Sunday, October 29, 2006 Fair

　Today was the last school day of the 2nd term.. There were quite a few 'reports' to correct. After hours went to Uniqlo to buy a jacket and then went to the neighborhood supermarket to buy some other clothing, too. At night saw a couple of Korean dramas as usual.

Saturday, October 28, 2006 Cloudy

　My wife is in the process of cleaning the kitchen. She is buying a new gas cooking stove. Maybe that is why. I gave her a hand, too. This morning I made a teaching plan for tomorrow's OC�Tclass. It took rather long. Tonight there was a condo board meeting I had to attend. It lasted for nearly three hours.

Friday, October 27, 2006 Fair

　All day busy correcting 'reports,' being in conference, teaching in the classroom, etc. I could not afford the time to eat supper. On the way back a drunken man's smelly breath really got me on the train. Coming back home, however tired I am, I do my household chores. Tonight I take out the garbage and do the dishes. I wonder what my wife is doing during the day. Nothing changes at home.

Thursday, October 26, 2006 Fair

　Yesterday was our second son's birthday. Though one day late, we celebrated it this morning, lighting candles for the 24th birthday, singing the usual birthday song, and eating a birthday cake. Our first son was not present, for he was away and busy doing his research for his dissertation.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006 Cloudy

　In the Taisho era there was a brief period when education was liberal and democratic. It did not last long, and then came a military regime, which resulted in that tragic war. I am afraid today history is repeating itself. Things are just getting more and more suffocating in the educational world. Fascism seems to be rising again. It is just a matter of time. Politicians utilize educational problems in their own interests, and so do petty officials.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006 Cloudy

　Absented myself from today's sign language circle's weekly meeting because they were cooking something today. I could not afford the time for that. In the afternoon learned Korean at the usual Korean language school, and then went to work, for I had a substitute half day off. Worried about our two sons, who are overworking themselves.

Monday, October 23, 2006 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　Not only the weather but also my feelings were gloomy all day today. Come to think of it, however, now this country itself is gloomy. This morning I paid money into a different bank account on a bank machine by mistake. Too bad. I called the company later on, hoping things would work out O.K. Probably...oh, gloomy...

Sunday, October 22, 2006 Fair

　Almost all day I was at home except when I went out to meet my wife at the station. She took her care manager exam today. Then I looked for next month's radio Korean program textbook in vain, so I had one ordered. I did not feel like working, so I just watched TV.

Saturday, October 21, 2006 Fair

　Had an English conversation session in the morning. Unwound in the afternoon. In the evening saw one Korean drama after another. Called Mom, saying that we would buy her a table-like kotatsu, for she now has a kneeache.

Friday, October 20, 2006 Cloudy

　Maybe because I drank too much last night, something seems to be the matter with my stomach. Commuting to work, I listened to a lot of Korean on the digital player. My hypothesis is that the ability to speak a foreign language improves according to the amount of the foreign language you listen to. No sound intake means no improvement.

Thursday, October 19, 2006 Fair

　After hours went for a drink with a couple of colleagues. Drank to my heart's content at a place not too far away from the workplace, talking about this and that. I know my limit, and usually I will never go beyond that, so I can keep my diary this way. At work I printed a lot of sheets to be used for the 3rd term. Also I have prepared the Reading exam for the 2nd term.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006 Fair

　In the morning I taught basic Korean to a couple of fellow workers for the last time. What a relief! Today's Korean study meeting was the worst. I went somewhat prepared, but it was not enough, for I was busy making an exam. My Korean teacher seemed irritated. My wife still felt under the weather, so I bought two box lunches ( suppers ) for the two of us on the way home.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 Fair

　Went to the sign language circle's week;y meeting. Around 25 members were present. As usual, to begin with, the person in charge this morning did what is called "Three Words," in which members are supposed to talk in sign language in turn by using any of the three words. As soon as this was over, I went home and went to the Korean language school for the first time in one month. While speaking Korean, I made lots of mistakes and also forgot some words-lack of practice.

Monday, October 16, 2006 Fair

　This morning I bought new shoe strings for my old shoes with worn-out shoe laces. The shoemaker was a kind old man. I heard a colleague in the same room speaking in a hoarse voice. He seems to have caught cold, and I may have caught it, too, because I have a sore throat now.. My wife was under the weather all day today. At night saw a TV documentary about twin painters with progressive muscular dystrophy, one of whom is already dead.

