Thursday, September 30, 2010 Rainy and then cloudy.

　Two meetings at work today. One is a Student Council teachers' meeting and the other is a meeting for the judges of the athletic meetings. For the rest of the day, I worked my own way on my own, preparing for the next Korean study session and making an English handout. Spent some time shooting the breeze with a colleague, too.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 Cloudy

　Recently I started listening to NHK's Chinese language program in the morning, so I have to take a walk late in the morning. I was short of time this morning doing my daily routine. At work, too, I was busy from the moment I got there until the time I left for home. Three classes to take care of, some reports to check, preparing for the judges' work on the day of the athletic meeting. My neck, which was operated on some six years ago, ached today.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010 Cloudy

　A makeup holiday. A bazaar was held at the sign language club. I offered some small dishes and Tupperware. I bought some articles, such as two mugs, a pair of socks, two hankerchiefs, some instant coffee and two cans of chuhai. On the way home bought some bread as usual. Got some rest and went to the Chinese class in the evening. The instructor taught a lot so fast I got confused.

Monday, September 27. 2010 Cloudy and then rainy,

　A Korean study session in the morning for one and a half hours. The first period was English �T. After that, students came to see me one after another. I gave two retests and four makeups. I also helped some students with their reports. I checked dozens of reports, too, I inputted the results after I took care of all those students. It was past eight o'clock then. I continued to work for more than 10 hours. Tired out.

Sunday, September 26, 2010 Cloudy

　Reported for work before nine. The JR Loop Line trains stopped at 8:30 a.m. because they were disposing of an unexploded shell. Had an English shtudy session with my Korean friend. My Korean was no good today. We had a fire drill after the sixth period. Have to prepare for the athletic meeting now. One task after another keeps coming to me.

Saturday, September 25, 2010 Fair

　It got even cooler today. Could not leave the windows open. It has been a lazy autumn day. I became drowsy and droppped off sitting at the desk. So, I did not do things as planned. Just saw the Chinese drama "Da Qin Diguo." Took a walk at night alone listening to my iPod and practicing Chinese pronunciation. {zh] is really hard, isn't it? There are quite a few sounds that do not exist in the Japanese language.

Friday, September 24, 2010 Fair

　The temperature dropped suddenly today. Did not take a canteen with me while walking this morning. Just one makeup in English �T. Some reports to check. One English �Tstudent stood me up. An inverview with the boss. Taught some sign language to one of my colleagues. There was something to discuss among the English teachers.

Thursday, September 23, 2010 Rainy, thunder and cloudy.

　Autumnal Equinox Day, a holiday. Much to do, but could not accomplish very much. Took a morning walk, but came back home on the way because of bad weather. Anyway went to the library to return one book and get an extension on two and check out two. Did some shopping on the way back. Only studied Chinese pronunciation a little on You Tube.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010 Cloudy

　Today was such a muggy day I felt as if summer was back. The clerk in charge of the fire drill announcement on the PA had to be away from school in the fourth period today. As soon as I got to work, I was told that the clerk demanded I provide him with the manual. It was short of notice, and I took it for granted the clerks knew the procedure well because it was they who taught us how to do it. Anyway we looked for the past manual and handed it to him. However, to beign with, the clerk in charge had totally forgotten about this and I kind of expected that. So we barely made it today for the fire drill. Until last year one of the Stucent Coucil teaches had been in charge of the fire drill announcement. So this change was the cause of today's hassle. All this took place, and then taught two classes straight. Then came the fire drill. After school, some makeupes and a retest were given to some students. Correct around 30 reports as well. Such a busy day. I came back home exhausted.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 Cloudy

　Went to the sign language club's weekly meeting with 90 copies of the news paper. On the way home bought some bread at the supermarket as usual. In the afternoon went to the Korean language school and in the evening to the Chinese classroom for the first time. Chinese is really hard for me to learn. I went over what I learned today. I need to memorize some words and phrases before the next session.

