Thursday, February 28, 2013 Cloudy

　Two homeroom kids came over at the last minute for their sign-up. I was kind of taken by surprise, making a few mistakes. Well, that was a hectic evening.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013 Cloudy

　The deadline for this school year. As this one is a correspondence one, there are various students who use various last resorts, copying someone else's reports etc. On the way home bought a bottle of sake and drank it witth my wife.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 Cloudy and then rainy.

　Although cold in the morning, went jogging in the park. In the afternoon off to the Korean language school. On the way home bought a present for the mother-in-law's 90th birthday. Just a potted plant.

Monday, February 25, 2013 Cloudy

　Some reports and a student came at the last minutes. Also had a homeroom student to help with her sign-up. At seven attended the usual curriculum committee meeting held at this time of the year. It weems that this school is getting less cultural with the number of subjects taught on the decrease.

Sunday, February 24, 2013 Cloudy

　Reported to work as early as around 8:30 a.m. Around 9:00 a.m. graduating students began to show up. The commencement began aroun : a.m., ending around 11:15 a.m. Between 1:00 p.m and 4:00 p.m. was on telephone duty. Around 5:15 p.m. headed for Namba, where my Korean language friends was holding a dinner get-togetger in celebration of my retirement. Had fun over dinner for a couple of hours chatting a lot about this and that.

Saturday, February 23, 2013 Cloudy

　Went "slow-jogging" along the road in the neighborhood for 40 minutes or so, took a shower, did the radio exercises, finished reading a library book, went shopping, etc. Tomorrow is our commencement, so we teachers are supposed to stand up and sing the national anthem, "May Japan's reign last for ten thousand years until the pebbles grow into boulders and lush with moss." Otherwise you could be sacked... This is Osaka, you know, where teachers are under so much pressure.

Friday, February 22, 2012 Cloudy

　On telephone duty from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Rather hectic because I had some other students to take care of at the same time. Even after this duty I had another to help. So, this turned out to be a rather busy day.

Thursday, February 21, 2013 Cloudy

　Today's staff meeting lasted for two and a half hours, quite long. Then set up the gym for the commencement to be hheld the day after tomorrow. After that the three of us went slow-jogging. I took two hours off today, too.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013 Cloudy

　It got so freezing when I was on my way back. I was rather thinly dressed. I put on the sweater I carried just in case. Took two hours off. When I got home, I still felt so cold and tired, I hit the sack right away. At work almost finished filling in the school record of my homeroom graduating students, 19 students in all.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013 Sleety, rainy, and then cloudy.

　"Slow-jogged" under an umbrella in this sleety dreary weather. In spite of this nasty weather felt refreshed after 4o minutes of slow jogging. Had a call from the boss of the workplace saying I would get reemployed somewhere in the 3rd school district. Exactly where will be made known on March 7, according to him.

Monday, February 18, 2013 Rainy and then cloudy.

　We had this judgment conference for graduating students. It took about one and half hours. Helped a Reading student with his reports and so on. Also the usual staff photos for graduating sutdents were taken, in the gym today becasue of the nasty weather.

Sunday, February 17, 2013 Cloudy

　Work has been so busy since Wednesday-making a big list of grades for the graduating students, helping some homeroom students with their sign-up, etc. Yesterday just rested at home. Today worked on my own my own way. On the way home bought bento at the department for supper.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013 Cloudy and then rainy.

　Today being a substitute day off, I went to the Korean language school and on the way home bought two pork cutlet bento at the usual department. It was raining a bit. On the way to the Korean class dropped in at the library and returned a library book. I am reading several books now.

Monday, February 11, 2013 Fair

　Today being a national holiday, I could relax at home. Went "slow-jogging" in the morning as usual. Read a little. Listened to my iPod. Took an afternoon nap. Went shopping. Drank coffee with the family. Played with the cats. Well, grateful for these ordinary things.

Sunday, February 10, 2013 Fair

　Three homeroom kids came over for their sign-up procedure. Also one graduating student came with his Reading reports, which I checked right away. Almost done with the school records of 19 homeroom students. Only three left. The vice-principal said they are having a meeting to discuss the incident in which I got kicked and abused.

Saturday, February 9, 2013 Fair

　Finished reading two library books. Listened to my iPod a lot. Took a rather long afternoon nap. The older cat keeps following me about. There is a limit to education. We cannot do anything for people who will not listen to us. It is impossible to detain such people.

Friday, February 8, 2013 Cloudy

　A student came over with her mother, asking for something outrageous and getting mad. Before listening to me, this one kicked me in the shin. Today teachers are always at risk. Students also use violence. Because this world is full of violence, they learn to use it, I am afraid.

Thursday, February 7, 2013 Cloudy

　Just one student came for his sign-up after today's regular staff meeting. Slow jogging with my fellow teachers is beginning to be effective. They started with me last October. Prepared for tomorrow's sign-up assistance. Also began to prepare the data for the graduating students.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013 Cloudy

　The student who promised me to come today did not show up. Later he called me, saying he forgot all about it. There was a human rights committee meeting where who to speak at the time of the commencement or at the rehearsal about the national flag and the anthem. I would rather not do that kind of stuff. I am not politically inclined.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013 Cloudy

　On Sunday found the Smartphone billing so expensive. So suprised asked my wife about it. That was because she played some game so much for the past two months. Hence our fight for the past two days. I contacted my sons online. They were a great help. Yesterday I was so busy with some students who were procrastinators as usual. Today my wife explained the whole thing to me. At any rate I decided to believe in her. Got so tired. In Japaneese, the kind of fight even dogs will not eat. Many thanks to our sons.　

Saturday, February 2, 2013 Cloudy

　Went jogging along the road nearby because the field in the park was taken up by the usual ball players. Watched the recordings of some past programs while my wife took her mother to the doctor. After solving the Super Crossword took a late afternoon nap. Then went shopping for supper for the two of us. Just another lazy Saturday, which is not bad.

Friday, February 1, 2013 Cloudy and then rainy.

　The sign-up assistance period started for me today. Of six students only one came today, but it took rather long-nearly an hour. One of the six has changed the address and the mail I had sent returned. Although I left my message with the answering machine, no calling back yet.