Tuesday, Sepetember 30, 2008 Rainy

　The sign language club had a bazaar today. I bought two bath towels and a cup for 420 yen, and also a cup of coffee to drink there(50 yen)and two pieces of pie to take home(300 yen). In the afternoon went to the Korean language school in the rain. Today was the last session of this term-the 20th session. The next term begins on October 21st. Right now I am intrested in memorizing "Chonjamun"(千字文).

Monday, September 29, 2008 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　In the morning there was a Korean study meeting as usual. Today was the deadline for the first-term reports, makeups, and retests. There were quite a few studetns who came at the last minute as usual. I wonder why there are so many procrastinators. Sometimes a few students abuse us teachers. There was at least one this time, too. A barking dog never bites, but it makes us feel uncomfortable.

Sunday, Sepetember 28, 2008 Cloudy

　At wrok all day so busy taking care of some students who came to me at the last minute. Today's English study was canceled. Too bad. At the end of the day I came back home exhausted. Back home watched the usual 'uncomfortable' serial Korean drama "You Are My Star." I did no reading or no studying on my own at home. No extra energy left.

Saturday, September 27, 2008Fair

　Just drove my mother-in-law to the clinic in the morning. Our first-born son went out to attend a friend's wedding in Rokko Island. Rested almost all day. Learing Korean through movies is not such an easygoing process. Rather a painstaking one because you need to study the script throughly and it is almost impossible to comprehend what is said in the movie. You cannot be a perfectionist. The main aim is to enrich your vocabulary, so naturally you have to keep consulting your dictionaries.

Friday, September 26, 2008 Cloudy and a bit chilly.

　One retest and one makeup and helped a couple of sutdents with their English. About 20 reports to check. While teaching in the 3rd period, got the finishing time wrong, so for the last 10 minutes I kind of improvised. Made one handout for my next class on Monday. The deadline for the first term is next Monday, but the school was rather quiet. Is it the lull before the storm?

Thursday, September 25, 2008 Cloudy

　Just a Student Council conference and a regular staff meeting, after which I prepared for my next class as usual. Also called some students to inform them about the status quo of their English. Most of them were not at home, so left a message with their answering machine. One of them answered bluntly, "Who are you?" I answered politely, though. These calls took some time.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 Fair

　Wrote an email to my Korean pen pal. His reply came after a while. Globalization or Americanization is taking place in South Korea, too. The governments are carrying out structural reforms, resulting in hard life on the part of the people. Corporate Korea is also harsh. Went to the bank this morning to pay the tuition to the Korean langauge school. Returned a library book and bought lunch, too. Did some reading and studied Korean.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008 Fair

　While eating fried rice at lunch, choked on it. I thought I would die. My wife helpled me out. I rested most of the day, doing almost nothing today, for I had no sign language club or Korean class. Doing nothing is sometimes good and necessary. Our first-born son seems tired from his overwork. Companies are really ruthless, it seems. I have never worked as a company employee. Corporate Japan is quite severe.

Monday, September 22, 2008 Fair

　This morning watched the Korean movie on DVD. Went to work early because there was a Korean study meeting. My wife did not make me a box lunch today, either. I wonder why that is. Heleped several students with their English. Corrected 30 reports, which caused me a backache. No time to catch my breath until suppertime.

Sunday, September 21, 2008 Cloudy , thundering sometimes.

　This morning I overslept myself and was almost late for work. I barely made it anyway, though. Picked up the room I work in. One makeup after helping a kid with his reports. He was a good working student. Today's fire drill was cancelled because a flood warning was issued and the fire fighters were not able to come being on the alert at the station. My wife did not make a box lunch for me today. Sulky-both of us.

Saturday,, September 20, 2008 Fair

　It has been rather hot today. The temperature must have been around 30 degrees Celsius. Went to the English conversation school in the morning, dropping by at the city library to check in the two books. Checked out another two books. Then bought two cans of beer, came back home, and ate lunch. Did something of a general cleaning around the desk. Not finished yet, though. I am not much of a tidy husband, but once in a while I clean bu fits and starts.

