...because really, two days melded into one (36-37/365, 5-6 Feb 2022)
And really, I wanted the days as captured, next to each other just to show the similarities. I have been noting in recent posts that we are at the busy end of the semester--intensive teaching, marking and grading, supervising entrance exams. This weekend was the double, both Saturday and Sunday, up at 4:00am (accidentally, temps around MINUS 2 or 3 degrees), out the door and on the train by 7:15am, arrive at campus (take picture of the port), head to the room where all the heads of department set up camp for the day, as part of the oversight committee, just 'in case' something happens...(take photos of lunch).
What it means in reality is that we sit there from 9:00am until 4:30pm, when we are given the all clear to leave. Having said that, occasionally there needs to be corrections made to questions or checking on things that might happen to students or invigilators, especially during these Covid times. Although, in all seriousness, at the national level exams in January, a distressed student did attack and stab two students and an older passer-by outside Tokyo University. Normally, it might be issues surrounding trains running late, or places being inaccessible due to snowfall, at this time of the year.
Mostly however, it means seven or so hours sitting in the room. Now, to be frank, at this time of year and with grades due today, I am more than grateful for the confinement to get those grades finalized and recorded. And I did. Except yesterday was 'interrupted' by the final couple of classes for the intensive course.
We are given lunch each time we do this supervision. Usually it is just one day each weekend, this weekend was both days, so intriguing to see what was up for lunch both days. (Look closely. I was subtly corrected when I remarked today, 'oh, same as yesterday'...indeed they are different.)
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| Sun reflecting in the early morning (5 February, 8:37am) |
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| Even the wrapping was striking |
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| And what's inside? |
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| It was just a quick stop... |
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| ...at the chocolate stop |
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| And we are back...the Ariake Coliseum this morning |
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| And the port, again (6 February, 8:47am) |
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| And did you spot the difference(s)? |
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| End of the day, end of the semester (sort of) |
And when we were done, I had a few things to finish off in my office, which made me late to the main event at the department store--a chocolate fair, what with Valentines and White days coming up. I will leave the glorious eighth floor display for another day (perhaps tomorrow, I'm giving myself a few hours off), it' is on until 15 February. But for now, a combination of Japanese sake and truffles...ahem. Funny little Valentine...
All done on the trusty iPhone 12 mini, because there wasn't time for much else really. (And the two-in-one posting brings Feb's posts back to balance...(31 Jan was posted 1 Feb, but I was probably the only one who noticed.)
