Wednesday, September 30, 2009 Cloudy, occasionally raniy.

　Just one OC�Tclass to teach and HR in the third period. Then talked with two homeroom kids about the learning of foreign languages for an hour or so. While eating supper, my Korean friend came over. We studied English together for a while. I asked her some Korean questions. Checked more than ten reports later. Inputted the first-term grades for the last time, too. A full day.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　Had to renew my driver's license. Went to the supermarket nearby and had my picture taken by machine in a booth a little past 9:00 a.m.( 700 yen) Drove over to the nearest police station-unfortunately by a conjested route today. Arrived there a little past 10:a.m., but the parking lot was almost full. Took an eyesight test. My eyesight has worsened even with my glasses on. Paid 2550 yen for the prefectual stamps. Then walked to the traffic safety association building and paid 1500 yen for the procedure ( Having my new license sent to my place etc.). Then watched a video for 30 minutes or so. Also a woman explained the new Road Traffic Law. I was on my way home around 11:00 a.m.

Monday, September 28, 2009 Cloudy

　Another hectic day at work. After having our Korean study meeting as usual in the morning and teaching two English �Tclasses in a row ( I had to kind of force them to participate.), nearly ten students came over to take their makeup or retest. I checked maybe over 20 reports as well. Of course, I had to grade those tests, too. 　

Sunday, September 27, 2009 Fair

　Last night that scintillating scotoma occurred again. I just went to bed. This morning my visual fields are all right as if nothing had happened. Today I am in charge of a fire drill. Today's fire drill is over. There is one more on October 7. The handout I was thinking of using tomorrow turned out to be defective, so I remade it. Coming back home, watched the two Korean dramas.

Saturday, September 26, 2009 Fair

　Getting up early, my wife and I went up to Kyoto to see some paintings. Spending less than an hour in the art gallery, we walked along a certain river and ate lunch at a department store. The stroll was quite fun. Osaka was a lot hotter than Kyoto. Our second son had already left for Tokyo when we got back. Watched two Korean dramas at night-"Queen Sundok" and "The Sons of Sol's Pharmacy."

Friday, September 25, 2009 Fair and hot.

　Went to the dentist's first thing in the morning. On the way to work checked out three library books. From the time I got to school until I left for home, students kept coming to me for help. While helping the students, gave several students a makeup or a retest and checked dozens of reports. Although I found time to eat my box supper, I felt so tired I found it hard to swallow food. I was that exhausted.

Thursday, September 24, 2009 Fair

　Around three before dawn the kitten woke me up. I feel tired now from lack of sleep. This young cat sometimes does this. She never seems to run out of energy. Rascal! Two conferences to attend and worked together shipping printed matter to students, notifying them about this and that. Then called over ten students to ask them about their first-term reports. Handed the third-term OC�Treport manuscripts to the lady in charge of printing.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 Cloudy

　This morning reserved quite a few library books on memorization techniques so that I can compare some different technques. In the afternoon went out in our car and shopped for daily necessities such as toilet paper, Kleenex, cat toilet sand, etc. Coming back home and resting for a while, went out again to get some canned cat food. At night read a book.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　My wife had her mother and sister over, talking a lot in the afternoon. Toward the evening I drove them over to the noodle shop for supper, later taking my mother-in-law and my wife's sister back home to their respective places. While my wife was busy chatting, I listened to my iPod and read a paperback. Went shopping for bread at the usual supermakert at night. Every Tuesday bread is 30 % off. That is why. Survival is the name of the game these days, isn't it?

Monday, September 21, 2009 Fair

　Updated the antivirus software this morning. Took some time. The icon remains the same, although it is VirusBuster 2010. Visited a Korean blog run by a friend of mine and left a message in Korean. Drove over to Mom's place (Dad has been dead for over three months already.) My sister there was in low spirits, making me wonder what happened. I took my mother-in-law together, dropping her at her sister's place. I stopped by at a self-service gas station and put some gas into my car on the way there, so I washed my hands when I got there. I have something of a sore throat again. My throat is very susceptible.

