I graduated a year ago?!

On May 14, 2010, I proudly walked across a stage in front of Doheney Memorial Library, shook hands with the dean of the Leventhal School of Accounting, took a picture with my diploma cover, and walked off stage an alumni.

I learned plenty of fantastic tax laws and financial reporting standards in the accounting school. I learned how to file taxes and balance the books and detect fraud and read statements. I got that (sort of). I learned about vilanelles (Google it) and sestinas (Google that too) and blues poems. I learned about the history of China from a crazy man who looked like Doc Brown from Back to the Future, but he helped me study for the midterm in the cafeteria over lunch. I learned about dialects and cochlear implants in two linguistic classes I was just happy to pass. I learned stress relieving breathing exercises and step aerobic moves from the PE department. I learned how to interpret gang tattoos and the definition of a gang in the school of social work.

But aside from the academics, I learned how to manage my time, balancing a part-time job and a full class load and club activities. I learned how sneak into the cafeteria without having to pay. I learned how to say "no" and turn off my phone and sit in the library. I learned how to make friends and keep friends and be a better friend. I learned how to be a leader and how to be a Christian at the same time. I learned how to comfort and to stand strong. I learned sometimes the best thing is not saying anything, but to sit and just be there. I learned life doesn't go like it's always planned, but God is still in control. I learned how to live in an apartment with 5 amazing women with completely different sleeping habits, eating habits, and cleaning habits. I learned how to love people and let people love me.

But after a year since I graduated and over 9 months of living in Japan, I realized there are some things I didn't learn in college.

1) Kitchen counters don't clean themselves. Who knew?

2) Hardwood floors also need to get vacuumed.

3) Ramen can be eaten every day.

4) Bananas cannot be frozen with the peel on.

5) Everything else can be frozen.

6) Reading can be quite relaxing and enjoyable.

7) Keeping in touch with friends is much more difficult when they are more than 5 minutes away.

8) Spreading yourself too thin still exists after college.

9) Work doesn't have summer vacation.

10) 7-11 is much more than just slurpees.

However, there were some useful things I learned in college that have helped me survive in Japan.

1) Pancakes are totally acceptable as dinner.

2) Happy marriage fried rice on Thursday nights is also totally acceptable.

3) A hot cup of coffee in the morning is a great pick-me-up.

4) Mom is not my alarm clock.

5) Being able to ride a bike in the rain with one hand holding an umbrella is a great talent.

6) Jesus and journaling keep me sane.

7) Don't judge a book by its cover.

8) Exercising is a good stress reliever.

9) Not all friends look or act alike...and that's okay.

10) God is God and I am not.