Friday, Sepetember 19, 2008 Cloudy

　There was school. The typhoon did not come our way. However, the attendance was small. The weather was a bit too windy. Kind of expected today be be a breeze, but actually not. A teacher's work never ends. I had reports coming one after another. In all corrected nearly 30 reports. Three makeups and one retest to take care of. Several students came for help. No time to catch my breath until past 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 18, 2008 Cloudy

　Do you know why most Japanese are not good at speaking English? Well, the answer is very simple. Because they do not practice speaking Enlglish. The thing is how you do it. Worked at my own pace at school. Prepared for my next two classes. If Typhoon No. 13 comes our way and a storm warning is issued and not cancelled until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, there will be no school. I hope things are normal tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 Cloudy and then rainy.

　One Reading class and one HR class. Then came the fire drill, actually an earthquake drill. In the HR class before the fire drill, I explained earthquakes and how to cope with them to the class for nearly 20 minutes. Corrected a little fewer than 20 reports. Took me some time, so I ate my box supper around 7:00 p.m. A friend with whom I study Korean was good enough to give me some chijimi.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 Cloudy

　It has been rather hot today. I perspired a lot as I moved around, so I used the electric fan in the room. Yesterday's fatigue from yesterday told on me. My neck is still stiff. I went to bed at 2:00 a.m. this morning after solveing the Super Crossword. so I spent nearly 20 hours at the computer. No wonder I still feel tired. Today I started carrying a small notebook with myself to jot down whatever comes to mind.

Monday, September 15, 2008 Cloudy, occsionally rainy.

　Although today was a national holiday, I worked almost all day at home, fisnishing making the 3rd-term OC�Treport. I got exhausted, but it is a relief. There were four pages left. Each page took me two hours or so. This work is left out of count for my evaluation. I cannot concentrate at work, so I need to do this kind of work at home. If you work really diligently, there will be no end to your work as a teacher. You will ruin your health-both physical and mental. Such teachers, however, seldom give their students joy or courage.

Sunday, September 14, 2008 Fair

　It is so hot. The temperature is over 30 degrees Celsius. My system is in holiday mode. I cannot bring myself to do any work at home. My wife says she has her chronic headache. I have a bit of a headache, too. Today I was reading two different books alternately. I may end up accomplishing nothing during the three consecutive holidays.

Saturday, September 13, 2008 Fair

　It is still hot. I am using an electric fan as I write this. I have three consecutive holidays from today. I want to make an OC�Treport, but I am in no mood for that. Just took a brisk walk with my wife. Watched some TV in Korean and in English-with subtitles, of course. Our son was also at home all day. Seems tired, walking hard this past week. No wonder.

Friday, September 12, 2008 Fair

　Hot and humid like in summer. Some reports to check and one Readhing class to teach. Also one student to help with his English. On the way home did some shopping as usual. Then coming back home, I ate too much. I have heartburn now. Did I overate myself due to stress? Could be. Am going to have three consecutive holidays, but brought some work back home. Not too good, but no other choice.

Thursday, September 11, 2008 Fair

　Two conferences- one for Student Council teachers and the other a regular staff meeting. Handed in my personnel change survey sheet. Took some hours off and ate out with a colleague after hours. My belief is that people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Our school building was under construction when the Great Hanshin Earthquake happened, so it is likely more vulnerable than otherwise. The thing is who is in charge. Maybe the head clerk has no idea what to do. Bureaucrats' attitude is usually "It is not my business."