Sunday, September 20, 2009 Fair

　Paid Trend Micro for the next antivirus software. It is rather expensive, but without it the Internet is too dangerous. It is worth it-4.750 yen a year. In the afternoon went to see a couple of Korean actors. She had two comp tickets. The event lasted for three hours. On the way home we ate out at Namba. Our sons had been to a golf driving range. They ate out, too.

Saturday, September 19, 2009 Cloudy

　Between 10:30 and 12:30 a.m. talked in English about this and that at the English conversation school. Onr topic centered around the teaching of English in Japan. Education Ministry bureaucrats, being aware of the dual structure of Japan's English language education, that is, the so-called school English and the English taught outside of the school classrooms, including the English taught on TV and on the radio, cling to the rigid standards imposed on the current textbooks. Their aim is to take the lion's share through what is called 'amakudari.' I know such a bureacrat as bosses around at a university, playing around using the school money. They never use their own money. This is the root of evil-greed. In the evening went up to Kyoto with my wife to see a play (a comedy), coming back home aroun 10:00 p.m. It was a rather chilly night.

Friday, September 18, 2009 Cloudy

　I still have a bit of a sore throat, but it has not worsened anyway. Thanks to the medicne my wife advised me to take last night, I was able to go to work today. I had two makeups to take care of and one class to teach. Two students came to see me for help with their reports. Helped them at different times. Took me a total of three hours or so. Corrected over 20 reports. Out of energy at the end of the day.

Thursday, September 17, 2009 Cloudy

　Today's staff meeting was held in one of the classrooms, next to the room where I am. I am afraid I am going to run a fever because I have a bit of a sore throat now. I have something of a chill, too. H1N1 is beginning to spread at my school, too. Am I going to be the first teacher to contract it? Well, I will hit the sack now and get some rest.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 Overcast

　Patrick Swayze, the female actor starring Ghost in 1990, died of pancrea cancer the day bofore yesterday at 57. I am a bit younger than he. I sometimes feel that people's span of life is predetermined. Maybe their destiny, too. I turned out to be the first person to answer correctly at the Super Crossword this time-for the first time in many days.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　Went to the sign language club's weekly meeting as usual. On the way home, bought some bread as usual. Then went to the Korean language school as usual. Today was the 20th class, that is, the last class for this term, so we had a tea party after today's lesson. We talked about this and that for over an hour. Our instructor is having a baby next month. Our classroom is going to move out, so next time I go, I will have to go somewhere else.

Monday, September 14, 2009 Fair

　Had a Korean study meeting in the morning as usual. Then taught three classes in a row, which was tiring enough as usual. Checked over ten reports. Helped a student with the first-term reports. We are having a new curriculum in three years, when I am retirng. However, in two years, English �Twill be gone, and instead we will have Oral Comunication English �Tor something, which is supposed to be taught in English. Well, what will become the future of the so-called school English? In my opinion, maybe no difference. If any change can be made, it can be done right now.

Sunday, September 13, 2009 Fair

　Worked all day at work, making a worksheet, printing handouts, reading a book on etimology for my presentation next month, talking with some colleagues, etc. Bought a couple of new toothbrushes and two tubes of toothpaste. At the end of the day so exhausted that it was hard even to swallow or gulp as a result of a stiff neck, I guess. Back home two Korean dramas to see.

Saturday, September 12, 2009 Cloudy and rainy.

　It has gotten cooler all of a sudden today, or rather cold, so couldn't leave the window open. With the temperature going up and down so suddenly, my system gets crazy. Got scratched by our kitten again when she turned into the "cat bus." She has no brakes-a rascal. Where does all this energy come from? Two Korean dramas to see at night as usual-"The Sons of Sol Pharmacy" and "Queen Sundoku."

