Monday, December 31, 2007, Cloudy and very windy.

　Ｉｔ was very cold today. I just sent six New Year's cards, and also sent New Year's greetings to seven persons via email. That is all. I have not done any general cleaning. I did not feel like that. I think I will make some New Year's resolutions anyway. Tonight my family will eat buckwheat noodles to see the old year out.

Sunday, December 30, 2007, Cloudy and then rainy.

　I did not feel like doing anything today. I have not written the New Year's cards yet. I have planned no clean-up. But I have already made the final exams in English �T, which was supposed to be done by somebody else. I have done some research on oral reading, too. Our second boy will not come back home tonight. He is somewhere in Osaka with his friends. Our first-born son is at home, working on his dissertation. My wife is engrossed in some DS game.

Saturday, December 29, 2007, Rainy and then cloudy.

　My short winter vacation has actuallay begun today. I had to go to the dentist this morning. Some of my teeth felt uncomfortable. According to the dentist, those teeth are a bit oversensitive. He treated them by covering them with some medicine. I will have to visit the dentist next week again. Today we have our two sons come back home. The elder one staying until January 2 and the younger one until January 6.

Friday, December 28, 2007 Rainy

　Went to work and prepared for English �T. Took a latter half-day off to meet my Korean teacher, who was coming back to Japan from Seoul. He, two of our friends, and I met and ate together. He bought or brought back some Korean books for us. We talked about this and that and said goodbye.

Thursday, December 27, 2007 Cloudy, occasionally clearing up.

　Took a morning walk as usual. The weather is mild these days, but the weatherman says it is going to worsen suddenly tomorrow. Spent a lot of time today doing my research on oral reading. I happened to have some books that came in handy. In conclusion, oral reading is good for your brain, and also an essential part of English language learning.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007 Fair

　Doing some research on oral reading now. This is part of my study-at-home homework. While doing it, I have found out a lot about the relationship between oral reading and activating the brain. This morning uploaded something onto my web page. This evening my wife and and I went to the noodle shop. I liked radish soyu noodles.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007 Cloudy

　Took one hour off and went to work. I did not feel well before leaving for work. These days the workplace is getting more and more stressful than before. The atmosphere is no good. At work inputted some more results and handed in a study-at-home schedule for the winter vacation. I will be studying at home for three days during the winter vacation. Sent the 2nd-term results to my homeroom students.

Monday, December 24, 2007 Cloudy

　Got up around six as usual and did the radio exercises. Then listened to the radio Korean program and walked a lot in the morning, listening to my digital player as usual. Watched the serial drama on KBS "Yorahobe sunjong"(19's Pure heart). These days I often hear from my friends in Seoul, Korea.

Sunday, December 23, 2007 Rainy early in the morning and cleared up.

　While taking a walk this morning, sent emails to my two sons. I do this once in a while. Heard from the younger one, but no reply from the older one. Took a long nap this afternoon, too. A Korean friend who was nice to me in Seoul is coming to Japan toward the end of the year. I may get to see him. Did nothing in particular today, either. The older one finally sent me a reply, saying that he is too busy now trying to meet the deadlines for his assignments.

Saturday, December 22, 2067 Rainy

　I must have been pretty tired. I slept a lot during the day today. This week I was in poor condition. Last week I had a very unpleasant experience at work, which exhausted me mentally. The year 2007 has been an unlucky year workwise since my fellow Enlgish teacher quit all of a sudden in March and a contract teacher took his place. However, some of my colleagues have been nice to me, for which fact I should be thankful.

Friday, December 21, 2007 Cloudy

　It has been a long day. Today was the deadline for the second term. Students kept coming one after another at the last minute. A bunch of procrastinators. From 12:30 p.m to 21:15 p.m. no time to catch my breath, checking reports, helping students with their reports, giving a retest, calling students, inputting results into the computer, responding to a "groundless" complaint, etc. The report for the school festival final accounts still has to wait, for one of the teachers has not handed in his accounts yet. It was due on the 14th, though.

Thursday, December 20, 2007 Fair

　Helped a couple of students with their reports, which took a lot of time. Gave one makeup for the other teacher. Inputted some more results into the computer. Took three hours off, for there was a year-end party for union teachers. Coming back home, saw the Korean drama "De Joyong" and went to bed.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007 Fair

　At work busy helping with reports, checking reports, calling students, inputting results, etc. Quite hectic. Took three hours off because I had somewhere to go. The workplace is worsening for our sanity. These days wherever you go, bosses control their men. They do not lead their men. This kind of mentality is prevalent across the globe. A cut-throat world, really. In this relentless world, humane administration is needed, for we are all made of blood and flesh. A boss with a stony heart is the worst, being too meticulous and spoiling the whole.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007 Overcast, occasionally clearing up.

　Went to the sign language circle and used sign language a little. Once a week is not enough, so I keep forgetting a lot of words. Then went to the Korean language school. Today we had fun chatting in Korean and Japanese. I need to practice speaking in Korean more. Coming back home, went shopping with my wife. Bought two pairs of jeans at MacHouse(12.000 yen or so) and a pedometer at Konan.

Monday, December 17, 2007 Fair

　A Korean languge study meeting in the morning as usual. Had a quick lunch. For the next nine hours or so. No time to breathe, teaching and heldping students who came one after another. Almost finished the final accounts on the school festival. Only one group has not handed in their final account report yet. Too bad. The deadline was on the 14th. In today's English �T class participation was poor when pronouncing or reading after me. This year this class has been no good.