Monday, September 20, 2010 Cloudy

　Respect-for-the-Aged Day. Took a morning walk. My wife had her sister over this afternoon. They kept chatting for over three hours. In the meantime, I studied Korean for tomorrow's review test. Yesterday while studying English with my Korean friend, I failed to understand some Korean. It was not too difficult, but I could not catch it. Rather shocked. The Korean is "Adunim chado sagoyo." Too easy if written.

Sunday, September 19, 2010 Fair

　A workday. Today summer seemed to be back again. The mercury rose up to almost 32 degrees Celcius. Called some students about the status quo of their English. Finished some miscellaneous work in the morning. Since I am a daytime teacher, I can kind of take it easy on Sundays. The student who promised to take his makeup today stood me up. Back home test-drove my son's new car. Bought for my Korean teacher a special straw for plastic bottles.-a present I am going to give at the time of my last lesson. She seemed to want it badly.

Saturday, September 18, 2010 Fair

　Did not go out on ny daily cconstitutional this morning. Went to the English language school in the morning. After eating lunch with my wife, felt sleepy and took a nap. In the evening saw the Chinese period drama "Daishinteikoku." At night went to the bookstore to buy three NHK textbooks-English, Korean, and Chinese. Watched the Korean drama "Ton'i" and went to bed.

Friday, September 17, 2010 Fair

　The temperature was 29 degrees Celsius in the evening. At work so busy checking reports, helping some students with their reports, giving a couple of students a retest and a makeup that I could not eat my supper until around 7:30 p.m. In the meantime, I also had some other things to take care of. At the end of the day I was just exhausted. I hear we teachers having another pay cut soon. More work and less pay. Who wants to work at public schools the way things are now and will be soon?

Thursday, September 16, 2010 Cloudy

　Had two meetings. By five they were over. The second term is full of school events. We all keep busy. Summer is almost gone. There are signs of autumn-insects chirping, our cat rubbing her body against us, less frequent use of the air conditioner, etc, although the daytime high is still in the 30's Celsius.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　Went walking in the morning as usual-the full distance, thanks to the less hot weather. Three classes in a row at work. I had and will have some students coming at the last minute. The deadline for the first-term reports are coming closer. Comig back home, watched the first episode of the Korean drama "Kim Suro." To a Japanese teacher of English, keeping learning English is a lifelong process. It is like investment in research for companies. Unless you invest your time and energy in your studies, you will surely fall behind and will never be a decent language teacher. Fight to the last ditch, dying in harness.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010 Cloudy and less hot.

　Been to the sign language club. Was there only for hafl an hour or so, though because there was something else to do. On the way home, bought some bread as usual. Then ate lunch, took a short nap, and went to the Korean language class. After that hurried to work. Took the first half-day off today. The fifth floor was deserted as uausal by the time I hit the road. Heard from the Chinese language classroom starting next Tuesday. There will be a total of 10 sessions. I never expected to learn Chinese, but I need new challenges to carry on in life. It serves as a driving force.

Monday, Septmeber 13, 2010 Cloudy and still muggy.

　A Korean study session in the morning. Just one English �Tclass. Short of time. Left some things undone. So much material to cover in just one school hour. Only seven reports to check. However, there were a lot of things to take care of, such as filling the dates for the 3rd-term reports, helping a student with her report, and giving a student a makeup. This morning woke up too late to do my daily routine. The sleepyhead bird loses the worm.

Sunday, September 12, 2010 Fair

　My wife is running a fever this time-38.4 degrees, exactly the same temperature as I was running a week ago. She must have caught it from me. This evening I took a walk for the first time in a week-just half the usual distance, though. Today our first-son had his own car brought over, and mine was taken away. Returned two library books and one CD. As I age, I lose things one by one. I can take nothing with myself.

Saturday, September 11, 2010 Cloudy

　We had our first-born son's girlfriend over. My wife and I quickly cleaned the house before she came. It was not too hard because all we did was moving things from one place to another so that they could not be seen. I also took out the car insurance policy from our old car, a Mazda Atenza, we are giving up tomorrow. My wife unwilling to cook supper, we ordered three small-size pizzas. She looked happy eating the pizza, so it was worth it anyway. Watched the Chinese drama "Thre Great Shin Empire" on TV. Will watch the Korean drama "Ton'i" and go to bed. Today is an off day. It is not everything to work all the time. Sometimes you have to take it easy and relax.