Friday, September 11, 2009 Cloudy and hot.

　A sudden change in temperature. The classroom was hotter than I had thought. While teaching, I got tired and dehydrated. I did not like it then, but it was too late. Checked some reports and gave an English �Tstudent　her makeup. Got the third-term Oral Communication �Treports　ready, too. The other teacher is supposed to check both reports. Hopefully he will proofread them.

Thursday, September 10, 2009 Fair

　Filled in the second-term English �Treports with the anwers. While doing that, found out several mistakes, so I left a message for the one who made the reports. Got the third-term Reading reports almost ready. Straighten up the bookshelf on the desk a little. Back home visited a friend's blog and left a message in Korean as it is all in Korean there.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009 Fair

　Maybe I am too old to be in fashion in many ways. I realize people get old this way. Before you know, things all aroung you change. Natsume Soseki felt like this toward the end of the Meiji era. He felt he no longer belonged to the times. Making way for younger people and fading away may be a wise choice. Today I taught four classes in a row. I made my students participate in class although they were not necessarily willing to do so. This school is full of such kids. That is the actual situation, which will never enhance their ability in English.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009 Fair

　The sign language club's weekly meeting. On the way home paid the tuition to the Korean language school for the next term. Then to the Korean language school. Today made quite a few silly mistakes. I should study harder. Back home, took my wife shopping-daily necessities. Ate udon for supper together. The condo janitor says he had the long-legged wasps' nest removed from the parking space, but I found a wasp flying there.

Monday, September 7, 2009 Cloudy

　A Korean study meeting in the morning. Just around ten reports to check and a student to help with the report. Taught Reading in the third period. Made one Reading Mini Sheet for the next class. Read a book for a while. In the evening went to the nearby supermarket to buy a packed meal. On the way home met up with a colleague at the station. The weather is still sweaty.

Sunday, September 6, 2009 Fair

　On the way to work bought some bread for lunch. Cleaned the English Interview Room. Prepared the sheets for tomorrow's Reading class and also a makeup for an English �Tstudent. Searched on the Net for the differences between 'will' and 'be going to.' Borrowed two books from the school library. Read a couple of books a little. Kind of hot during the day but got a bit cool in the evening.

Saturday, September 5, 2009 Fair

　Went to the English club in the morning and spent two hours or so using English. Today there were two new comers. On the way home went to the library to give back one of the two books I borrowed about two weeks ago. Have to return the other by tomorrow. Intended to have signed up for a certain sports club. On second thought the place is too far from my place.

Friday, September 4, 2009 Cloudy

　Went to the dentist in the morning. Had something like a small operation. The tooth was not extracted, but it is a matter of time. Bled a lot.Painful! At work taught the first two classes of the second term in a row. My voice got hoarse. Checked ten reports or so and helped a student with her English. Thought about teaching English in English again. Did a little reading. Today' weather was as if summer was back.

Thursday, September 3, 2009 Cloudy

　There were three conferences in all-a staff meeting, a joint conference, and a Student Council conference. Altogether they lasted for three hours and a half. Later I had no extra energy left to do anything else. I just spent some time reading a book. I also sent a letter to each of my homeroom students, notifying them about how to cope with swine flu, etc.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009 Cloudy

　It has been quite hot today. I perspired a lot. The third period was Homeroom. I just explained the overall schedule for this term and told them to take care of themselves as swine flu is beginning to rage. Checked over 10 reports. Studied English with a friend. Worked on the Super Crossword and sent my answers. On the way to work bought a book on the impulse of the moment. I think it is worth it, though. On the way home a young woman offerred me her seat on the crowded train. Oh, I look that old. It was nice of her, though.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009 Overcat

　School has started. The second term is rather short for this school. In the morning went to the local sign language club's weekly meeting for the first time in many days. There were a little less than 30 members present. After going to the barber, went to the Korean language school and then to school. Printed the next English �Thandout. Did the Korean homeowrk.