Wednesday, December 31, 2008 cloudy

　Today I was out of energy, having been hard at work cleaning the rooms. Therefore, I decided to take it easy today. It is not wise to go too far in anything. Anyway I tried hard enough-more than 80 % of what I planned has been accomplished. Now I will thave to make my New Year's resolutions and eat buckwheat noodles with my family, when I am thinking of having a family conference at the same time about our financial conditions. The toilet is out of order again after my wife cleaning it. This electronic toilet must be defective.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008 Cloudy

　The rooms are still a mess. I am at a loss how to deal with all this clutter. Putting stuff like papers, videos, books, and cassettes is such a hassle I have little idea what to do with this chaos. I am feeling irritated now. Early this morning I cleaned the shelves on the hall, discarding old batteries. Todnight I am thinking of cleaning the bedroom. tomorrow I will put away the papers.

Monday, December 29, 2008 Cloudy

　Late last night printed over 20 New-Year cards and mailed them this morning. Began putting the rooms in order-the hardest and most tiring part of the cleaning. I am not finished yet. Cleaned the space right outside the front door a little, too. I will keep putting my stuff in order tomorrow, too, if not impossible. My throat is somewhat itchy probably because the air is dry now. Overate takoyaki for lunch, so ate only a little for supper. One of my goals for next year is to lose weight.

Sunday, December 28, 2008 Cloudy

　Heard from my Korean pen pal, who is now in Tucson, the U.S.A. His emails are usually written in Koren, and I write back to him in English. I did so today, too. Made a Reading handout for the next class. Also prepared two documents to be handed in next year. I am almost done with what I planned to do during the winter holidays except for writing New-Year cards, which I may not do until next year begins. In the evening I copied onto my i-Pod the musical CDs which my friend had kindly given me.

Saturday, December 27, 2008 Cloudy

　Drove my mother-in-law and our second son to the clinic. Then went shopping for cllothing and ate udon on the way back. Taking a break for some time, drove my wife's mother back home and went shopping again this time for some daily necessities, cat food, etc. Put 3000 yen's worth of gas in the car, too. Made the 1st-term OC�Treport for the next academic year, working on and off all day.

Friday, December 26, 2008 Cloudy and cold.

　Today was the last workday of the year. The fifth floor was deserted by the time I left the English Interview Room. Today I had two people to meet, but none came. That was put off until January 5 of next year. We had our extra English teachers' meeting at three. I also made an English �Thandout. I got some musical CDs from a fellow teacher. In today's morning paper was an article about teachers who were absent from work for long periods of time because of illness. Over 60 percent of them took sick leave becuse of mental disorders. The number tripled compared with that a decade ago.

Thursday, December 25, 2008 Cloudy and cold.

　Sent the final second-term grades to the homeroom students today with some other sheets enclosed. Have to have an extra English teachers' meeting tomorrow about one of the recommended reference books. Also an OC�Tstudent may be coming. Expecting a friend, too. So this year's last workday is kind of "business as usual". So cold on the way home-windy and dreary, indicative of today's world.

Wedensday, December 24, 2008 Cloudy

　We have a small warehouse on the balcony. Today disposed of some unnecessary stuff in there. There was some more bulky trash collected beforehand. I took all that to the pulverizing factory. Lucky to have the old perpsonal computer, display and keyboard accepted there. The old TV was refused, though. I paid 1.020 yen for that.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008 Cloudy

　Our second son came back from Tokyo late last night to attend his friend's wedding today. He will go back to Tokyo tonight because he has work tomorrow. I read in today's morning paper that the Education Ministry announced that English classes should be taught in English, starting in the year 2013, one year after I retire, as I read it online yesterday. Well, I do not care.

Monday, December 22, 2008 Rainy and then cloudy.

　Took a morning brisk walk, but the pedometer did not work properly. The reading was incorrect. I kept waiting for a student all day, but she stood me up eventually. I made a couple of telephone calls to her home, though. According to the new course of study the Education Ministry announced today, English classes should be conducted all in Enlglish. I wonder if it is possible in this country. Just wait and see.