Friday, September 10, 2010 Fair

　Three classes and one club in a row from 2:20 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Super busy day. Besides, the Reading class was visited by two bosses. Today's coverage was too extensive and we were short of time. Also I had to check over 20 reports. I was running around sweating a lot today. Thanks heavens I had no loose bowels today. My stools were not watery but because of the watery stools for the past few days my anus feels so sore now. It is said that you are what you eat, but after eating you have to evacuate the bowel. Input and output. What comes in must go out.

Thursday, September 9, 2010 Fair

　There was an extra staff meeting about personnel changes. There are going to be some changes in the way it is done next spring. There will be no teacher who can work in just one school until he or she retires because every teacher is supposed to work at least three different schools in diffrerent groups of schools. Teaching school is no longer such a good job as it used to be, and I do not understand why they have this new policy now. Do they think it is fair that way? At any rate it is not my business. I will be retiring soon. It is clear, though, that things are getting more rigid. And so are teachers in their ideas.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010 Cloudy

　I still have the gripes, but I seem to be getting back my physical strength anyway. For the past five days I have had diarrhea. However, I tried to eat as much as I could in spite of my lack of appetite. True, we must eat to live. Chil, our cat, died in May last year, was ready to die when she could eat no longer. Her system was not capable of taking in any food. Therefore your body, which is part of nature, tells you when to die. And that is a time to die. There is a time for everything as Ecclesiastes says.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010 Cloudy

　Still have diarrhea. Good thing today is a day off for me. I did not go to the sign language club. Anyway returned two library books and bought some bread and a belly band. Although I still felt weak, I went to the Korean language class. I had a poor appetite, but I tried to eat. How I wish for normal stool! I am wearing the belly band now.

Monday, September 6, 2010 Fair

　I still have loose bowels. My whole body feels weak.. Anyway I went to work and after teaching today's classes I came back home. I took the latter half-day off. I did not feel like myself while working. My wife advised me to see a doctor on my way home. I did so. I ate my bento at home. I took some medicine, too. I hope this discomfort will disappear soon.

Sunday, September 5, 2010 Cloudy

　I found myself sick this morning. I was feverish and sweaty. I had a stomachace, too. So, I decided not to go to work. I was in bed all day. The body temperature exceeded 38 degrees.(38.4). I took some medicine and I felt better in the evening. I watched two Korean dramas anyway although I still felt sick. Is this food poisoning? I ate the taiyaki which was a little too old yesterday afternoon.

Saturday, September 4, 2010 Fair

　Walked this morning as usual listening to my iPod for an hour or so. Then went to the English conversation school and chatted in English for a couple of hours. My wife took her mother to the doctor and came back home after me. We ate a late lunch together. I had an afternoon nap because I felt a little tired. Waking up in this air-conditioned room, my whole body felt dull. Dued to air-conditioning? Watched the Chinese period drama "Daishinteikoku" for about two hours. Late at night thinking of watching the Korean period drama "Ton'i."

Friday, September 3, 2010 Fair and muggy.

　As I had expected, my son's test result was terrible. I said to him, "You've just begun to learn technical English. You still have a long way to go." Taught two English �Tclasses in a row today. My voice became a little hoarse. Only a few reports were handed in. The English Interview Room was so hot and humid, but I was in there. Some students came and asked for help. 　

Thursday, September 2, 2010 Cloudy and humid.

　Took two hours off. Today there were two meetings. The second one ended around five. Humidity was very high this evening. Back home helped my son with his English. far into the night. He is studying technical English now. He is having a test tomorrow. It is absolutely impossible to master such a difficult kind of English in a few days.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 Fair and stiflingly hot.

　Walked the full distance this morning. Day one of the second term. In the third period quite a few students showed up for Homeroom. Explained the schedule. Some came to see me later for help. The English Interview Room was very hot and humid like a steam bath. Checked ten reports. Back home worked on the Super Crossword late into the night. Exhausted.