Sunday, September 30, 2007 Rainy

　Today's athletic meeting was held in the gym because of the rain. There were only four events from 10:00 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. Then we had lunch break, and at 12:30 p.m. the so-called 'soft volleyball' tournament started. I had a graduate who would come to our school for practice teaching next school year. I explained to her about this and that.

Saturday, September 29, 2007 Cloudy and then rainy.

　We Student Council teachers were supposed to prepare for tomorrow's atheletic meeting, but the weather never seemed to improve, so only the frames of the tents were put together and some students who came to help out just picked up stones on the playground. I had to get 60 chairs ready, but I decided to wait until tomorrow morning. Two students came, and I helped them with their 'reports.'

Friday, September 28, 2007 Cloudy

　Today is the deadline for the first term. Students are supposed to hand in all their reports and take their exams by today. However, there were some procrastinators. Some just copied somebody else's reports. There was one who threatened, calling names. I have been working here for five years, but this is the worst year. The quality of students has changed drastically. Well, I cannot blame them, I know. I will have to try to meet their needs anyway. Over in Myanmar a Japanese cameraman was shot to death at point-blank range. Violence reigns in this world throughout history-physical viloence, verbal violence, mental violence, economic vilolence, etc.

Thursday, September 27, 2007 Overcast

　Another hot and humid day, but once in a while a bit breezy. Even sitting still, you will find yourself in a greasy sweat. A couple of students stood me up. This happens so often I have gotten used to it now, which is not necessarily a good thing. If the other way around, what would their reaction be? Maybe make a moutain out of a molehilll? Came back home and found my wife in bed. She was under the weather again. Had whatever there was, and did my household chores. However tired I am, I must do it-whether I am under the weather or not.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007 Fair

　On the way to work, went to the municipal library to get the book I had reserved online. Some 'reports' were handed in at the last minute, and some students came and asked for my help with their reports. There were some makeups and one retest to take care of, too. No time to go to the restroom.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007 Fair

　Far from autumnlike weather. Still quite hot. Checked dozens of 'reports.' Some of them were sent to me for the first time−too late to make the deadline. Called them but no answer. Could not but send them back. Handed in my interim report for the Assess-and-Nuture System, by which our pay is determined. Money talks in education, too−due to the influence of Neo Liberalism, a system which makes people unhappy.

Monday, September 24, 2007 Fair and then cloudy, occasionallly rainy.

　Our second son left for Tokyo in the afternoon after eating lunch. I did not feel like doing anything today, either. Just read an English novel. From time to time watched a baseball game on TV. My wife did the exercise in the rain this evening. Looks like she is serious this time.

Sunday, September 23, 2007 Fair

　In no mood to do anything today. Our older son just came, ate, and went back. The younger one went out to meet his old friends, I guess. My wife still doing her workout. She began it a week or so ago. She has to do it because she has put on too much weight. It is bad for her health.

Saterday, September 22, 2007 Fair

　Another muggy day. The temperature in this city registered 35.1 degrees Celsius, I hear. Went to the dentist in the morning. Then I drove over to my parents' place with presents for the Respect-for-the-Aged Day, although a bit late, talking with Mom for a couple of hours about this and that. I went there alone. My wife said she would stay at home. On the way home she sent me a text saying for me to buy some takoyaki. So I did. As soon as I got home, I drove her to Joshin to get the printer part which she had ordered.

Friday, September 21, 2007 Fair

　It was so hot and humid today, too. Japan is no longer in the Temperate Zone, but it now belongs to the subtropics, doesn't it? Mankind has changed the climates of the globe. Our second son is back now from Tokyo. He will be leaving on Monday next week.

Thursday, September 20, 2007 Fair

　There was a Student Council teachers' meeting for the coming athletic meeting. Started thinking about the next Reading "reports." Little time to read the paperback. So much to read both in English and in Korean. Took a latter half-day off and relaxed. My spouse is the vindictive type, and maybe so am I. She remebers my raising my voice at her a couple of days ago.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007 So hot and humid.

　Got a letter from our former Korean teacher in Seoul. Made several copies of it and passed them out to the people concerned. He is doing O.K. over there. The parents of one of my homeroom students came to see me. Corrected some "reports", and helped a student with his "reports." Called some students and told them what to do before the deadline of the first term.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007 Fair

　Went to today's sign language club's meeting with 65 copies of the club's newspaper. Today's Korean class was the last one with our Korean instructor, from whom I have learned Korean for the past three years from ABC. My wife went to our first-born son's apartment with some frozen foods. When she got back, she was in a mean mood. I had no idea why. Probably tired from going a long distance. She was being nagging. I said, "Knock it off."

Monday, September 17, 2007 Fair

　My wife and I have been to the Nasca exhibition in Kyoto today. The Nasca civilization had no writing system, but the artifacts were interesting. The Nasca people were headhunters and made mummies, too. They are also famous for those gigantic drawings on the gound, which are said to be used for ritual purposes or to show where they could get water.