Sunday, December 21, 2008 Cloudy

　There was an uncomfortably warm wind blowing on my way home from work. The fellow teacher I kept company as far as the nearest station said he had a premonition that an earthquake or something might happen. Then I said I was not sure.(jishin ga nai). Today one student came and I helped her with her second-term reports. Addressed 40 envelopes by using the computer and the printer so that I could use them in sending the second-term results to my homeroom students. Early this morning took out the recyclable stuff and did some more weeding in the backyard.

Saturday, December 20, 2008 Fair

　Cleaned the balcony, weeded the backyard and pruned the trees there. Took me over two hours. Went to the library to check out a book. Watched the backlog of recorded Korean drama stories for several hours. This drama, "You Are My Star," is not good for your mental health. The pathology of Korean mentality is showing. However, once I began to watch it, I cannot give up on it.

Friday, December 19, 2008 Cloudy

　What a busy day! There were several students who handed in their second-term reports at the last minute today. They all left instead of coming to see me in person. In a word "irresponsible" from the standpoint of a teacher, but a hasty generalization is a dangerous thing. Thinking they all had their respective reason, I called all of them. Took quite some time. It was a hassle. Checked around twenty reports and took care of one restest. The one who promised to come called me and cancelled the appointment. Today I had my Reading class observed by the vice-principal and one of the two head teachers.

Thursday, December 18, 2008 Cloudy

　Took three hours off and dined out with some friends. That was our year-end dinner. We had fun eating and talking for three hours or so. I had my fill and , taking leave. ran up the stairs of the nearest station because I heard a train coming. I should not have run. I got out of breath and felt sick. With my heavy rucksack on my back that was too much for my age. I sometimes forget about my age and make this kind of mistake.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 Rainy and then cloudy.

　Resumed extensive reading both in English and Korean. Yesterday in my Korean class the teacher gave a pop quiz, a cloze-test type dictation test. My score was not too good, a couple of careless mistakes. I felt I would have to spend more time reading. At 11:00 a.m. there was an interesting program called "Korean history ( biographical). Today's person was Muryong the Great.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008 Fair

　To the sign language club's weekly meeting. On the way home bought some bread at the usual supermarket. Then studied Korean a little before going to today's Korean classroom. Today was the last class of this year. We students gave our teacher a wedding present-10,000 yen in cash. She is getting married back in Korea this winter. Early this morning my wife and I did our daily constitutional, walking briskly for an hour or so.

Monday, December 15, 2008 Cloudy, occasionally fair.

　Studied Korean in the morning with a couple of friends. As soon as I finished eating lunch, I had a Reading class to teach in the first period. Then there were quite a few reports to check. One retest to take care of. Today I forgot my cell phone at home. Back home I found there were a few calls and two emails. Called back and sent replies. Worked on the Super Crossword.

Sunday, December 14, 2008 Cloudy and cold.

　To the nearest station from home I walked and ran alternately. So, I felt sick on the train. I overexerted myself and by the time I got to work, I was quite exhausted. I walked up the stairs slowly. Then took the elevator to the eighth floor and settled accounts for the school festival with two other colleagues. Took about one hour and a half. Then came a friend and spent some time talking in English and Korean. Waited for a student in vain-her second time to stand me up. Not nice of her. Tried to make a teaching plan, but not yet done.

Saturday, December 13, 2008 Cloudy

　Just back from a one-hour brist walk with my wife. My pedometer showed over 12.000 steps for today. This afternoon did a lot of driving and shopping. My wife again bought another exercise machine. I wonder how long it will last this time. This is probably her fifth time to buy this kind of apparatus. Our two cats are very particular about their food. The other day we bought them some very expesive cat food. Now that they know that quality food, they will not eat the average cat food. Too bad.

Friday, December 12, 2008 Fair

　This morning I slept long enough. In the third period I taught English �T. As usual I ran off 30 copies of the lesson's handout. That was hardly enough. Strange. Why did so many students come this time? I took a walk after eating supper. It took me 30 minutes or so to get to Korea Town and back. Some students came over to ask me some questions or to ask me to help them out. Made a Reading handout. A full day.

Thusday, December 11, 2008 Fair, occasionally cloudy.

　On arriving at school, went to the nearest mailbox and sent the two copies of the graduate's transcript. Then two conferences in a row for nearly three hours. Tried to make a handout for next week's Reading class, but it is not done yet. The intra-school personnel committe went into action. Some school vandalism is noticeable these days, which reminds me of some of the difficult schools where I had worked.

