Friday, October 31, 2008 Cloudy

　Just several reports to check. Cleaned the classroom before the second-term exams. Read the two library books. One is done, and the other is almost finished. Have to return them to the library tomorrow. Began making the next OC�Treports. Will do it little by little. Our first-born son is going to stay at the company all night. He overworks-obviously against the labor standard law!!! Dual structure of corporate Japan. Corporations get rich, but not employees. They are subjected to slave labor.

Thursday, October 30, 2008 Fair

　Did a lot of reading about English language education in Japan. Handed in the pension survery. I saw some fellow teachers working on the "victual field" in one corner of the school grounds. Went out by bike to buy some bread for supper. A female fellow teacher was down with a cold, running a fever. She stayed away from work for five days. She was wearing a mask today. Back home watched today's episode of The Lost World as usual.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 Fair

　As soon as getting to the workplace, checked over 10 reports to begin with. Then made a plan for the rest of the day at work. Worked according to the plan. By the time the sun set, the floor was so quiet-good for thinking and reading. Handed in an OC�T report sample as was requested. Some of the teachers were busy getting the second-term exams ready. It has gotten a bit cold.

Tuesday, october 28, 2008 Fair

　It was rather cold today. A morning sign language club meeting. A Korean class in the afternoon. Then to the dentist and to the pet food shop and Konan. Although today was a substitute holiday, I kept busy almost all day. I have a bit of a sore throat and I am a little feverish, I guess. I may have caught cold. I feel dull, too. Maybe I should get some rest now.

Monday, October 27, 2008 Cloudy

　A Korean study meeting as usual in the morning. Then ate lunch, when a call came from one of the bosses. I may have to give up part of this web page. Well, I have no choice. I put extra work into it at home, but I do not want to work extra or overwork at work. Even now I have more than enough work to do at school. An English teachers' conference about recommended dictionaries and grammar book. We did not necessarily see eye to eye today, so the conclusion must wait until next Sunday.

Sunday, October 26, 2008 Rainy and then cloudy.

　Before going to work, uploaded the hints on the reports. At work spent almost all day correcting and printing the OC�Texam and also getting the tapes ready for the listnening comprehesion test. Put the exam sheets in the cabinets, too. All this routine procedure really takes time. Ate lunch with friends at a neaby restaurant. Although there were no classes to teach, it was quite a busy day today.

Saturday, October 25, 2008 Fair

　Worked from early in the morning, making an exam in Orall Communication �T. Almost done by the time I was supposed to go to the dentist. Before going there, picked up my mother-in-law and took her and my wife to the ophthalomologist. As it turned out, my teeth were OK, but the gum was infected probably because of some tiny substance stuck between the gum and one of the teeth. Went to the city library and got an extention on the book I am reading now. In the evening drove to the pet food shop for some canned cat food.

Friday, October 24, 2008 Cloudy, occasionally drizzling.

　Called the dentist first thing in the morning. The gum is getting better, but just in case. Today was the last day of the second term. Checked around 30 reports. One English �T class to teach, when I called on each one of the students to speak even a little English. Kind of proactive teaching. Better than a silent one-way class. If any kid will not participate, I will not force him or her, though. From today on still one more paper must be handed in if you want to study at home. It is something of a hassel.

Thursday, October 23, 2008, Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　My gum is still swollen. Is it a sign of pyorrhea? I do not want my breath to be smelly. If it stays as it is, I will have to go to the dentist. Maybe I should make a phone call tomorrow morning to make an appointment. Two conferences and working altogether to prepare envelopes to be sent to students. Not much was accomplished. Go to get the OC�Ttest ready ASAP.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 Cloudy, occasionally drizzling.

　Three classes to take car of and as many as 30 reports to check. Got some calls, too. There seem to be some homeroom class students who are interested in doing something for the school festival. Just wait and see what they want to do. Did a little reading and listened to my i-Pod. Finished the Super Crossword a little while ago. Quite tough as usual.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 Fair

　A substitute holiday for this past Sunday. Went to the sign language club and the Korean classroom-the latter for the first time in three weeks. One 37-year-old new comer. Yesterday our first-born son did not come home. He stayed at his office because of extra work. Wtached recorded three episodes of "THE LOST WORLD." Have to work on the Super Crossword today. It is due soon.