Sunday, December 16, 2007 Overcast

　When I was young, I remember seeing an American old man interviewed. He said, "I am lonely, and I do not have much in this world."He expressed his despair. And the world remains the same even today. Even in this country. Maybe the situation is even worsening in a sense. At work helped some students with their reports and took care of one makeup. This really took long, though. Called some students about their schoolwork and reports. Was busy with this and that all day.

Saturday, December 15, 2007 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　I have lost the will to work today. Something really uncomfortable happened today. When I feel pressure from somebody who abuses power, I really hate it. I do not want to work under or with such a person. It is said that the "power" gene exists. I am afraid it is true. I am already sick and tired of this stuff.

Friday, December 14, 2007 Cloudy

　Took care of three students who needed my help to finish their second-term reports. One of them kept saying, "I have no idea," without trying to work on his reports. I said, "How can I help you if you just say,"I don't know." I need to know what you do not know." Five of the teachers who are supposed to hand in their final accounts sheet have not handed in theirs yet-usual members. I put a reminder into their pigeon hole.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 Cloudy

　There was a teachers' education lecture on the revision of the Constitution given by a lawyer. Then came an extra teachers' meeting. And another, which ended around 8:00 p.m. Then there was an entrance exam committee meeting, which lasted overtime. I was not in charge, but the one in charge was absent, so I was forced to take his place. The way the chief had me do it was disagreeable, though.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007 Cloudy and then rainy.

　Another cold day, raining on and off in the evening. Corrected over 20 reports. Sheets for final accounts for the school festival keep coming. The deadline is the day after tomorrow. Did the homework for the Korean language school, also did some reviewing. Took some time. Came back home exhausted.

Tuesdy, December 11, 2007 Rainy and cloudy.

　It has been cold tody. Rained early in the morning. Did not go to the sign language circle's Chrismas party today. Went to the Korean language school in the afternoon. Not too happy with the new electronic dictinary, I now use my paper dictionaries a lot. Maybe a good thing.

Monday, December 10, 2007 Fair

　Bought some reference books and sent them to my friend in Seoul. It was a hassle. Bought 30 New Year's cards, too. My jeans are now worn. I think I will buy a couple of new pairs. So, I went to a certain clothing shop, but the shop was no longer good enough. I left without buying anything. One the way home, I found a good noodle shop. The curry noodles were O.K. there.

Sunday, December 9, 2007 Fair

　Our school festival was held today. This morning a little before nine o'clock I stuck the attendance sheets on the desks with another teacher, removing the morning portion around 1:30 p.m. and the afternoon one around 4:00 p.m. I ate a lot at some of the eating places. I also made a couple of teaching plans.

Saturday, December 8, 2007 Fair

　Went to work to help prepare for the school festival. Moved most of the desks on my own, slightly injuring my left middle finger. It hurts. Put selltemet sheets into the pigeonholes. Corrected some reports. Working half-day and coming back home, drove over to the pet food shop. On the way there dropped by the gas station. 151 yen per liter (high-octane). Then to Joshin and bought a new electronic dictionary for around 40.000 yen. Expensive. The older one was handy. This new one is too good for me to handle roughly. I am a rough dictionary user, you know.

Friday, December 7, 2007 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　Today two of our bosses visited my OC�T class. There were ten students present. The lesson was about asking and giving directions. Corrected twenty reports or so and took care of two makeups. Checked out a municipal book in the morning. The temperature dropped suddenly at night. Had to turn on the air conditioner in class.

Thursday, December 6, 2007 Fair

　There has to be a ceremony if something must be known to everybody, which means it must become common knowledge. We must know we all know that something-knowledge of everybody knowing something. For this purporse, something like a ceremony is necessary. Rational ritual plays a big role. It is equivalent to religion.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007 Cloudy

　Helped a couple of students with their reports. One of them took her retest. Some of the Student Council Section teachers got together in the printing room to get ready hundreds of copies of the school festival pamphlet. Today a very sad thing happened. My electronic dictionary, which I have been using for over three years, broke. I found it broken when I got home. I remember dropping it onto the floor at work. The liquid crystal display was wrecked then probably. So sad.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007 Cold and cloudy.

　A substitute holiday. The sign language circle in the morning and the Korean language school in the afternoon. Got a year-end gift from my friend in Kanagawa. I wonder why I deserve it. I want to give something to him in return. My wife is in bed, saying it is too cold today.

Monday, December 3, 2007 Rainy, clearing up later.

　This morning I took a walk, holding an umbrella. While walking, I often feel the need to urinate or relieve myself. Fortunately I have located a good public toilet along my route. I also listen to the raido or Korean or English then. Helped a few friends learn Korean this morning. Two classes to teach and some reports to correct.

Sunday, December 2, 2007 Cloudy, occasionally clearing up.

　Could do things at my own pace today. Getting up early in the morning, took a brisk walk in the neighborhood, reading a paperback in English and listening to the radio. I felt a chill in the air. Quite a few elderly people were there walking or walking their dogs. Reporting for work, had three classes to teach and some reports to check. At night will watch some Korean dramas.

Saturday, December 1, 2007 Fair

　This morning I moved a lot, NHK's raido exercises, taking a long walk in the neighborhood. Then after taking a shower went to the English conversation school. On the way back bought okonomi for lunch as my wife sent me a mail telling me to do so. Did some shopping, too. A bit tired, took a nap. Our older son came back home. He has been down with a cold. He has to finish writing his dissertation by February 7 next year.