Sunday, February 28, 2010 Rainy, cloudy and fair.

　Around 9:00 a.m. walked up to Classroom 603 and gave the graduating students a program. Around 9:30 a.m. moved over to the gym's first floor. After the male boss talked about the anthem etc. One of the Human Rights Committeemen also talked about the healthy diversity of the students of our school, the sad history of the natinonal anthem and flag (the military govenment utilized them) , no harm to be done to students even if they do not stand up for the anthem, etc. The vice-pricipal's talk was successful with the part where he quoted the impressions of some students who graduated from our school He seems to do this every year, though. After the ceremony I was busy making a certificate of grades for a graduationg student, so I was unable to help clean the gym. Some students wanted me to take a picture together.

Saturday, February 27, 2010 Cloudy

　At least two major earthquakes happened today-one in Okinawa and the other in Chile. Taking out the garbage, I went out for a morning walk. My wife did not walk this morning. Gave my mother-in-law a ride to and back from her doctor's office. Ate lunch together with my wife at home. Took a rather long nap this afternoon. I must report for work early tomorrow for the commencement. I am supposed to stand up for the nathional anthem.

Friday, February 26, 2010 Rainy

　This morning took a walk in the rain without the leg weights on. I could walk faster than usual. Before going to work dropped in at the library and checked out a reserved book. At work took care of three Engliish students. Still putting the stuff lin order-endless work as usual. Our cat soaked the remote control switch by accident. A new one will cost us 5000 yen. I hope it will work all right when it dries.

Thursday, February 25, 2010 Cloudy

　There was a staff meeting. Just one item on the agenda, whether or not subjects for which under 10 students have signed up will be taught this next school year.. Then got the gym ready for the commencement which is to take place the day after tomorrow. Sent six homeroom students papers pertaining to "free textbooks." Today I was so sleepy during the day I almost fell asleep on the train on my way to work., maybe because of the warm weather.

Wednesday, February 24, Cloudy

　Checked on each and every student who has taken English this school year by contacting their homeroom teachers and if necessary, made a phone call. One English �Tstudent took her retest after handing in her reports. Sent a homeroom student a form for a year's leave of absence from school. Began putting the English Interview Room in order. Bought some kimch and ramen at Korea Town after a long time.

Tuesday, February 23, Cloudy

　I did not go to the sign language club because they had a cooking class today. Yesterday my wife resumed walking in the morning. She is a fast walker, so I walk after she finishes walking. Went to the supermarket to buy bread after returning a few library books. In the afternoon went to the Korean language class. Next week I will have to make a speech in Korean.

Monday, February 22, Cloudy

　We had a Korean language study session. One more session, this book will be done. Next is Book Four. There was a judgement conference from two o'clock, ending after two hours or so. Sent my 12 homeroom kids a letter of inviation to the commencement.. Wth the partner inputted the subjects the rest of my homeroom kids decided to take. Finished reading Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. It is written in verse and talks about the time of the Great Depression. The atomophere is dark. After all, happiness comes from who you get to meet.

Sunday, February 21, 2010 Cloudy

　On telephone duty this afternoon. I made a mistake in exlpaining the procedure for those who quit high school and have no credits. Filled in the school records today, too. Almost done. Left the workplace early because I needed to do something for Mom. My wife and I went to see her. On the way bought some cat food. Mother is making a grave for my late father.

Saturday, February 20, 2010 Fair

　To the English conversation school in the morning. There were nine people present today-the most so far. I talked about the graduation season. I hate this season when I have graduationg students because at the ceremony they play the national anthem and teachers are supposed to stand up. Things have changed these days and young people today have a different image of the national anthem and flag. Another subject we discussed was the Vouvouver Wineter Olympics, in which I am not interested, but they talked about a Japanese snowboarder whose ckothing was not appropriate at the opening ceremony. This afternoon I rested at home.

Friday, February 19, 2010 Fair

　A total of 21 homeroom students came to see me for their sgin-up. I am still in the process of filling out the school records. On the 28th of this month there is going to be our commencement. Again it is the fumie season- whether or not you stand up and sing the national anthem. Things have changed and young peoplle today think differently. I am originally nonpolitical. Education and politics should be separate. However, the reality is not so.

Thursday, February 18, 2010 Cloudy

　I was on telephone duty between 4:00 p.m and 7:00 p.m. There were not many phone calls about the entrance exams. I spent most of the time filling out the school records. Back home I found an email from my Korean friend in the Yahoo mailbox, so I wrote back to him immediately in English. His email was written in Korean as usual. Tomorrow is the last day for the sign-up assistance period. Today Fujita Makoto passed away at 76. He got cancer two years ago.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 Cloudy

　Between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. a total of seven homeroom students came to see me. I helped them sign up for their next academic year. They took their time to do that, so I think they now know quite well what their subjects for next school year are all about. At the end of the day I was so exhausted I did not feel like doing anything else. I took care of one retest and checked over ten reports. Also I handed in the "big sheet" for the graduating students' so-called "judgement conference."

Tuesday, February 16, 2010 Cloudy

　Returned a library book and attended the sign language club's weekly meeting. On the way home bought bread at the supermarket. Finisheing writing a compositon in Korean for a presentation in March. Went to the Korean classroom and then to work. Just one to help sign up. In the evening it got quite cold. Watched a couple of Korean dramas at home.

Monday, February 15, 2010 Cloudy

　Helped seven homeroom students sign up for the school year 2010. It took about five and a half hours. While I was at it, I also took care of two retests. Checked around ten reports, too, Ate supper and had an English study session with my friend, a teacher. Back home worked on the Super Crossword far into the night. Sent my answers without taking a nother look, with a cry of resolve. "E〜i, itekomase!" Cat's-Paw-san's style.

