Tuesday, November 30, 2004 Fair
Today two suicides on the railroad I use. Nearly 100 persons kill themselves
in Japan. Nowadays especially young people who often do not know each other
commit suicide in small groups by carbon monooxicide poisoning, burning
a briquette in a car sealed up with tape from inside. The sign language
cirlcle had a lecturer over. The Korean class had fewer students than usual.
Monday, November 29, 2004 Fair
I have a sore throat now. The air was dry at work as the gas heater was
being used. Today was a nice and lazy day. I could do things in an easygoing
manner. In the morning, I cleaned my desk at home and did some other household
chores. At work I ate modanyaki for supper for the first time. There is
an okomomiyaki shop within a walking distance.
Sunday, November 28, 2004 Fair
It has suddenly gotten cold.. A long-distance relay race took place today, and the roads in the vicinity of our school were blockaded around noon. And the convenience store across the road from the school was so crowded I could not buy lunch, so I hurried to the nearby supermarket. That was really a hurried lunch-just bread and milk, though.
Saturday, November 27, 2004 Fair
I went to the doctor to get medicine for my chronic illness. The waiting
room was full, so I just asked for a prescription instead of seeing the
doctor. It cost me 1.410 yen. Then I went to the pharmacy close by and
got the usual medicine for 2.730 yen. Medical expenses are unthinkably
high these days.
Friday, November 26, 2004 Cloudy and rainy.
On the way home from work, it began raining and also the wind was blowing
rather hard., so I walked to the station, carrying my heavy bag in front,
which posture strained my lower back. Back home, while looking for something,
I felt a severe pain in the lower back and moaned in pain. It is still
raining and blowing hard outside.
Thursday, November 25, 2004 Fair
In conference I had to propose that the original proposal be revised
because I had failed to tell the proposer what I was supposed to. It was
my oversight, but the revised proposal fell short, too. That was something
of a mess. At any rate, the revised proposal was passed. Thank goodness.
This conference lasted for about five hours. I am sick and tired of long
conferences.
Wednesday, November 24, 2004 Fair
Viewed a Korean movie on CD-ROM. My fellow teacher, who always teaches
me Korean, was good enough to loan it to me. The plot was quite preposterous.
He treated me to some gyoza, too, this evening, teaching me Korean, while
eating. His lesson was to the point as usual. He is an excellent teacher
of Korean, although he usually teaches Japanese in class.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004 Fair
Although it was a national holiday, I went to the Korean language school.
This class is getting difficult so suddenly. So much to learn in a short
period of time. I have to really hit the books. Otherwise I get behind.
My wife seemed to be under the weather today. She sleeps a lot but never
seems to get enough sleep. Could be going through the turn of life. I must
take that into consideration.
Monday, November 22, 2004 Fair
Today I was in no mood for work, but after all I was very busy working.
My wife cleaned our first son's room and the bathroom. My wife began using
the air conditioner for heating. Now trying to get used to the conjugations
of Korean verbs and adjectives by listening to a CD on my way to and back
from work.
Sunday, November 21, 2004 Fair
Couldn't move the furniture. For one thing, my wife, who took a paid
holiday, caught cold and felt sick. Another thing is that I also did not
feel like doing anything. I began watching a Korean period drama entitled
" Ambition ( Taibo or Teman )." The kidnapper and killer of a
Nara elementary school girl is still at large
Saturday, November 20, 2004 Cloudy
Went to the English conversation club and spent two hours or so talking
in English. Back home, ate Shin ramen for lunch with my second son. He
bought dozens of packs of Shin ramen on the Internet at a reasonable price.
Compared with Japanese ramen, it is chewy and tastes good. Very hot, though.
Friday, November 19, 2004 Rainy
Moved the furniture in the living room, but the result was worse. Have
to do it again. The serial Korean drama "Nice Guy", which has
been televised for the past few months, ended tonight. I liked it very
much, and never failed to watch it every week. Another Korean dram on video
ended with an anticlimax
Thursday, November 18, 2004 Rainy
I failed to enter October 17's attendance in the attendance ledger. I
completely forgot about that. Oh, my goodness! I am always trying to be
careful, but it happened. I must do something about it. Cleaned the desk
at work a little. It is constantly a mess. Watched a Korean drama on video
until very late.
Wednesday, November17, 2004 Fair
I need to practice reading Korean, and also to listen to more spoken
Korean. After all it is a foreign language, so your intake matters a lot.
But I am aging now. Naturally my progress is very slow. I have got to be
content just to enjoy studying it. Don't be too avaricious. Be patient.
Art is long, and life is short.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004 Fair
Passed my time leisurely today, studying Korean. Went to the Korean language
class, too. I have stiff shoulders. My wife was good enough to give me
a massage, but the stiffness won't subside. My second son had his driver's
license renewed today. The sign language circle had an autumn outing today,
but I could not join them.
Monday, November 15, 2004 Cloudy
Felt so sick at work that I took three hours off and left early for home,
hoping that I could manage to get back home. For the past two weeks I have
been so busy doing extra work because of emergencies at work and at home.
