Monday, March 31, 2008 Cloudy

　At home almost all day reading a paperback entitled "The Innocent Man" and written by John Grisham. Finished reading it. It is nonfiction and a sad story of a white American on death row who was innocent. It is a real story. As I read the story, I thought of some people who were so cruel and arrogant even in my life. This guy named Ron, who is already dead, said, "I wish I had never been born," and I can feel for him. As a little boy, I remember reading a similar Russian story whose titke was "An Innocent Prisoner" or something. Life is sometimes absurd, but such is life. MIne is no exception.

Sunday, March 30, 2008 Rainy

　I went to the cellphone shop in the neighborhood with my broken cellphone. I have to have it fixed. The display alone seems to be wrecked anyway. Otherwise I thoght I would cancel my contract. However, then I will have to pay the penalty. In today's society everything goes by contract. Another boring day at home, but I read the newpaper well. Also read part of a good book. Listened to the news in Korean and in English.

Saturday, March 29, 2008 Cloudy

　Not much of a holiday. Went to the city library and did some reading. I wonder why so many silly books come out. Just because one is known through the media, is one qualified to write a book or two? Writing books is just a means of making money these days. So many books are nothing more than junk. On the other hand, there are some books worth reading written by somebody who is not too famous.

Friday, March 28, 2008 Fair

　Today tried to settle student council accounts. However, there were some receipts missing. Therefore, the clerk in charge will do the rest for us. But he will be transferred in April. I hope he will be a man of his word. Then I helped another colleague clean up the other English teacher's workspace. It was a terrible mess. Due to her physical condition, she cannot do it herself. That is why we gave her a hand. Well, we still have a long way to go before all the mess is straightened out. What a mess! I also disposed of the ancient cassette recorders and typewriter in the English teachers' room.

Thursday, March 27, 2008 Fair

　Left home a bit earlier than usual. On the way bought a box lunch and ate it at the workplace. The last day for the entracne exam committee gegan 12:40 and ended around 19:30., including the evaluation meeting and putting the room back in order. On the way home got something to eat for supper. Ate it at home. There was something I was mistaken about in the English schooling schedule for the next 1st term. I must have been out to lunch.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008 Fair

　So busy putting the school stamp on documents to be sent to the appilcants' high schools ( transfer students ). I did not know this was so tiring, but thinking it to be part of my duty, I did it. If not, it would have been a trap. Put the desk in order at work. Corrected errors and mistakes in the school records. This year's checker was so strict and meticulous. At home used my old room at night.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008 Fair and then cloudy.

　Worked until past seven because I am on the entrance exam committee. Everyone looked tired. Fatigue has piled up. At the end of the day I feel really tired these days because I have been working hard for almost four weeks. I take a few hours off often so that I can recuperate. Today I rearranged the bookshelves in the English teachers' room. I was thinking of changing seats, but on second thought I decided to stay at the same place.

Monday, March 24, 2008 Fair but windy.

　Today's entracne exam was for those whose high schools will be closed at the end of March. There were nine applicants. Before the exam we put up a signboard up friont, but it was so windy that we were afraid it might be blown away. Besides, the sign prepared the day before yesterday was torn and the board alone was used by someone else. So we had to prepare it from scratch again. Too bad. There was an extra teachers' meeting about the number of hours for part-time teachers to be given this next school year. After that we English teachers had a meeting and discussed who should teach which subjects and tried to contact our next part-time teachers on the phone, but could not catch them all.

Sunday, March 23, 2008 Cloudy and then rainy.

　A workday for the members of the entrance exam committee. Prepared for tomorrow's announcement of the former exam results. My wife and her nephew put the books in order today. When I got back home, our first-born son left for Kobe. My wife was sulky. Her language gets strong when she is tired. I get tired when she is moody.

Saturday, March 22, 2008 Fair

　A nephew came over and helped my wife rearrange the furniture. She rewarded him later. I bought them udon for lunch. While they were working together, I weeded the backyard and put two black weed control mats there. My wife and our first-born son were trying to connect one of his computers to the Internet all night.

