as well as your larger escapades. Turns out that you’ll remember the everyday just as much as that time when a monkey ate your friend’s hair.
•    Get over your shyness; meeting new people is one of the best adventures you can have. Yes, it’s easier said than done, and yeah, you’ll stick your foot in your mouth a few times, but it’s well worth it, I promise.
•    Try new things. Like crazy new stuff. Now. Don’t “wait until I’m more settled;” new stuff is what gets you settled. Go get lost, volunteer, bungee jump, hike, build a snowman (or sandman!)—don’t even let the sky be your limit.
•    Take classes you know you’ll like; it’s tough enough being distracted by the fact that you’re in another country without having to deal with your arch-nemesis, literature, in the classroom.
•    While you should try new things, don’t repeatedly do things that clearly aren’t you. If you’re not a drinker, don’t drink; if you’re not a partier, don’t party; if you’re not a social person, hang out with a couple of people at a time. Stay true to yourself.
•    Cut the apron strings. If you’re in another country, be in another country.
•    Get used to stereotypes. You’re going to hear them, you’re going to be forced to speak in them. No, it’s not fair. Get over it.
•    And for the love of people named Mike, don’t freak out. The paperwork will get done, the flight will be okay, people will be nice to you. It’ll all come in the wash, so remember to actually enjoy yourself, all right?

And one more thought to the next generation of BloggersAbroad (and I suppose for everyone in general, too): for me, chronicling my adventures in this setting was both a fantastic opportunity and a huge hassle, particularly when I had those weeks when nothing happened worth writing about. Or rather, when I thought there was nothing worth writing about. There’s always something to comment on, and I’ll never forget how surprised I was when I was awarded a Top Blog for writing about something I honestly thought no one would even read. So in that sense, writing for BlogAbroad taught me to be more observant of my experiences, and I urge you to do the same. Write in such a way that even people who see your sights every day will step back and view their world with fresh eyes. But above all find your style, find your voice, and run with it.

And now my story will continue. While you joined me in the midst of my adventures, I’m still a newbie, out of his element on a multitude of levels. The rest of my life holds in its hands many things, most of all uncertainty. And that, I think, is the most exciting part. Here we go. I’ve got a song in my ear, a lightness in my heart, and a sparkle in my eye. It is my determination that when I’m finished, this earth will never be the same.

My name is Jon Jackson, and I thank you for spending with me the first semester of my junior year at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand.