Wednesday, October 31, 2007 Cloudy

　I seem to have caught cold. I cough a bit and I feel dull and a little cold. Now I do not have a fever. I took some medicine a while ago. Nova, the biggest English conversation school chain went under, and the ex-president has been charged with breach of trust or something. He has been living an unimaginably luxury life, living in a plush penthouse of a condo complex, and it was a penthouse on the house. If people live in luxury, there is something wrong with them because there is some kind of exploitation. They do so at the cost of many others. We should keep this in mind and be humble if we can afford to live a decent life.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 Cloudy and then rainy.

　Been to the wake of my aunt in the rain. She passed away early this morning. On the way I got lost. I asked several people, each of whom gave me different directions. Besides I left my cell phone at home. Too bad. This morning went to the sign language club. They have made the club flag. In the afternoon went to the Korean language school. On the way home had a haircut.

Monday, October 29, 2007 Fair

　A morning Korean study meeting as usual. Bought a boxed meal for lunch. Checked some 'reports' as usual. Printed the2nd-term exam sheets and put them away as usual. This took me some time. I had to prepare the correct answers as well. Tomorrow is a substitute holiday. Thanks goodness!

Sunday, October 28, 2007 Fair

　Very busy and hard at work all day. Checked dozens of 'reports.' Between periods helped some students with their 'reports.' No time to do anything else. Even while eating lunch, I helped a couple of students with their 'reports.' The 2nd-term exams are coming soon. On my way to and from work read one of the two books I checked out yesterday from the municipal library.

Saturday, October 27, 2007 Rainy and then Cloudy.

　Returned the library book and checked out two books. Bought both lunch and supper today. Kind of took it easy all day. Thinking of getting a flu shot soon, so reserved one today. Today I could not do it because I have a sore throat. Tomorrow is a workday. My last English classes for this term.

Friday, October 26, 2007 Rainy and then cloudy.

　Today there were only a few students in class. Last time this class met, there were quite a few. Depending on what other classes there are at the same time or at different times, attendance vacillates. Ate a boxed meal again for supper. I have a bit of a sore throat now. Yesterday was our second son's birthday. He became 25. I sent him two emails, saying, "Happy birthday."

Thursday, October 25, 2007 Cloudy

　The printers in the printing room seem to be malfunctioning. Sheets get stuck easily. I hear sheet quality has changed for the worse. The local government as well as the central is so stingy with eduacation. This is applicable to any case. They regard education as a means of coontroling people. Education is the only thing that can creates the future. Short-sighted people have no vision. They love money instead of people. They use people instead of money.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007 Fair

　Paid for the next year's Virus buster at a convenience store. The price has gone up a lot. At work corrected some reports, made a handout, etc. Qutie busy doing one thing afteter another. Took a coffee break for a while and read a story in Korean. On my way to and from work, listened to a Korean song. At home did some homework for the Korean language school.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007 Fair

　Went to the sign language circle a little late. I overslept a bit. Day one at the Korean language school with our new teacher. This class is a small one with only six students. I will hit the books anyway - this time even harder than before. At work made one handout. The place was kind of deserted. At any organization if only five percent of the personnel try hard, you can maintain the organization, which is very true. The rest seem unnessary or useless. However, it is not true. As is found in Chinese philosophy. there is use for uselessness. Paradoxically enough. If the stronger help the weaker, that is education in the true sense of the word. But few believe in that nowadays. Now ours is a dog-eat-dog society.

Monday, October 22, 2007 Fair

　Leaving home for work earlier than usual, I bought a box lunch as I get off at the station near my workplace. This shop turned out to be a good bento shop. I got another boxed meal for supper at the same shop. As usual, I had a Korean study meeting. I had around 20 reports to correct. It took some time.

Sunday, October 21, 2007 Fair

　Getting up early in the moning, took out the recyclable stuff, such old newpaper and cardboard. Weeded the backyard again. Checked how the Internet connection was this morning. No good. This afternoon a technician was sent from the provider and fixed everything, not only the Internet but also TV. The other day they adjusted the Internet and TV settings of thie condo complex. That is why all this trouble had been caused.

Saturday, October 20, 2007 Fair

　Emailed the provider this morning. They are coming over tomorrow afternoon. In the mornig after making the English �T test I went to the Englsih conversation session. On the way home bought okonomiyaki. Spent the rest of the day making the Reading test. Now the tests are ready. Reallyt exhausted. Had a call from the provider.

Friday, October 19, 2007 Rainy

　It rained almost all day. Two classes to teach. Good ones, Oral Communication �T and Reading. About 20 'reports' to check. Bought a boxed meal at one of the two bento shops which have recently opened near the station where I get off to go to work. It tasted O.K. The price was reasonable, too. Paid the tuition for the Korean language school and paid for the textbook as well.

Thursday, October 18, 2007 Fair

　There was a Student Council teachers' meeting. Also there was an interview with the vice principal about next year's personnel transfers. Still having trouble with the Internet connection. Cannot do anything else. At work worked really hard. Started making the tests.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007 Fair

　The Internet connection is still slow. I checked my computer, but it says　that there is nothing wrong. It can be a problem with the Internet provider or the Local Internet environment may have changed. I have no idea. I will just wait and see for the time being. These days getting up early at home and doing one thing after another at work, I tend to fall asleep after getting back home.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007 Fair

　Went to the sign langugage club's weekly meeting, I did today's "Three Words" for another fellow member, but looks like the three words I had chosen were too difficult for them to use. They kept saying that all along. I weeded the backyard today, too. As a result, there were almost two big garbage bags of weed. Also cleaned the balcony and around my PC. At night fell asleep while reading a paperback. The Internet connection is very changeable, not steady at all these days. I wonder if I should call the compnay if this continues.

Monday, October 15, 2007 Fair

　How come some people never hesitate to tell lies even to their friends? Maybe their priority is profit, not friendship. The whole world is getting so mercenary that something important has been totally forgotten. Well, it has not begun lately. Even when I was in the States, some evangelists were more mercenary than religioous. Well, the world is being Americanized-globalization. It is now a cut-throat world that we live in. The end of the world. I feel pessimistic when I think about globalization.

Sunday, October 14, 2007 Fair

　I had the shock of my life today. I happened to forget the conjugation of a simple verb. Anyway I did not sleep well last night. My cop-out anyway. I finished reading a certain book late at night last night. That book was a courtesy copy from someone I know who I respect. I think he is a genius.

Saturday, October 13, 2007 Overcast

　Today is my 55th birthday. If I round this figure off, I get 60. I spent almost all day making the last two pages of the 3rd-term Reading 'reports.' At last it is ready. I will have to take a double-check, though. Checked out the municipal library book on neoliberalism which I had reserved online. Our older son came home, and my wife bought a birthday cake from the usual confectionery. A small birthday party was held. I am 55 years old now.

Friday, October 12, 2007 Fair

　If we teachers quit today, we will have nothing to do with our school or other teachers tomorrow . And I know a few colleagues who have quit recently. Nowaday teachers are often come under criticism, and education seems to have lost its original meaning-cultivation of one's mind. If just one teacher helps just one student cultivate his or her mind in the true sense of the word, I think it will not only do him or her a lot of good but also help hinder society degrade further. This should be a joy and hope. However, it is like planting a tree in a desert.

Thursday, October 11, 2007 Cloudy

　At work felt dull after making a couple of handout for the next classes. Spent some time shooting the breeze. Today's staff meeting did not take long. Brevity is the soul of wit. The quality of students seems to be changing, for the worse, but I wonder how many of us, including the management people, are aware of it.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007 Cloudy and rather cool.

　A Korean study meeting in the morning. One of them quit last week because she has something else to do. Two of them seem to have stopped coming. There remain only three. This Korean study group will disappear sooner or later. It is a matter of time. I, who have been studying it for three years or so, am in charge, having taken over from our former Korean teacher. At work spent some time talking with a couple of colleagues about imminent great earthquakes, life and death, religion, etc. After all, as some philospher said, what is done out of love is beyond good and eveil and right. Well, I am not sure, but what exactly is love?

Tuesday, October 9, 2007 Rainy, occasionally cloudy.

　Still working on the 3rd-term reports. I hope I can finish making them today. The social studies reference books I had sent to my ex-Korean teacher in Seoul arrived in good order. However, the letter in which the receipts are enclosed has not arrived yet. It is so thin it may get lost.

Monday, October 8, 2007 Rainy

　Sports Day. Come to think of it, four years have passed since I started keeping a diary in English online. A lot of water under the bridge, so to speak. Today I have work to do. I will have to do it by all means-making the 3rd-term reports.

Sunday, October 7, 2007 Fair and then cloudy.

　There was a joint school cultural event over at the prefectural center. I was on reception duty and had to report for work in the morning. After coming home, trying to use Ichitaro files, I installed the very old version in the computer. Then something went wrong, and I could not run programs properly. I had no choice but to set up the whole system again. In doing so, I managed to restore the system retroactive to a few days back.

Saturday, October 6, 2007 Fair

　In today's English conversation sessionI said ' in low file' by mistake instead of 'in low profile.' My wife was busy with her sister's problem. I found myself reluctant to do anything today. I must make the next term's Reading reports, though. Well, I will do it tomorrow.

Friday, October 5, 2007 Fine and rather cool.

　This week's fatigue has piled up. Need to take it easy now. Spent some time reading a paperback. Heard from my 'hitorigakushu' master for the first time in many days. He was good enough even to send me his latest book. He is a genius in the area of education. I still have a lot to learn from him.

Thursday, October 4, 2007 Overcast

　Running around here and there in the morning. First, went to the post office to buy some stamps. Then called the board of education to ask a couple of questions. And went to the bookstore to buy two more workbooks to send to Seoul. At work taking two hours off, went to the board of education to apply for my Korean language teacher's license. It will be issued in a few months' time, but I will be qualified from October 6, 2007 on.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007 Cloudy

　Our ex-Korean teacher asked me to send three more books, which I had not expected, but his preparatory school seems to need them. At work I was busy doing one thing after another. Anyway I think I accomplished a lot. All the documentation for my Korean language teacher's license will be ready if I fill out the application form. However, the teaching license system will change in 2009. This next license may go up in smoke then.

Tuesday, October 2, 1007 Fair

　Finally fall seems to be around. A nice day. Almost all day running around, looking for the books my ex-Korean teacher asked me to buy for him. His info again fell short, though. Well, anyway I have come to know something about social studies reference books and workbooks. Also contacted the post office to get some info on how to sent books to Seoul. I did nothing else today. Too tired.

Monday, October 1, 2007 Cloudy

　Taught Korean in the morning. One of the members will quit because she has something else to attend to for now. So the meeting has become half the orignial size in number. Well, I kind of expected this. Our ex-Koean teacher in Seoul asked me to send some social studies textbooks and workbooks. I tried to locate them today, but his info was insufficient or wrong. I had a hard time doing so. At night came another mail asking for more to buy and send. Wow, I am in trouble. I need the right info.