Worked on Sundays and drove over to Kobe after hours twice. Fatigue has
piled up.
Sunday, November 14, 2004 Fair
Today was a workday, but I took a day off. I have had a full day. Busy
from early morning till late afternoon, then, with my wife as my navigator,
drove to our first son's place, taking his stuff, and went shopping for
cat food after eating out. While driving, studied Korean at each red light.
Saturday, November 13, Cloudy
Got emails from my American friend. He is going to be deployed soon somewhere
in the Middle East. I am worried about his safety because it is a very
dangerous part of the world now. Last time he was in Bosnia about eight
years ago, he seemed relaxed, but this time things are different. War on
terrorism is nothing but a third World War.
Friday, November 12, 2004 Rainy and then cloudy.
Quite warm during the day and even perspired. And I may have caught cold.
I have a bit of a sore throat now. I have resumed reading in English. Yesterday
began listening to Korean on CD. Today at work I inputted the exam results
etc. Prepared for the next term. Studied Korean as usual. Korean and English
can go hand in hand.
Thursday, November 11, 2004 Rainy
Went to the doctor and had my neck X-rayed. The bones were O.K. Felt
relieved. Hope anybody erratic will not do anything like this any more
in the future. It is like a traffic accident for which I am not responsible.
Arafat died. I wonder what will become of the Middle East. No successor
as yet. The future looks gloomy.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004 Fair
Today I was hit at the base of my neck from behind at work. I have no
idea why this happened. It was a bold from the blue. Because I had my neck
operated on quite recently, I am apprehensive. I need to go to the doctor
to have it examined. My right fingers felt numb, and the neck hurt.
Tuesday, November 9, 2004 Fair
Got up early enough to do the radio exercises and listen to the radio
Korean program. Then drove my wife to work. As usual, went to the sign
language circle in the morning, and to the Korean language class in the
afternoon. I was busy all day. Got to memorize lots of Korean words this
week, too.
Monday, November 8, 2004 Fair
What was I doing all day today? Miscellaneous tasks kept popping up.
Other colleagues were busy with their online year-end tax adjustments.
I will do that the day after tomorrow. Looks like it's quite complicated.
I will do some homework for that tomorrow night. All this clerical rationalization
just keeps us teachers busy doing this troublesome procedure online besides
teaching. I cannot make any sense out of that.
Sunday, November 7, 2004 Fair
Worked all day from early in the morning. Had to start from scratch,
so it took a long time to finish today's work. However, what is good about
working on a holiday is that I can concentrate because I am all alone at
work. Not bad. My wife was out on business somewhere in Osaka. She came
back home around six. We ate out at the usual Chinese restaurant.
Saturday, November 6, 2004 Fair
In the morning spent around two hours chatting in English at the usual
English conversation school. Time passed very quickly then. Took an afternoon
nap and drove to my wife's hospital to pick her up. Then drove on to the
usual Japanese cuisine restaurant. Tomorrow I will have to go to work,
although it is a holiday. It is an emergency case.
Friday, November 5, 2004 Cloudy
Another hectic day! One piece of work after another followed.−the editorial
conference, the cleaning before the term-end exams, the recording of the
listening comprehension test, writing the table of contents for the next
periodical, putting the manuscript request forms in the pigeonholes, printing
the makeups and the answers, and so on. My first son went to the doctor
this morning and is now in bed, running a fever. On my way home, heard
lots of passengers coughing on the train. Mom got a cell phone for the
first time and called me this morning.
Thursday, November 4, 2004 Fair
Misfortunes never come singly. Very true! My wife sent me an email, saying
that our first son in Kobe is down with a cold or something, running a
fever. Right after coming back home, she and I rushed to Kobe. At work
all of a sudden I need to do some extra work because one of the colleagues
got ill. I cannot expect help. One of them said, "This year's rep
has got to do it." I follow his advice anyway, although he seldom
does his share of work.
Wednesday, November 3, 2004 Cloudy
Last night I stayed up all night watching a Korean drama. It is a rather
gloomy-looking story, the title of which is "Sand Glass."Today
I was at home all day, relaxing. I only did a little reading. My second
son is now busy running around for job interviews and the like. The U.S.
selection seems to be a close race. The result will soon come out.
Tuesday, November 2, 2004 Fair and warm.
Took a latter half-day off. Studied Korean at Ohakudon. Invited to a
Korean dinner. Talked a lot, eating the Korean cuisine. There were seven
persons present, including myself. The exam sheets are yet to be printed,
and the recoding of the listening comprehension is not done yet. Tomorrow
being a national holiday, the day after tomorrow will be hectic.
Monday. November 1, 2004 Cloudy
At work I did nothing but correct assignments, or 'reports,' There were
around 60 of them or more. It took me more than three hours to do that.
It gave me a stiff neck and I got really tired. There were some other things
I needed to do, but I must do them tomorrow or later. I heard some fellow
teachers coughing. I have a bit of a sore throat, too. Again! So vulnerable.