Thursday, March 31, 2005 Fair

　Did the last job of the general affairs department, changing pigeonholes and teacher's room desks( Actually the most remain the same, though.) Began using the online Japanese Korean dictionary. It comes in handy. Ate out for supper. Another "" night.

Wednesday, March 30, 2005 Fair

　Did the usual household chores and relaxed all day. Studied Korean during the day. Took care of the Co-cp stuff. At night watched "Tejangum." I have taken several days off on end. From tomorrow on business as usual.

Tuesday, March 29, 2005 Fair

　Last night, too, watched "Techangum" for a couple of hours. Went to the sign language circle in the morning and to the Korean language school in the afternoon. Took in the washing toward the evening. My wife is a bit late in coming home this evening. She said I would not have to go pick her up.

Monday, March 28, 2005 Rainy, occasionally cloudy..

　Went out to pay the tuition for the Korean language school's next term. The bank by the station was crowded. While waiting, studied Korean. Did a little shopping and went home. There was no good wine at the supermarket. This bad weather makes my heart gloomy, too.

Sunday, March 27, 2005 Fair

　My wife and I watched the Korean drama "Tejangum" almost all day. Another good story. So, I was inside all day. Korean is really a beautiful language. Today's temperature is so low, too, that we cannot go without air conditioning.

Saturday, March 26, 2005 Fair

　Still pretty cold and we used the air conditioner in the living room. Our first-born son came home in the evening. My wife and I began watching, on video, another Korean drama, "Tejangum.," a series of 54 episodes. My household chores came to a standstill as soon as the Korean drama started.

Friday, March 25, 2005 Cloudy and windy.

　Studied Korean and went to the Korean class, but I made some mistakes on today's quiz, etc. I am going to sign up for the next semester at this Korean language school. Next week I will pay the tuition online. On the way home from the school, my train was delayed for some time because of a railroad accident, maybe a suicide. My train passed by the dead body covered with a white sheet. At home I moved the bookcase back to the living room.

Thursday, March 24, 2005 Cloudy and very windy.

　Unlike last year, the next English department rep decided on who teaches which and said for me to call the part-time teachers to let them know. So based on this proposal, I planned who teaches when and handed the slips in. Corrected the errors of the school records.

Wednesday, March 23, 2005 Rainy

　Sent mail to all my homeroom students, informing them what to do for the next academic year together with their grades., which took two hours or so. Also met with the principal to know my grade of the 'assess and nurture system."

Tuesday, March 22, 2005 Rainy

　Had to go to school early. Studied Korean under my Korean teacher for one and a half hours. Today was the last day of the interview entrance exam period. On my way home, bought NHK's English and Korean textbooks for April. I will resume Business English because the instructor is Mr. Sugita. Other teachers are no good.

Monday, March 21, 2005 Fair

　Studied Korean all day, taking breaks from time to time, while my wife was playing the TV loudly, watching a Korean drama. We had something of a fight last night again. Even during the day, we still cannot go without air conditioning. In Korean dramas, bad people are thoroughly bad.

Sunday, March 20, 2005 Cloudy

　There was a rather strong earthquake in Fukuoka and Saga. The quake registered a little less than six on the Japanese seismic scale. They are having aftershocks. Disasters come when we least expect them.

Saturday, March 19, 2005 Fair

　I did not find my name in the usual crossword site, so I sent my second attempt. I was right this time, and my name was uploaded, too. Attended the English conversation class as usual and talked a lot. Ordered two books via the Internet today. A lazy holiday.

Friday, March 18, 2005 Rainy and then cloudy.

　The first day of the latter interview entrance exam period was not too busy, but it lasted for five hours. There was some more work to do after today's exam. My wife was so tired she went to bed early. I left her sleeping. At the usual convenience store I got the book I ordered via the Internet the other day. It is a book for conversational Korean.

Thursday, March 17, 2005 Rainy

　We English teachers gave a farewell luncheon for the retiring English teacher and the teacher who was to change schools. I took an hour off and partook. Today's teachers' conference did not take too long, which was very good. It has been decided how many hours each of the part-time English teachers is to teach, but not which class or classes to teach. I handed in the slip to the boss.

Wednesday, March 16, 2005 Fair

　Today being a substitute holiday, I relaxed all day, just doing some household chores. The younger cat peed on one of the pillows again.. She does that when we least expect it. There is one thing I do not understand. I was told I am supposed to tell next school year's part-time teachers which class or classes they are going to teach, but how can I do that because I am not the one to make out a draft of each teacher's workload for this next academic year. I made a draft last year and made phone calls to the part-time teachers.

Tuesday, March 15, 2005 Cloudy

　My wife wanted to eat out at the usual Japanese restaurant, but I did not because something I found uncomfortable happened the other day. Even so, she wanted to go there. We did not see eye to eye. My Korean was not in good condition today at the Korean conversation school.. Plateau?

