Thursday, May 31, 2007 Cloudy, occasionally the sky clearing up.

　This morning I felt a bit tired, so I decided to take a day off. It was such a long time since I last absented myself from work. From tomorrow on they will impose a heavier tax on us. Our pay is constantly on the decline. Like in the Edo era, they will neither let us live nor die. The ruling classes just exploit the ruled.

Wenesday, May 30, 2007 Cloudy, occasionally sprinkling.

　There were two conferences-one for the English teachers and the other for the Student Council teachers. Made almost one page of a 'report' and corrected some 'reports' in the intervals. Prepared sheets for next week's teachers' meeting. by using the machine that stack sheets in order. It is a useful machine, saving me a lot of time. All I did was the stapling of those 90 groups of sheets.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007 Cloudy

　Went to the local sign language circle this morning. On the way back got water at the supermarket for free. Went to the Korean language school in the afternoon. On the way home got a haircut and signed up for the municipal library and checked out a book. Installed some new Yahoo software and to this computer it looks 'heavy.'

Monday, May 28, 2007 Fair

　A Korean study meeting as usual-four members present. Lunch in the ward hall restaurant. Not too tasty, though. Began making 'reports' for the second term. Felt so drowsy in the afternoon. Two classes to teach. Bought a bento for supper at the nearby supermarket as usual. Interested now in 'metacognition' and trying to find out about it on the Internet.

Sunday, May 27, 2007 Cloudy

　I managed to do everything I had planned to do. Therefore, I am now a bit satisfied. Well, it has been a full day. I made a few handouts for tomorrow's classes. I also took care of two homeroom students, who paid their extra tuition. Teaching my students English, I sometimes feel there is something missing. The essence of learning or education is after all not teaching but influence or inspiring. This, I guess, is what is missing from today's education. Hence no joy of learning.

Saturday, May 26, 2007 Fair

　Drove to my parents' place and helped my sister translate into English an instruction manual for one of the products of her company. It was very difficult to put technical terminology into English. Anyway I tried to make it at least grammatically correct and intelligible. I think it is a good idea to make a glossary for this kind of instruction manual. On the way home got some takoyakai because we were having our first-born son over tonight.

Friday, May 25, 2007 Rainy and then cloudy.

　Maybe because of the rain there were only a few students in class. Also I got wet when I went to the supermarket to buy something to eat for supper, although I walked under an umbrella. It was not only rainy but also windy. When I was on my way home, it stopped raining. Thank goodness!

Thursday, May 24, 2007 Fair

　There was a "judgement conference" for graduating students. I had to call two students later. Then came a teachers' meeting. And a teachers' union get-together. Handed in my "Assess and Nurture System" form. Listened to the latest edition of the Korean Journal a lot today.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007 Fair

　Walked to the neighborhood market to buy bread in the morning. I gave the account book of the condo complex to the janitor. Watched the serial Korean drama on KBS and ate ramen for lunch and left for work. Filled out the Assess and Nurture System form at work. Also made a few handouts for the next classes.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 Fair

　Ate Hokaben (box lunch) for lunch, and went to the Korean language school. After class had coffee with a couple of classmates. On the way home, bought sushi for supper. My wife was under the weather again. Took 10 CD's into my Walkman after thinking about this academic year's goals for the Assess and Nurture System of the board of education.

Monday, May 21, 2007 Fair

　There was a Korean study meeting, but I went unprepared. I forgot to bring the textbook home. I was tired yesterday from going on a school outing., and I have not gotten over my fatigue yet. One of my colleagues, who looked exhausted, left early today. I had a full day. Came home dog-tired.

Sunday, May 20, 2007 Fair

　We had a school outing. Ejoyed a 40-minute-long bay cruise with students and walked to the most famous sightseeing spot in that area. The weather was good-a nice day to go on an outing. I often get seasick, but it was good I did not this time. After hours I met an ex-colleague, with some other colleagues. Back home, watched "Kun", one of those Korean dramas.

Saturday, May 19, 2007 Cloudy

　Went to Joshin and Konan with my wife. We drove there. I bought the newest type of Walkman, which cost me around 30.000 yen, together with a flash memory stick, which was less than 4.000 yen. Now I need these. My old digital player and flash memory stick are full now. Audited accounts for the condo complex. It was a hassle.

Friday, May 18, 2007 Cloudy, thundering at night.

　There was a lecture for English teachers today. It was excellent and worth it. I think I will go over the contents of the lecture later so that I can improve my teaching of English at school. On the way home, while waiting at the transfer station, lightning struck a place near by. The moment the lightning flashed, it thundered. I was scared. I hate thunder and lightning.

Thursday, May 17, 2007 Cloudy

　After today's student council conference, the three of us student council treasurers passed out homeroom class money, putting it in envelopes. There are 50 homeroom classes. This is supposed to be done before we go on an outing. Made some handouts for next week's classes.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 Fair and then cloudy.