Monday, October 20, 2008 Fair

　I had a full day today. I prepared a lot for today's Inclusive Hour but when I got to the Chemistry classroom, it was all dark and the door was locked. Naturally nobody was in there. I was so busy teaching two classes in a row I could not afford to see if the room was locked. Too bad. But I don't care. Just two people came after all. In the morning I had a Korean study meeting, and an English one in the evening. Back home my wife had some professional house cleaners clean the ventilators and the bathroom. When I heard the price, I was highly surprised, though.

Sunday, October 19, 2008 Fair

　It was rather hot all day for this time of the year. Watched the TV Korean program early in the morning. Accomplished a lot at work-preparing for tomorrow's Inclusive Hour, checking the DVD player, making a Reading class handout, and so on. Running around, I really got exhausted. On the way home bought bento for supper. Back home watched the rest of the Korean movie "Irujime" until past midnight. Lack of sleep and a full day.

Saturday, October 18, 2008 Fair

　Watched "Irujime" until the 16th episode. Went to the English conversation school and spend two hours or so. Returned two municipal library books and checked out another two. I still have one undread, so I now have three municipal library books to read. Must watch the two movies on DVD and make a handout for the Inculusive Hour lecture(Sogogakushu no jikan). The Super Crossword must wait until next Tuesday. So much is on the plate now.

Friday, October 17, 2008 Fair

　Watching the Korean drama "Irujime" on DVD, I really feel tired. Watching Korean dramas requires physical strength. I also need to watch the two movies "Roman Holdiay" and "Sassy Girl"("Yopkijogin Kunyo) once again before the Inclusive Hour lecture on Monday. Checked 20 reports and taught one Reading class. Proofreading the third-term English �Treports must wait until the day after tomorrow. Also looking for a new grammar book which may be recommended for students next school year.

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Fair

　A Student Counci teachers' conference for one hour or so. Then worked at the computer for two hours on the second floor. Then back to the fifth floor ate supper and studied a little. Listened to a lot of music on my i-Pod. The fifth floor is usully deserted-a ghost floor except for me. Back home found a mail from a friend in Seoul and read it right away.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 Fair

　Watched "Irujime" a little in the morning and then the usual KBS serila drama. Having an early lunch as usual, left for work. While on the way to work, listened to the i-Phone's podcasts and watched TV on my cellphone. At work one English �Tclass with no oral participation, which deprives me of the will to work. Period four was done in the AV room, where we watched a movie for human rights education.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　Went to the sign language club this morning. On the way home bought something for lunch. In the afternoon drove my mother-in-law to the ophthalmologist. Then went to Joshin to buy a DVD player. My wife is now happy with that. For the rest of the day I watched a Korean drama called "Irujime! starring Lee Jungi. I got tired from watching for more than five hours straight. Now I will have to watch "Roman Holiday" for the Inclusive Hour lecture.

Monday, October 13, 2008 Fair

　Today is my 56th birthday. I was a driver for my family today. First, went to the usual pet shop for cat food and cat toilet sand. Second, to the clothing shop for our first-born son. Then to the usual udon shop and the takoyaki shop. To the clothing shop again later after having the clothes adjusted. Tonight I have some homework to do. Well, the Inclusive Hour will be this day week.

Sunday, October 12, 2008 Overcast

　Leaving home around 8:00 a.m., went to the prefectural education center, where the autumnal presentations were being held. I was on duty at the front in the afterroon. While on standby, prepared for my next classes and looked over a part of the movie scipt for "Roman Holiday." Ate curry and rice for lunch there at the center. On the way home got some sweets to eat over a cup of tea.

Saturday, October 11, 2008 Cloudy

　All day at home except for when I went shopping. Also while I was out shopping., I checked out another book at the city library branch. Ate udon for lunch and Hokaben (sukiyaki bento with noodles) for supper. Watched today's NHK Special, which was on the present financial crisis. The mechanism is so complicated that it is beyond my head. However, I got the impression that the financial market is to blame. Securities on the market were so complex and hard to understand, and in 1999, when Clinton was the U.S. President, even banks began to deal in securities-liberalization of the securities market. Thus greed began to run wild-the beginning of the finacila bubble.