Monday, March 14, 2005 Cloudy

　Interviewed 15 to 16 examinees for the daytime section. Left the workplace for home with my Korean teacher, who always gives me tips on Korean. Forgot to do the on-line procedure for a paid holiday for March 8. I may have made the same mistake last year.

Sunday, March 13, 2005 Cloudy

　Day one of the interview entrance exam. Took care of 15 to 16 examinees. Called a couple of homeroom kids to confirm their sign-up. Did the last part of the registration procedure, filling out the remaining papers. Coming back home, I found one of the cats too noisy because she was in heat. I got irritated enough to yell at her, which caused my wife to get angry. Vicious cycle, huh?

Saturday, March 12, 2005 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　It is extremely cold today. Winter is back. Went out to have my ingrown toenail treated. I was running around, too, looking for a good pocket calendar, but there were no good ones at this time of the year. I lost the one I bought toward the end of last year. Anyway I located one at the stationery store in Daiei. Katsura Bunshi, a well-know Kansai comic storyteller, died of liver cancer at 74.

Friday, March 11, 2005 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　Busy almost all day with the school records. Not finished yet. Three conferences in all. This next academic year's workloads were announced. More work and fewer teachers. I have no idea why that is. Worked overtime today. Dog-tired.

Thursday, March 10, 2005 Overcast

　We teachers are really faced with a difficult situation-lower pay, more work, more stress, etc. The board of education is creating more "creative" schools this next academic year. They say students can study like in universities. Maybe so. Universities today have changed. Kids just have fun without studying seriously-no motivation to study. Something is wrong. What is it?

Wednesday, March 9, 2005 Fair

　My wife and I love the Korean drama "Hojun." This is the best drama we have ever seen in our life. It is nothing but the reason why I began learning Korean. The Koreans must be proud of having produced such a great doctor. I, too, respect him.

Tuesday, March 8, 2005 Fair

　Today was a day off. Spent one hour or so at the sign language circle in the morning and then ate lunch at home and went to the Korean language classroom. I thought I would get a perfect score on last week's quiz, but I made two spelling mistakes. Shame on me! Went to Joshin to buy some DVD disks..

Monday, March 7, 2005 Fair

　Driving my wife to work, I went to the usual clinic to get the usual medicine for my chronic ailment. Today I checked the results of the subjects again on the computer. I must do it the day after tomorrow for the last time. Today I was on the interview appointment team, using the computer.

Sunday, March 6, 2005 Fair

　Day one of the application period lasted from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. I was in charge of female applicants for the nighttime section. My wife was busy dubbing "Hojun" all day. Saw the last episode of "Lovers in Paris." A good ending. Korean movies are just great!

Saturday, March 5, 2005 Fair

　Left for work early, taking the 7:52a.m. express from the nearest station for the graduation ceremony. I was supposed to make an announcement on the PA at 9:30 a.m., but five minutes earlier someone else did. The graduating students gathered on the first floor of the gym around 9:40 a.m.. After the vice-principal and the human rights rep talked, I ushered the students. Then I began taking pictures. After the ceremony, I helped the professional photographer take commemorative photos..

Friday, March 4, 2005 Rainy early in the morning, later cloudy.

　From 1:00p.m. to 4:00p.m., the general affairs department members worked together to get ready for tomorrow's commencement, checking diploma names and birthdays, sticking signs here and there, printing the ceremony program, etc. I waited for two students, but just one came. I helped her finish her assignment. Talked with the other one on my phone. Also called another student and talked about what to do with her schoolwork.

Thursday, March 3, 2005 Cloudy, later drizzling at night.

　Before today's teachers' meeting., had a conference and discussed whether WRITING should be taught this next school year. After the teacher's meeting, arranged folding chairs in the gym for the commencement the day after tomorrow. Took about an hour. Called a couple of students on my cell phone because they were not ready with their assignments yet.

Wednesday, March 2, 2005 Fair

　There was a Korean study session in the morning. There was a subject rep conference this evening. Next year's WRITING was not very much in demand. In order to start this class, some legitimate reasons should be given. I said the area of writing should be necessary and that more students would take it. But this was denied by one of the bosses for being unconvincing. I do not understand. In my personal opinion, however, if enough students do not want it, then there is no need for it. Very simple.

Tuesday, March 1, 2005 Fair

　Out of sight, out of mind, and out of use, out of mind, too. As far as the study of a foreign language is concerned, this is very true. At the sign language circle this morning, I found myself making some mistakes. Now my mind is on Korean. Well, I need to think of a good way. Another saying goes "You cannot eat the cake and have it," but I want to have both. Greedy?