　Prepared two sheets necessary to pass out homeroom class money. Handed in the necessary documents for my first-born son to be acknowledged as a dependent. Made a few handouts for my next classes. In the gym tested students' eyesight. Double-checked the data for the graduating students.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007 Fair

　Took some copies of the sign language circle's newspaper. Almost no seat available, so got back home. Anyway I am usually there only for less than an hour. I may no longer belong there. Went to the Korean language school in the afternoon. Our teacher made a simple mistake, and I pointed it out. While I was speaking in Korean, she said I also made a simple mistake, but some other students said that was O.K. I did not understand, either. I consulted my dictionary later. I was not wrong. This often happens when we learn a foreign language from a native speaker.

Monday, May 14, 2007 Fair

　There was a Korean study meeting this morning. I have not eaten at the restaurant in the Ward Office. Today I had lunch there, but it was not good. At work prepared data for the graduating students of my homeroom. It was a hassle. While I was at it, I got a couple of calls. Also I had to call a student, too. No time to relax.

Sunday, May 13, 2007 Fair

　In the first period I taught English �T, this class was a group of students who were not willing to participate. I will have to think of a way to have such students participate. Look at the situation flexibly from a different angle. They want to, but they cannot. Today I was so busy working all day, having almost no time to breathe.

Saturday, May 12, 2007 Cloudy

　The last condo board meeting for me this morning, but I had to leave halfway, for I had an appointment. Watched a Korean drama in the afternoon. Although I had get the next Sign Language Circle's newspaper ready, I was in no mood for that. Anyway I did it before midnight, when my wife came home from Tokyo. I prepared her supper. She was tired from helping out our second son.

Friday, May 11, 2007 Fair

　Our second son has moved to Tokyo today. My wife went with him to give him a hand. She did not come back home tonight. Just one class-"Inclusive Hour." None showed up, although I waited. I have a lot to do tomorrow, although it is a day off.

Thursday, May 10, 2007 Cloudy

　Did my homework for the Korean language class. At work exchanged school records in the conference room before today's conference began. Then we teachers worked together to send mail to students. Taking a few hours off, went to the union's welcome party.

Wednesday, May 9, 2007 Fair and hot.

　A bike trip to the benefit aid society office in the hot weather. Got into the wrong building opposite the right one. Finally got my wife's insurance policy or card. A brief meeting by new chairpersons. I would rather not do it, although the chairperson rep said I, the oldest, should do more and try hard. Wrong. Not the right man in the right place.

Tuesday, May 8, 2008 Fair

　The BBS of my web page is filled with spams these days. I have a hard time removing them every day, so I have decided to close it down. I wonder who does such a thing as makes communication impossible. I seem to have become a victim of malice. I am sorry that there are those who do things out of spite.

Monday, May 7 2007 Fair

There was a Korean study meeting for the first time in many days. My wife's status as a dependent of mine has finally been acknowledged. I must go get her insurance policy. There were two classes to teach. Participation was so bad in the first class, and I had a very small audience. It is always like this at the beginning of the school year.

Sunday, May 6, 2007 Rainy

　In spite of the rain, I walked here and there in the neighborhood, shopping and browsing in the bookstores and in the municipal library. I realize I should use this public library more. My wife having a headache, as is often the case with her, I bought something for lunch and supper. Our second son, too, was in bed all day.-again a life where day and night are reversed. I am concerned about him, wondering if he can live on his own away from us.

Saturday, May 5, 2007 Cloudy

　My wife woke me up early this morning, for my American friend was trying to place an international phone call again to America. I gave him a hand, and he talked on my cell phone, using the international telephone card or pin number. Then I took him to the international airport. He left for Bangkok. His eight days' stay with us here is over.

Friday, May 4, 2007 Fair

　Drove Ron to my parents' place. We ate lunch there. My sister was good enough to take him to the Osaka Municipal Art Gallery, where ukiyoe were on display. Meeting them later, I bought them supper. Then Ron and I went to a Koreans' meeting. At night helped Ron place international calls.

Thursday, May 3, 2007 Fair

　Went to Koyasan with Ron and walked all the way to the Okunoin Temple. The cable car was full, and so was Koyasan. W bought a day bus pass. We ate lunch there. Ron took many pictures there, too. Tomorrow we are visiting my parents' place. Keisuke came over to eat supper. Daisuke has gone out to meet a friend at Tennoji.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007 Fair, occasionally drizzling.

　Took Ron to Korea Town and the Tsuruhashi area. We ate lunch at a Korean restaurant-yukkejan. Also bought oi-gimchi and shin-namyon. Ron liked the ohagi I bought on the way to Tsuruhashi. I got him some dried figs, too. Walking back to Momodani Station, we picked up some burdock for kimpira.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007, Rainy and then cloudy.

　Absented myself from the sign language circle. Keisuke took care of my American friend Ron. Went to work and made some worksheets. We miss our second son, who has gone to Tokyo. So concerned about his well-being.. Tomorrow I am taking Ron to Korean Town. Thinking of going to Koyasan with him the day after tomorrow.