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 Fair

　Just one English �Tclass to teach. A couple of students to help with their English. Wrote to some students just in case they are not aware of their status quo on their English. Prepared an extra sheet for the next Reading class. Today listened to Man of La Mancha on my i-Pod in Korean. I like it. On the way home dashed a lot to make train connections. My taking a brisk walk daily has paid off. I was out of breath, but anyway managed to catch the next connection. Good for me!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008 Fair

　A substitute holiday. Went to the sign language circle's weekly meeting in the morning. Used sign language a little bit. Although still hot, I can feel a bit of autumn in the air with autumn insects chirping in the backyard. Checked out two books at the municipal library. Now we live in an age of depression(=gloom). It is saild to last for half a century. Naturally young people do not want to have children in this gloomy age. We need such a philosophy as enables us to cope with this dark age. I think I am optimistic by nature, but I have come to realize what kind of age we live in now.

Monday, September 8, 2008 Fair

　Unlike yesterday today was not too hot or humid. Got to be on the alert for sudden changes in tempertature. For it is easy to lose your balance-especially if you are getting on years. I may be expecting too much of my English �Tstudents. Maybe I may have to go back to the way I taught my nighttime students when I first began working here. Anyway it is not fun to teach them. Unless I enjoy, how could they ...?

Sunday, September 7, 2008 Cloudy, a temporary thunder storm.

　 Was able to work at my own pace as I planned. Ate some bread for lunch. It was too light, so I was very hungry after hours. It was so hot and humid it was easy to get a heat stroke. On the way home walked to the station so fast I perspired a lot and got dehydrated, feeling very tired. Bought sushi for supper as my wife had not cooked supper yet.

Saturday, September 6, 2008 Cloudy

　Went to the English conversation school nearby, making some silly mistakes for not speaking English daily, such as taking "musicals" for "operas" and "jurisprudence" for "jurisdiction." Foreign language learners are destined to struggle for the maintenance of their speaking skills, but as they age, it will get harder and harder. They have no choice but to keep trying as long as they can. No turning back.

Friday, September 5, 2008 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　It was quite humid this afternoon. Had two classes. Thought daytime section would participate in oral reading. Actually that is not the case. No difference. I cannot force them to, anyway. Maybe better to be content with the way they are. Bought a book of English jokes on the way to work. TGIF, I would rather relax than take the status quo of my students seriously.

Thursday, September 4, 2008 Cloudy and a bit humid and hot.

　Took a brisk walk alone because my wife had to go see her mother this morning. Thinking I would rest for a while, fell asleep and slept for an hour or so before watching the usual morning Korean drama. Two conferences at work. The place was deserted, but there was one nighttime part-time section kid who would not listen to me, although I talked to him because he rode his bike on the hall of the fifth floor. This reminded me of my former places of work where there were quite a few unruly kids. Actually, they are not necessarily bad students. They often want attention.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 Cloudy and a bit humid.

　The first HR of the second term. Explained the first-term deadline for reports and tests, and the second-term schedule, etc. Checked some reports. Prepared for the next two classes-handouts and oral reading of the texts. When I was heading back home, there was an autumn wind blowing. Did a liitle shopping at the usual supermarket. Prime Minister Fukuda resigned the day before yesterday all of a sudden. This coalition government is at the mercy of the New Komei Party., which thinks of party interest alone. The Osaka governor is now barking at the board of education because of the bad results of the national achievement test.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 Fair and then cloudy.

　This morning went to the convenience store nearby to get the music CD I had ordered. It was an SG Wanna Be CD for my wife's birhtday. Today my wife was good enough to make me a box supper. Again I misspelled a simple English word. Shame on me! At work prepared and printed a handout for tomorrow's HR class. It was rather hot and humid today, too-the lingering heat and humidity of the summer.

Monday, September 1, 2008 Fair but too hot!

　Looks like summer is back again. I perspired a lot today. Had a Korean study meeting this morning. The level of Korean has gotten higher and I am having a hard time explaining grammar etc. Two classes to teach. Covered part of the school on duty. Had a couplle of kids to take care of. A call from another kid. Back to normal and being busy.