Sunday, December 30, 2012 Rainy, occasionally cloudy.
Accomplished little today. Took a morning walk for an hour or so. It
was raining. Watched a TV program entitled "Easy Economics" for
a few hours. Then watched the Korean drama "The Deep-Rooted Tree."
Saturday, December 29, 2012 Fair
Woke up very late in the morning as our second son came late last night,
which woke me up. So, I went back to bed in the wee hours. Ran an errand
for my wife to begin with, entering some recent items in the passbook and
buying a couple of things. Did some more cleaning in the home-my room,
the front door area, and the washbasin area.
Friday, December 28, 2012 Rainy, occasionally rainy.
Went to work. Got to talk to the clerk luckily about this and that. Had
an English study session with my Korean friend. Went slow-jogging for a
while. Did a little cleaning. Took four hours off and was off to home.
On the way bought two department bento.
Thursday, December 27, 2012 Fair
Decided to take an hour off and came back home. Today at work mainly
cleaned here and there in the English Interview Room. Back home my wife
cleaned the living room for the first time in so many days, feeling good.
This morning I did a bit of cleaning around the desk. She must have seen
me doing that. If you clean, you can start clean.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012 Cloudy
As for the Japanese educational system, the structual fatigue seems to
be apparent. Possitive emotional influence is an important factor in education,
but these days few inspirational aspects are seen in teacher-student relationships.
That is a pity. Human relations among teachers seem to have collapsed as
well. When I left for home, the flifth floor was deserted. I was the only
one to swipe at the usual place on the first floor. Well, I have decided
to work according to the calendar.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012 Cloudy
Went to work and checked some reports, made the final in Reading, and
prepared the first-term Reading reports for next school year. It has been
a very cold day. The school was rather deserted today. Had an English study
meeting with my Korean friend, too. She gave me her Christmas present,
which was a muffler.
Monday, Decemeber 24, 2012 Cloudy
Christmas Eve, so went to buy some cakes. My wife's mother ate hers all,
and so did we. Well, this cake shop we tried this time turned out to be
OK. The one we freguented to closed down because of confectioner's illness
in November this year.
Sunday, December 23, 2012 Cloudy
Yesterday went to Konan Home Center to buy some plastic containers for
the closet. My wife and I rode our respective bike there. We have decided
not to use our car after my retirement, cancelling our parking space contract
as well. Today I worked in the backyard from 9:30 a.m. until after dark,
that is, around 5:30 p.m. The trees have been pruned, and the ground has
been cleaned. The balcony, too, is now cleaner. At the end of the day I
had 19 large-size plastic bags of refuse. So Exhausted.
Friday, December 21, 2012 Cloudy and rainy.
Sent my homeroom kids their 2nd-term grades. Took two hours off and come
home. Again part of the retirement procedure has to be done, but the one
in charge did not give me any adequate explantion regarding this paper.
Is this the way it should be?
Thursday, December 20, 2012 Fair
Put printed matter in the envelopes to be sent to the homeroom students.
Took me some time. Paid 200 yen and ate zenzai at the farewell gettogether
for a fellow teacher. Today's staff meeting did not last too long.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012 Cloudy
Yesterday had a midterm exam in the Korean classroom. I did so-so anyway
on it. Today at work had two students come over for their exams-special
cases because of the homeroom teachers' wishes. Taught the last class of
the year, just 24 students, not too many, but they participated well. Took
two hours off and came back home.
Monday, December 17, 2012 Cloudy
The deadline for the second term. Quite a few students came at the last
minute. Unmanageable in many ways. Some of them put the blame on others,
not on themselves. Well, I could not afford to deal with that kind of stuff
then. One threw a tantrum. I had no idea why. Another flatterer empty in
substance. Usually gate-crashers are like that. I was emaciated at the
end of the day, having a headache, too.
Sunday, December 16, 2012 Cloudy
The election day. Went to the polls with my wife and her mother in the
evening. Voted as an Osakan educational public servant. Today at work slow-jogged
for a while, checked some reports, had a couple of students coming to see
me. Helped with the joint homeroom. Took an hour off. Yesterday bought
a new bicycle, disposing of our first-born son's bike. Rode that bike to
buy a new TV set with my wife. Sent 28 New Years cards. When doing the
printing, spoiled two postcards. What a shame!
Friday, December 14, 2012 Fair, cloudy and rainy.
From the time I got to work until a bit before I left for home, I had
one student after another coming to see me-almost all gate crashers. At
the end of the day I was so exhausted I went home with my mind blank and
empty... I wondered about the bad manners of some of these students.
Thursday, December 13, 2012 Fair
There was an explanation meeting about this coming sign-up procedure.
Rather complicated. Then had a rehearsal of this next joint human rights
education homeroom. It was enlighening and good. I was impressed. Lastly
came another meeting in support of a colleague.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012 Cloudy
Today at work just one class to teach and dozens of reports to check.
Several students came over. Yesterday went to the Korean language school.
That was it.
Monday, December 10, 2012 Cloudy
I was such a scatterbrain today I made some booboos at work. Had five
or six students from 2:15 pm. until a bit before 7:00 p.m. Two retests
and three makeups. Almost cancelled today's Korean study meeting. I ended
up so tired at the end of the day I decided to take an hour off. Had a
mail from my wife on the way home, saying our TV set is somewhat out of
order. Again something does happen to toward the end of the year.
Sunday, December 9, 2012 Cloudy
Our school festival was held today. Baked sweet potatoes were not sold
this year. Viewed two performances on the state-a magic show and a Korean
musical instrument performance. By and large it was an OK school festival.
Saturday, December 8, 2012 Cloudy and windy.
Did not go out at all today. Just relaxed all day at home. Yesterday
was a busy workday. They are forcing us to conduct a questionnaire on our
classes. I did it in my Reading class. Glanced the slips later. Not too
bad. Well, I just don't want to be forced to do that, though. Pressure
after pressure upon us teachers. Maybe soon more to come when a new cabinet
is formed after this coming election.
Thursday, December 6, 2012 Cloudy
After the regular staff meeting was held our English teachers' meeting,
where we discussed whether we would have an ALT over next school year.
In conclusion, the answer was in the affirmative. The discussion was rather
heated. On the way home, a pretty impudent old lady leaned over me. She
had no manners. However, she may have been too weak to stand, and I should
have offered my seat. Well, she had her seeminly daughter beside her, who
ignored what was going on. This lady did have no manners in a sense.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012 Cloudy
Today was a forgetful day. I forgot my Smartphone. My wife forgot my
bento. Well, oblivion is in the course of nature as you age. Today I realized
that these days anything goes for survival-survival instincts. Corrected
around 20 reports.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012 Cloudy
Like other Tuesdays went to the Korean class as a habit. Talked to the
class about a certain subject. Yesterday barely made it to school on time.
Out of breath. I did not want to do that again. I don't know why, but I
felt very tired at the end of the day.
Sunday, December 2, 2012 Cloudy
Last Friday had a call from a homeroom student's parent before I left
for home. Yesterday inputted the addresses for next year's New Year's cards.
Today at work worked my own way. Had an English study session as well.
Bought two pork cutlet bento on the way home.