Wedenesday, December 10, 2008 Fair

　Had to prepare two copies of a graduate's transcript. Took two hours or so in all. Really tiring. Called this man twice, but no answer. Left a message with the answering machine. Checked over ten reports and helped two students with their reports. Took a brisk walk in the neighborhood with my wife in the morning. Watched KBS's moring drama. Listened to NHK's Korean program. Listened to the pod-cast as well.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 Rainy

　First thing in the morning took 80 copies of the sign language club newspaper to the bank where today's Christmas party was being held. On the way back dropped by the usual conveniece store to get the book I had ordered the other day. Also bought some bread at the usual supermarket. Back home studied Korean, watched the usual serial Korean drama on KBS, ate lunch and went to the Korean language classroom. Although today was a substitute day off for this past Sunday, I was pretty busy. Our son in Tokyo has caught cold running a fever. We are concerned about him.

Monday, December 8, 2008 Fair

　Late for today's Korean study meeting because I found JR trains not running when I changed trains. I walked part of the way to school. Checked around twenty reports today. Took some time. One English �Tclass. Participation was OK although attnedance was so-so. Most students seem to be aware nowt that in my class they cannot do something else.

Sunday, December 7, 2008 Fair

　The school festival was held today. I stuck the attendance sheets on the tables on the first floor in front of the elevators a little past nine o'clock. Took them away around 12:30 p.m. Stuck the ones for the afternoon attendance on the tables by the auditorium 12:50 p.m., removing them a little before four o'clock. Student Council teachers did the rounds together and called it a day. Handed in the second-term report on assisting the newly employed teacher. On the way home, met up with one of my homeroom students, talking part of the way on the same train.

Saturday, December 6, 2008 Cloudy, windy and cold.

　Went to work by 1:30 p.m. and took the attendance for those who helped get the auditorium and the tents ready for tomorrow's school festival. It was so windy the attnedance sheet on one of the tables by the audirorium was almost blown away, so I put it inside, writing "Get inside and write your class, ID number, and name" on the blackboard that happened to be there. The sheet, being placed there around 4:00 p.m., was retrieved before 5:00 p.m. Also two tables and one desk were placed in position on the first floor rigtht across from the elevators.

Friday, December 5, 2008 Rainy and then cloudy.

　It has been a cold day today with a rather strong wind blowing. Made an English �Thandout and did the printing. These days I often find myself out of breath walking up the stairs after typing for an hour or so. Maybe due to poor blood circulation. I had better stretch myself after some sedentary work. Took three hours off and came back home. Took a brist walk with my wife in this cold weather. My wife was in poor condition, so we did not walk long.

Thusday, December 4, 2008 Fair

　Worked together preparing for the school festival. Around 500 copie of the brochure are now ready. One question in the No.8 English �Treport gave me a hard time, so I asked the one who had made it. Still I am in the dark about the propriety of the question. Too hard for students, I guess. Bought taiyaki for the family today, too. Quite tired at the end of the day.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008 Fair

　Getting up early in the morning, worked on the Super Crossword for a couple of hours. So got tired even before leaving for work. During Homeroom Hour explained how to take subjects for next year, but I forgot some of the detailed information on that. Took care of one retest and one makeup, checking ten reports or so and preparing handouts for next two classes. At home wrote back to my Korean friend in English via email.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008 Fair

　We had good weather today. I felt good, too, which does not mean I am temperamental. However, if the weather is goo, that would be nice anyway. Writing thisi early on the morning of the next day. Last nigth fell alseep without working on the Super Crossword. This time I am going to be a late starter. I also missed the TV Korean program. Yesterday was a busy day, too,-the usual sign language club and the Korean classroom.

Monday, December 1, 2008 Cloudy

　A morning Korean study meeting. Then ate my box lunch before teaching two classes in a row. Took care of one makeup in the third period. In the fourth period, Inclusive Learning, helped some graduating students with their English. Another student came for her makeup. Just a few reports to correct. Made one OC�Thandout. A full day. However, hadr work never seems to pay. Things are so gloomy everywhere-the financial crisis, low pay, the possible avian flu, so many suicides every day, especially on railways, no warm human relations at work, and so on and so forth.