Monday, April 30, 2007 Fair and a little hot.

　Took Ron to Arashiyama, Kyoto. He liked the Japanese garden by the Tenryuji Temple. He just kept taking pictures. Then we walked through the bamboo grove. bought him warabimochi and a souvenir. On the way back, dropped by the scroll shop at Matsuyamachi and he purchased the scroll he liked. Then went to Doguyasuji and he got some pottery kitchenware. We ate ramen together. At night Daisuke left for Tokyo, and Keisuke brought his girlfriend, and took Ron to his apartment in Kobe.

Sunday, April 29, 2007 Fair

　Took a morning walk together with Ron, my American friend. Took him to Matsuya-machi in Osaka to look for a good scroll. He located a good one there. He may buy it later. On the way back, ate at Namibia. It was his first time to try it. Then went to . He found it a fun place because he is interested in cooking. Went home after walking through Parks. We had a full day.

Saturday, April 28, 2007 Fair

　Went to the airport by train to meet my American friend Ron. Showed him around the neighborhood. While we were at it, we ate udon together. He is using our older son's room. It is a good thing to have somebody over because the house becomes clean. Tomorrow I will be taking him to Nara or somewhere. He is interested in buying a scroll, too.

Friday, April 27, 2007 Fair

　Still in the process of putting my room in order. Taught my students English for the first time in about three months. I had two classes to teach in a row today. Quite tired. Tomorrow I will have to meet my American friend at the airport. Going to see him after an interval of ten years or so.

Thursday, April 26, 2007 Fair

　I had trouble typing letters with the keyboard of my computer. Although I tried to type in small letters, katakana came out on the screen. Anyway I managed to changed the setting all right. I wrote notes notifying the English teachers about the next meeting in English just for a change, but at today's meeting two of them said that using English could be misleading.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　I thought the weather forecast was wrong, but from what my wife said, as far as my neighborhood was concerned, it was right. Strange! At today's subject rep conference, as it turned out, there was an addition to the number of hours for part-time teachers, so I had to change the draft on the teachers' workloads.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007 Cloudy

　In the morning the sign language circle and in the afternoon the Korean language class. My wife had a headache and was in bed all day. I did some cleaning and shopping. I bought the May issues of English Journal and Korean Language Journal. I realize that I am being behind the times as I age because I do not read up-to-date information.

Monday, April 23, 2007 Fair

　School has begun. There was a busy atmosphere around. I prepared a draft on the workload of each of the English teachers. There was so much on my mind I forgot I had to be on parking duty at the side gate. I took care of two homeroom classes in the third period. That was hectic.

Sunday, April 22, 2007 It rained on and off all day.

　Took an hour off and went to work. Prepared a sheet for tomorrow's homeroom class. Double-checked the subjects my homeroom kids are taking this academic year. Printed a couple of worksheets for this week's Reading and OC�T classes. The freezer of the fridge in the English room came back to normal at last. It took six days. A phone call from an ex-homeroom kid.

Saturday, April 21, 2007 Fair

　In today's English conversation globalization or Americanization was talked about.-how harsh this world of ours is becoming. One of us works for an apparel wholesaler, but he has been pushed to the corner this spring, a personnel transfer. He is not in the core any longer. Looks like survival is the name of the game everywhere. Unless you are assertive, you cannot win. I am afraid this kind of mentality does not fit Japanese culture. There seems to be something wrong with it.

Friday, April 20, 2007 Fair

　At work busy doing this and that. Checked the subjects my homeroom students are taking this school year. There were two mistakes. Also corrected the errors in the school records of those students who quit as of March 31. (I have never done this, though.) Called a couple of students. While I was doing all this, before I knew the day came to an end.

Thursday, April 19, 2007 Fair

　At today's teachers' meeting elected one of the four chairpersons for the next six months. That is the last thing I wanted to do. So far I have been successful in avoiding that. Not the right man in the right place. In the process of defrosting the fridge in the English teachers' room. Used a siphon to get rid of water in the tray covered with ice.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Cloudy and then rainy.

　This morning made a call to the welfare section of the board of education to ask about how to fill out a form which is necessary for my wife to qualify to be a dependent. It is too complicated, but the explanations falls short. At work prepared a sheet for the first HR class session. Also thought about what to emphasize in teaching English this school year.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007 Fair and cloudy, sprinkling sometimes.

　I have a pain in my stomach. This morning absented myself from the sign language circle's weekly meeting and rested. Took some medicine instead of going to see the doctor. In the afternoon went to the first class of the Korean language school. This term is going to be last to study under Ms. Lee, our teacher. I will have studied Korean for three years at the end of this term. Our second son is going up to Tokyo at the end of this month.

Monday, April 16, 2007 Cloudy, occasionally a little rainy.

　In my pigeonhole was a envelope, in which I found a note saying the 'dependent' procedure for my wife is still inadequate. That is impossible. I did as the clerk in the office said. He is inadequate. Today homeroom teachers were giving new students an orientation session, taking them here and there around the school building. Back home drank beer and insam-chu., eating too much kimch and peanuts.

Sunday, April 15, 2007 Fair

　The nighttime section of the school had an entrance ceremony. I was on gate duty, and then helped a homeroom teacher of new students with the red tape. While doing it, there was quite a strong earthquake. I was on the 7th floor and felt the floor move under my feet. So scary. The epicenter was somewhere in Kameoka City, Mie Prefecture.