Sunday, October 15, 2006 Fair

　It was rather cool this morning. As I was walking to the station on my way to school, today being a workday, my fingertips felt the chilliness of the morning air, although I got a bit sweaty from walking briskly. Autumn is deepening. Come tot think of it, crickets have already stopped chirping in the neighborhood.

Saturday, October 14, 206 Fair

　Last night my wife and I, just the two of us, celebrated my birthday, singing the "Happy birthday" song and eating a happy birthday cake. She gave me a bottle of eau de cologne and a hair dye for the sideburns, typical presents for an aging husband. Tonight our first-born son will be coming back home from Kobe. He seems busy with his graduate school research.

Friday, October 13, 206 Fair

　I felt like playing the recorder this morning, so I did while taking a bath. Then my wife opened the bathroom door all of a sudden, saying, "What on earth are you doing here?" I answered, "Just playing the recorder. Anything wrong?" Went to the Osaka International Exchange Center to listen to a lecture on English by a university professor, finding it quite interesting. Another accident resulting in death on the JR Loop Line, delaying trains. Friday the 13th and my birthday, of all days.

Thursday, October 12, 2006 Cloudy

　Before taking a shower I tried to think about what to eat for lunch. As I got out of the shower, my wife came out with a different idea than I had thought, so I just told her what I had thought. Then she got sulky. Whatever may go against her will, she sometimes gets like this-hard to deal with. Resumed reading "Lord Loss"a couple of days ago and finished reading it at last today.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006 Rainy and then cloudy.

　Today interviewed by the principal and asked whether I wished to be transferred to another school. My answer was no. I then explained why to him. The interview lasted for twenty minutes or so, and it was done in a businesslike manner. Today's soccer practice was cancelled because the ground was still wet..

Tuesday, October 10, 2006 Fair and rather hot.

　Went to Kyoto with my wife. After eating out there we went to Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art to see some ancient Greek sculptures from the Louvre. In ancient Greece people competed not only in sports but also in learning. Great philosophers, such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, lived and philosophized then. Perhaps they needed a philosophy to live in a age of keen rivalry.

Monday, October 9, 2006 Fair

　Today North Korea seems to have conducted a nuclear test at last. It is not still known whether it was successful or not. On the balcony I smell car exhaust probably because a new road has been constructed near by recently. The air here is more polluted now.

Sunday, October 8, 2006 Fair

　Went to the prefectural education center, where students' works were exhibited and students performed on the stage. I saw a group of students from our school singing. Quite impressed. It took me nearly an hour to get there. The weather was a bit chilly today.

Saturday, October 7, 2006 Cloudy

　In the morning spent two hours or so talking in English at the usual English conversation school.On the way home bought two portions of okonomi for breakfast. At night saw a couple of serial Korean dramas. Tomorrow is a workday. The desk is a mess now. So is the living room. I will have to pick it up.

Friday, October 6, 2006 Cloudy

　Today's classes were O.K. probably because I had made enough preparations. In class I made much of sounds as usual, so I had my students read after me a lot. Now they read after me all right. It took me some time and patience to make them realize the importance of reading aloud. At first not one student read after me.

Thursday, October 5, 2006 Rainy

　There was a chairperson election. I was fortunate enough not to be elected chairperson. It is not good for your sanity like a member of the condo complex board. It seems that after all, learning a foreign language is a matter of habit. The firmness of your decision to use the foreign language you are learning matters.

Wednesday, October 4, 2006 Cloudy

　Two Korean study meetings today. This week I do not seem to be myself. Maybe I am so concerned about what happened to my friend. Why can such an absurd thing happen? I keep forgetting English spellings. That makes me feel small. However, out of use, out of mind.

Tuesday, October 3, 2006 Fair

　After going to today's sign language circle's weekly meeting, I met my wife at the station and we went to Korea Town, where we had lunch and looked around here and there. At night we saw a Korean drama and movies for a few hours as usual. We had a good time together today.

Monday, October 2, 2006 Cloudy

　This was not my day. Today's OC�T class was something of a mess because I failed to start playing the tape at the right place. I was in a cold sweat. Anyway I did it all with my own voice. I should double-check the tape deck right before class. I have heartburn now. I wonder if I overeat myself these days.

Sunday, October 1, 2006 Rainy

　Ate a Korean dish for lunch with my friend. Then he drove me to the nearby Odakyu station. We said goodbye to each other. I took the 14:10 Shinkansen at Odawara. It was drizzling outside. I had to buy an umbrella. He will be coming to see me in Osaka next year with his daughter-in-law.