Thursday, February 27, 2003

February 27

Finally got that 4-day Intensive out of the way. No more of those 2-hour commutes crosstown. That little adventure got tiring pretty quickly. However, the training centre was nice, supplied good lunches and bottomless cups of coffee. Glad it's all over now, and I can start my weekend a day ahead of schedule...a little reward for the work.

Strangely enough, the big news here is about a Bullet Train driver who was asleep at the wheel for about 8 minutes and ended up having the computer stop the train 90 metres away from the station. With both NHK and Japan Railways calling a major red alert on this incident, despite the fact that no one died or was hurt, that driver must feel a whole lot like Charlie Brown after he screwed up in that spelling bee.

Tuesday, February 25, 2003

February 25

Well, the winter of yesterday has been replaced by the near-spring of today. Unfortunately, that means the hay fever is back. My mask was on!

Day 2 of the Intensive was better although I'm still left rather drained by the experience. It also doesn't help that I go through a 2-hour commute back and forth each way. However, on the plus side, I still appreciate having nights off.

Looks like North Korea is coming into the backyard and fooling around without asking. It decided to give the new incoming South Korean president a warm welcome with a Silkworm missile.

Monday, February 24, 2003

February 24

The winter this year in Tokyo has been long and hard. It's been bitterly cold today and we even got snowed upon, although it was of the very wet, non-accumulating variety. One wonders if Spring will come here on time.

Today I had the first day of a 4-day Intensive based on Listening. Got the job done but it's never easy when one has somewhat uninspired students who've been forced to attend by their minders. The material is tough enough as it is without people who really don't want to be there. That, combined with the lousy weather, gave me a rather tough Monday.

But I am happy to say that I could get home and make a nice hearty meal of soup and kimchi chicken. Nothing like good ol' comfort food.