Sunday, September 16, 2007 Too hot and humid.

　What weather we had today! Summer was back again. I thought fall had come, but no way! I had five lessons to to teach today. I really had a full day. This year's English �Tclass is full of students who are not good at English, so I will have to change my way of teaching so that I can be of any help to them. It is not their falult, but we teachers have the resposibility of being creative for them.

Saturday, September 15, 2007 Fair

　At today's English conversation session I heard our instructor talk about his lecture at a major Japanese company. That was interesting. He was asked to talk about why English is necessary for the empoyees of that company. After driving around to go shopping, I made a handout for tomorrow's Inclusive Learning class.

Friday, September 14, 2007 Fair with sporadic rains.

　The day after tomorrow will be hectic. I have five classes to teach. And I will have to prepare for the so-called "Inclusive learning"(sogoteki-gakushu-no-jikan). Today I got an e-mail from my American friend, who is now in Afghanistan with the army. I am concerned about his safety. He has long been in the reserve army and now is serving in Afghanistan, one of the most dangerous places in the world.

Thursday, September 13, 2007 Fair

　I do not care what my bosses think of me, but if they are not well aware of what is really going on, it is a pity. At any rate I will do what I should do. That is all. Even the head of the nation behaves like a spoilt child. Needless to say, how shallowly bosses at conventional places of work can think and behave!

Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Fair

　Prime Minister Abe resigned today all of a sudden. That was a bolt from the blue. This is an unprecedented case. He was not prime minister material. One should know oneself as Plato said. It looks like he has a depression.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007 Fair, occasionally rainy.

　At today's sign language club meeting I was in charge of what is called "3 Words." I chose 'New York,' '-ism,' and 'peace.' The 6th anniversary of the 911 terrorist attacks in New York happened to fall on today. Most of the members who were called on made sentences using 'peace.' On the way home got two portions of okonomiyaki for lunch. At Ohhakutan today did the continuation procedure , filling a form. Returned a library book and got two portions of 'salmon variety box lunch' for supper.

Monday, September 10, 2007 Fair

　I felt very empty today. What is the good of teaching English to those who are reluctant to learn?　Recently a book entitled "Karyu-shiko" is a best-seller. In Japan there are so many young people who do not try to study or work hard. They are not ashamed of their ignorance. However, who can blame them? They are products of this Japanese society.

Sunday, September 9, 2007 Fair

　I need to prepare for next Sunday's "Inclusive Learning" class(sogo-gakushu), but for some reason or other I cannot bring myself to do anything for it. I wonder why that is. Tonight's Giants vs Tigers extended game was just exciting. Glad the Tigers won!!!

Saturday, September 8, 2007 Fair

　Went to the dentist this morning. Had some of my teeth cleaned. It was quite costly because my insurance does not cover it. On the way home did some shopping at the supermarket. Bought my wife some figs as usual. She loves them. Got some udon for lunch. Took a long afternoon nap. My wife is watching baseball, sending comments to our second son on the cell phone now.

Friday, September 7, 2007 Overcast

　Recently some Korean actors who have given a false academic background have become a social problem. Korea is a very academic background-oriented society. Some of those actors put the blame on such a society. I wonder what will become of them.

Thursday, September 6, 2007 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　This new DELL computer finally came. I ordered it on August 26. Tonight I set it up in the middle of the night with my wife's help. She is a big help with the computer, too. It took some time, but everything went well.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007 Hot and humid as usual.

　On the train came into a group of insolent high school baseball players who behaved as if there were no other passengers. Ignoble behavior. No sportsmanship. At work checked some 'reports' as usual and helped a student with her 'reports.' Made an English �Thandout for next Sunday's class, too.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007 Again so hot and humid.

　In the morning went to the sign language circle's weekly meeting for the first time in many days. In the afternoon to the Korean language school. This evening some sauries were sent to us in a Styrofoam box direct from the sea. We ate some for supper. They were so fresh. However, sauries never seem to bring autumn. It is still so hot and humid.

Monday, September 3, 2007 Another hot and humid day.

　The first Korean study meeting of the second term. There were four of us. Today Our Japanese teacher of Korean left for Seoul. We all have different values, but forcing them upon others is a problem, I think. Of course, being with somebody with different values can be uncomfortable. However, such a pushy attitude is out of the question.

Sunday, September 2, 2007 So hot and humid.

　It was so hot and humid today I felt as if I were in a steam bath. The classrooms were air-conditioned, so we were rather comfortable, but the English teachers' room was a sweating bath. This morning on my way to work, I saw a black marathon runner whose body was unimaginably beautiful. There was an international women's marathon race going on then.

Saturday, September 1, Fair and still so hot.

　In the morning went to the English conversation school. On the way back home bought udon for the two of us. In the evening our first son came over. I just laid myself down and did nothing in particular.