Friday, March 21, 2008 Fair

　Went to see my home doctor. I visit him once a month because of my chronic illness. Took two hours off expecting today's work to be tough. It really was. While at the computer, my head swam. There was that usual conference at this time of the year about the number of hours to be given for part-time teachers for each subject. The English department is to be given 24 hours because there will be a newly-emplyed teacher. I wonder how those hours should be used. We will have a meeting and discuss it.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 Cloudy

　This coming Saturday being Mom's birthday, I visited my parents' place today. Dad was taking an afternoon nap as usual. I parked my car on the street. However, a neighbor was rather mad because it was in front of his house. I apologize anyway, although he spoke in a rather vulgar way. I drove there alone. My wiife stayed at home. She was not in the mood to go out. Coming back home, my wife and I went to the delicious udon shop by bicycle. It was rather cold today. The way there was uphill and a bit tough.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Rainy, occaionally cloudy.

　The latter entrance exam period has begun. Applicants hand in their applicaion forms and take theri exams at the same time. I was awfully busy inputting data. I got a sore throat. Appliants are either those who quit their high schools in the past (Some took their exams during the first entrance exam period. ) or those who are still in high school but want to transfer to our school. Today's subject rep conference was put off until the day after tomorrow. Back home online DS mahjong all night with my family. So tired but it was hard to sleep at first.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008 Fair

　At today's sign language club's meeting this morning some members were elected to the next committee. Paid the Korean language school tuition at the bank. My name was registered in the bank machine, so it did not take long. The text term begins in mid-April. I am still at intermediate level. From April on I will have to write more Korean. Even copying Korean is O.K.

Monday, March 17, 2008 Fair

　Today only the members of the entrance committe reported for work. There was an entrance exam for the part-time course of this school. Therefore, students were not allowed to enter the premises. Worked for nine hours or so checking papers in pairs, taking a break from time to time. Going up five flights when I was tired was just too much for me. I got out of breath and thought I would die. My age was telling. I often make this kind of mistake. At home saw Bei Yonjun's Tewan sa singi." That was good. ( Choasso)

Sunday, March 16, 2008 Fair and warm

　The last day of the first entrance exam period. Did the inputting. While taking a break from time to time, finished filling out the school records and did some printing. Back home watched a Korean drama and worked on the Super Crossword. Quite tough this time. Our first-born son is away from home again. Our second is working hard in Tokyo. My wife is already in bed. I wonder what she is doing during the day at home.

Saturday, March 15, 2008 Fair

　Went to the English conversation school. There were only two present today. On the way home, bought udon for lunch and got water at the supermarket. Took an afternoon nap. Watched a Korean drama in the evening. Ate sushi for supper. Did some shopping, too. Tomorrow is a workday. Got an email from a Korean friend. Our son will be coming back late at night by Shinkansen. Sent a mail to Mom about her birthday of this month.

Friday, March 14, 2008 Rainy and then cloudy.

　Today was off entrace exam duty, but I reported for work. Today was the deadline for this school year. Just one student sent her reports at this last minute. What a procrastinator! Did one job after another all day. My son went to Tokyo to attend his friend's wedding. While he is at it, he will meet his younger bother and have lunch together. Back home took out the garbage as usual. Still have to do the dishes, though.

Thursday, March 13, 2008 Overcast

　The entrance exam has started. Applicants are interviewed one by one. Iputting today's results was not much compared with the kind of inputting done until yesterday. The chances are that the other English teachers will be transferred or quit in April. Only I will remain here. Two or three new ones will come. I am afraid I will have to be the rep of the English department this next academic year, too. Too bad!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 Overcast

　Looks like spring is almost here. I can feel it in the air. Today was the day when only the members of the entrance exam committee were supposed to go to work. For the rest of the peoeple, it was a substitufe holiday. What we did today was taking a double- or triple-check on the papers and preparing for the interview exams. We worked in groups of three or more. One homeroom student's parent came for the sign-up procedure on short notice. Prepared two signs for the exam periods. Back home played DS onlne mahjong with my wife and son until the wee hours of morning. Fun but tired.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008 Cloudy

　At the sign languauge club this morning returned the newspaper section's money for this past year. Have to issue one more newspaper. Took more time than usual because we had to vote and choose some persons in charge for this next year. This after noon on my way to the Korean language school, I felt so sleepy. In class we take turns talking about ourselves and aswering questions in Korean.