Sunday, February 14, 2010 Cloudy

　Although today is a holiday, I had to report for work because the final grades were given this afternoon. Took care of two homeroom students( A mother came in place of her daughter.) Made the final preparations for the sign-up assistance tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Kept working for hours in a row and got exhausted. On the way home met my wife, who had been to Sannomiya with her sister, did some shopping, and came back home. She picked up her shoes at the shoe store.

Saturday, February 13, 2010 Fair

　Have been to Kyoto to see a ceratin exhibition with my wife. Those European oil paintings seem to have been products of wealth and power, not the kind of painings that make people happy. This morning cleaned the floor and took out the garbage. Then took a walk as usual, thinking my wife would not go to Kyoto because she was still in bed. Later she said she had a headache then.

Friday, February 12, 2010 Cloudy

　Today was the deadline for graduating students' grades. Two Reading students came. One studied for over four hours, and the other for a while. Checked over 20 reports and inputted the final results. The computers were being occupied almost all the time. Three homeroom students came. Finished reading Dan Brown's Angels and Demons-over 600 pages The last part was a lot of fun.

Thursday, February 11, 2010 Cloudy and rainy.

　At home all day. Read Angles and Demons. Almost done. The young cat is so naughty, very different from our past three cats, who are no longer alive. A couple of days ago writer Tatematsu Wahei died at age 62. I remember watching his short travelogue or something on a TV program called News Station long ago. I kind of liked the way he talked.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 Cloudy, occaionally rainy.

　Took this morning's brisk walk a little late. I never seem to lose weight, though. At work I kept working for seven hours straight. Five students took either a makeup or a retest. Also I had to help some of them with their reports. One of them, my graduating homeroom student, gave me some cake she baked herself. No time to eat supper. Back home I think I will read Angles and Demons.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 Cloudy

　Decidded beforehand not to attend today's lecture at the sign language club's weekly meeting., so I could take my time taking my morning walk today. I did not study for today's Korean lesson at home. Instead I listened to today's portion on my iPod on the trains on the way there. On my way home got an extension on my library books. Back home feeling a bit tired, I lay down for a while after eating supper. Around midnight our son got back home, saying, "I'm really exhausted today. I'm sick an tired of this." His work seems really tough on him now.

Monday, February 8, 2010 Cloudy

　There was a Korean study session this morning as usual. In the afternoon there were makeups for two hours back to back. Two homeroom students came for their sign-up procedure. To those of them who did not show up I sent the second 'invitation.' Checked ten reports or so. Pollen seems to be wafting around today. My nose feels strange, and I have a little eye irritation. I have neve had these symptoms, though. Do I have a different constituiton now?

Sunday, February 7, 2010 Fair

　Dan Brown's Angels and Demons is beginning to get interesting now. The Illuminati and the Vatican, thati is, science and faith, have been such old enemies to each other. Hence this antimatter stuff. Had an English study session with my friends. Called a homeroom student about her reports. Prepared for tomorrow's makeups. At home saw the last episode ( the 77th story) of Isan on DVD.

Saturday, February 6, 2010 Fair

　Woke up around the usual time and did my daily routine, reading the Korean Morning Letter, the raido exercises, my morning walk, etc. Then took a shower and went to the English conversation session. Today's conversation centered around English itself and this changing world, the way Westerners look at Japan. On the way home I bought some sweets for my family. In the afternoon after eating I fell asleep on the massager, waking up and finding our little cat sleeping on my lap. Then read a couple of books and went out in our car to buy some clothes, our son driving. Kind of a take-it-easy holiday, which is good for us all.

Friday, February 5, 2010 Cloudy and so very cold.

　Paid part of the money for our trip to Jeju Island this monring. Alos called the travel agent about this complicated preceudre-especially about insurance. At work I was on duty three times today. It was freezing when I was on duty at the school gate. Finished calculating the money spent for the clubs. The preparations for the sign-up period were almost done. So many mistakes by the previous homeroom teacher.

Thursday, February 4, 2010 Cloudy

　Igi is no more at home. My wife took good care of her, who smelled of blood. She had been nice to Igi until the very last moment. Kyun, who is our fourth cat, looks lonely. At work I sent all the exam papers back to the students. And there was a rather short staff meeting-just one and a half hours. Then I prepared for the sign-up period-just three students' papers remain now. I have a total of 30 students to take care of.
　

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 Fair

　Igi, our black and whilte cat, died around noon today. This morning I chewed some octopus and gave it to her. She managed to eat it. That was it. She has been cremated already, and her ashes are now in an urn. I miss her. At work invigilated my Reading exam, marked the exam papers, corrected 27 reports, helped a couple of students with their reports, etc. Tonight I will drink in remembrance of our Igi.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 Fair

　Got up late and unable to take a morning walk. Ate breakfast a and took a shower. Then after attending the sign language club's weekly meeting, got an extension on a libarary book and bought bread at the usual supermarket. Back home ate lunch while watching the usual morning Korean drama. Went to the Korean language school. On the way home did some shopping for supper. Took a walk late at night after watching "Isan" on DVD.

Monday, February 1, 2010 Rainy

　Studied Korean in the morning with some friends. Invigilated two exams, corrected some reports, marked the OC�Texam papers, and printed some assignments. Also on duty twice today-on the hall and at the gate in the rain. I have been walking in the morning for nearly a month, but I have lost littlel weight. I have no choice but to kieep it up. At keast, I will not gain too much weight then. Hopefully ...