Friday, October 10, Cloudy

　It has been rather hot and humid today. I was a bit free and went down to one of the teachers' rooms on the second floor, shooting the breeze for some time with a couple of fellow teachers. While chatting, they ate from the rather big square tin can on the table in front which was full of sweets. I was amazed by the way one of them ate one thing after another from the can. So, I referred to the can as "Meta Box."

Thursday, October 9, 2008 Fair

　Spent most of the day reading the library book I checked out the other day-"Why Are Japanese Poor at English?" The title is quite general or vague but it is interesting and thorough in content. I will finish the book shortly, maybe within today. Invited to go for a drink, but declined because the genre was not my kind. I am not much of a drinker. I do not drink for the sake of drinking. Today I forgot my i-Pod, so I watched TV on my cell phone. Not bad!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 Fair

　Period three was HR, when I explained the subjects again and told them about the upcoming school events-the autumnal presentations and the joint homeroom hour. Helped a couple of students with their reports etc. Corrected several reports only. Had an interview with the vice principal about personnel changes. I said I had no intention of transferring anywhere else. This morning I was so surprised by a newpaper article, which said somebody I know got arrested for shoplifting-of all people. It is said that even very successful people do it as if they are possessed by some evil spirit.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008 Cloudy, occasionally drizzling.

　Went to the sign lanugage club, but just taked with another member about something else-"Senjimon." On the way home, bought something to eat for lunch. Took a long afternoo nap and then went shopping at the neighborhood supermarkets. A well-known Japanese actor by the name of Ogata ken died of liver cancer the day before yesterday at age 71. In the evening watched the next two episodes of Conan Doyle's "The Lost World."

Monday, October 6, 2008 Cloudy and then fair.

　A Korean study meeting in the morning. Two classes to teach. Some reports to check. An English study meeting in the evening. Back home watched the last episode of "Nikukutemo Kwaikutemo", the serial Korean drama, and also "The Lost World" ( Season Two). Before leaving for work this morning, watched "Roman Holiday" on my computer-the part I checked by using my dictionary last night.

Sunday, October 5, 2008 Rainy

　Today's sports day was rained out. What happened twice will happen three times. The athletic meeting was cancelled for the third straight time. Today we were on the 'rainy day' schedule. In two weeks' time I am supposed to give a talk for the Inclusive Hour(Sogo-gakushu). I am not ready yet. The title is something like "Foreign Language Learning through Movies." I am now watching a Korean movie to enrich my vocabulary.

Saturday, October 4, 2008 Fair

　Student Councul ans sports teachers went to work to prepare for tomorrow's sports day. Later on some students also came to give us a hand. Today's weather was good, but bad weather is forecast for tomorrow. Returned the two library books and checked out another two on the way to work. Back from work went shopping for cat food and cat sand. Also filled up the family car at the usual gas station. On the way back ate udon for supper.

Friday, October 3, 2008 Fair

　I may have a cold. I have something of a sore throat. I feel tired. My wife says she has a cold. My Super Crossword went down the ditch. I was unable to work it out this time. I really have no idea where I got it wrong. Well, I am not perfect after all. Tomorrow I will have to return the library books first thing in the morning. I think I will hit the sack shortly.

Thursday, October 2, 2008 Fair

　I did it again. Forgetting my age, I ran to make a connection in changing trains. I got out of breath and felt very tired. To make matters worse, I worked on the Super Crossword until very late last night, so I was in poor condition today. Misfortunes never come singly. Today I did some reading. Put some papers into the envelopes, which are to be sent to my homeroom students. Prepared a handout for my class.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008 Cloudy and fair.

　Yesterday got two old armchairs into the English interview room on the fifth floor. I hope people can relax sitting in them. They were left on the second floor. I did not want them to go to waste. I worked at my own pace. Checked some reports as usual, helped a student with his reports, prepared for my next English class, studied on my own, and so on.