Monday, March 10, 2008 Cloudy

　I have a sore throat. Is it because I had to read a lot out loud while inputting data at work? I had a call from the clinc where I had my neck operated on three and a half years ago. I emailed to the doctor. It was a quick response. The condition of my neck is diffrent each day. The day before yesterday it was quite bad. Today it is O.K. Anyway I made an appointment for early May.

Sunday, March 9, 2008 Cloudy

　At work checked yesterday's data for hours without taking a break. There were quite a few mistakes. It was really exhausting. Took a fifteen-minute break and ate supper. Then back to the computer and worked for another two hours straight. My eyes hurt and I got a stiff neck. On the way home, I just shut my eyes and rested. Back home played online mahjong with my family.

Saturday, March 8, 2008 Fair

　This morning went to the library and spent an hour or so reading. On the way home, bought udon for lunch. Took an afternoon nap and went shopping. Drove to Konan, Petton etc. Dropped by a road-side udon shop and ate oroshi soy sauce udon. These day we often our weekend shopping by this route.
This udon shop is reasonable and delicous.

Friday, March 7, 2008 Cloudy

　The first day of the application period. I inputted data into the computer at work. The program itself was easy to use. The eight of us worked in pairs. Little time to take a break, but anyway I managed to eat my bento within fifteen minutes. Around 200 applicants came. In the evening the temperature dropped. Our first-born son will be working in Osaka. He has to decide whether he will live in the dorm or not.

Thursday, February 6, 2008 Cloudy

　Took a substitute half-day holiday. Prepared for the application period starting tomorrow. The members of the entrance exam committee are supposed to do this. I helped to make a sign which would be placed at the entrance right in front of the office. Homeroom money accounts kept coming. Tomorrow is the deadline. One of the entrance committe members said for me to check the addresses and zip codes of some 200 high schools, but there is no reliable information source for that. I wonder if I should access the website of each high school. What a hassle!

Wednesday, February 5, 2008 Cloudy

　This morning a homeroom student called me at home, asking me to send the necessary papers for his sign-up. It took some time to prepare them at work-kind of a hassle. There was an entrance exammination orientation for us teachers this afternoon. Some things have changed this year-the way applications are accepted, which rooms are used, etc. There was a student council teachers' meeting, too, where we discussed whether we should have some rules for student discipline. Took care of one makeup and one retest. A student came with her extra assignment. Did some computer inputting.

Tuesday, February 4, 2008 Cloudy

　This morning too sleepy to get up, so I failed to go to the sign language club's weekly meeting. Even before leaving for the Korean language school, I wanted to stay in bed. Maybe fatigue has piled up. Our first-born son came back from his two weeks' trip from Europe safe and sound. We played online mahjong together this evening and had some fun.

Monday, February 3, 2008 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　One more homeroom student came for sign-up counseling. Six reports came. Corrected them and sent them back. Ate lunch together with some colleagues. Had a coffee break in the afternoon with some of them. Began going over the homeroom money accounts. At home watched the next two episodes of "Mawang" and this week's eipsode of "Tewang Sashingi."

Sunday, February 2, 2008 Fair

　Did not do anything in particular. In the morning worked on the Super Crossword. Watched two Korean dramas, "Mawang" and "Ajumaga kangda." Our older cat seems to be sick, maybe diabetes or something. She needs to be taken to the vet. Work has been busy these days, but relaxing at home this way, I do not feel like concentrating on anything.

Satruday, March 1, 2008 Cloudy, thundering and rainy in the morning.

　A commencement was held at our school. Graduating students and their homeroom teachers first got together in the waiting classrooms. One of the teachers explained that students would not be forced to stand up during the ceremony. Even if they remainded seated, they would not be at a disadvantage. He also explained a littel about the national flag and anthem, the war of aggression, and freedom of thought and of conscience. We left for the gym a little before 9:30 a.m. The ceremony began at 10:00 a.m., ending 11:11 a.m. Back to the waiting classroom, I handed a diploma to each of my homeroom graduating students. In the afteroon, two students came for their exams in English-a makeup and a retest. Shredded some unnecessary papers.