Saturday, April 14, 2007 Fair

　My wife did not feel well today. Neither did I. I got tired this past week. Did not feel like doing anything today. Just went out and did some shopping. Bought something for lunch and supper. Our second son went out in our car with a friend around noon. Applied for membership of the new supermarket in the neighborhood.

Friday, April 13, 2007 Fair

　There was a daytime section's entrance ceremony. I was on 'parking' duty at the side gate. Got my Excel file ready for the calculation of the English teaches' workloads. While listening to Korean on my digital player, the battery went dead. Too bad. Got several calls from students or parents,so I went up and down the stairs several times to get the messages to the homeroom teachers.

Thursday, April 12, 2007 Fair

　Got the gym ready for two entrance ceremonies-tomorrow and on Sunday. While doing it, I was talking to someone and was a little in the way. Then someone else said, "People are getting senile and hard of hearing around here", referring to the way I was. Maybe I was a bit careless, talking to the guy about what to do on Sunday, but I could not buy the way the other one said it because he sounded like the kind of guy who unilaterally condemns somebody. It is the thought behind it that counts.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007 Fair

　There was an online reply recognizing my wife as a dependent, but no reply as to health insurance as yet. If it comes, I will go get the card. The first English teachers' meeting this year. Introduced ourselves to one another. Went to Korea Town to buy some radish kimchi.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007 Fair

　Went to the sign language circle this morning. At the time of today's "Three Words" my turn came and I talked about Doris Day's song "Whatever Will Be Will Be." I am a natural worrier, and my mother used to say, "Que sera sera." I cannot thank my mom enough in many ways.

Monday, April 9, 2007 Fair

　The online procedure for my wife becoming a dependent was quite complicate. I am afraid the one in charge was not good enough to explain enough. Even another clerk who gave me a hand had a little trouble with the Navi, with which the whole thing should get started and the significance of which the first clerk failed to talk about. The usual explanation on the sign-up assistance procedure for new students, sending the first mail of this school year to students, and the second Student Council meeting. Handed in the school records of the homeroom kids who are to be expelled from school. One of the 14 homeroom kids failed to pay the tuition etc. He did not come.

Sunday, April 8, 2007 Fair

　Took a morning walk as usual, reading an English novel aloud-quite dangerous, but I do so while walking where it is safe. Weeded the backyard and cleaned the balcony. Got some cat food at Konan and on the way back bought some takoyaki. Our first-born son was back home to vote for the nationwide local elections. For supper got sashimi at the supermarket.

Saturday, April 7, 2007 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　Went to the English conversation school and spent two hours or so talking in English. On the way home, bought three portions of noodles for lunch. Took a long afternoon nap and again went out to get sushi for supper. My wife was under the weather. Finished watching the last two episodes of the Korean drama "1 % Miracle." Heart-warming story.

Friday, April 6, 2007 Cloudy

　Went to see an ear, nose, and throat doctor this morning. My ears were checked ant tested. The possible cause of my left ear ringing is the turbulence I experienced on the way back from Korea. The last day for the sign-up period. One of my homeroom students barely made it although he had some trouble. Finished the dubbing for English �T. There seemed to be something wrong with the online procedure for my wife's becoming a dependent. Will do it again next week. And the red tape was insufficient, too, although the one in charge did not say anything to that effect then.

Thursday, April 5, 2007 Fair

　My left ear is still ringing. Because of stress? It hurts a little. Began recording the new text for English �T from the CD onto tape. Called some homeroom students who had not paid the tuition yet. Could not contact one out of six such students. His phone did not receive calls. New textbooks came, so passed them out to the teachers. Decided when to hold the first English teachers' meeting-next Wednesday.

Wednesday, April 4, 2007 Cloudy

　It was so windy and a bit rainy this morning I could not take a walk. Anyway later I went out to get some bread for breakfast. At work printed Reading handouts for the first term. One of the English teachers told me that we should have a farewell party for the teacher who quitted last month. I called him on my phone and asked what he thought. He declined, but that teacher would not listen to me. On my way home I found my left ear ringing.

Tuesday, April 3, 2007 Fair

　Read today's "Morning Letter" in Korean online and listened to the radio Korean program. Then took a morning walk as usual, reading an English novel. Went to the sign language circle and ate lunch together. The annual membership fee was 20400 yen. Went to Koran and did a lot of shopping. Overate myself at supper.

Monday, April 2, 2007 Cloudy

　There were a joint teachers' meeting , a usual teachers' meeting, and a 'division of school duties' meeting. No English department meeting. Will do it later. A new contract English teacher came. Was on 'report duty' from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Someone I know came to the part-time school section as a management person. Much water under the bridge. Called Mom on the way home.

Sunday, April 1, 2007 Cloudy

　Took an hour off. My wife wants to be a dependent again. I asked the school clerk in charge about it, but I am not quite sure about what to do. Anyway I did the red tape online. Becoming the rep of the English department, I have so much to do although I am not prepared yet. The one I was on good terms with having quit, I have nobody to turn to. I had an interview with the principal, being informed of my grade based on the Assess and Nurture System. One of my colleagues said that he gave himself an A, then the management gave him an A, too. "First said, first served"?