View from the Sumitomo Building, Yodoyabashi, Osaka.

Happy moment: This evening, I’m sitting in Shichijo station waiting for my train and three girls I taught last year at my old school came through the gates. “Hello!” says I, and they said “OOOOHHHH!” and ran up to me in an obviously delighted fashion. I was delighted too. How nice of them to remember me and to chat with me for a while…

Later, in Osaka, I had a few minutes before my class arrived so I took the opportunity to snap the picture above. I’ve been teaching at the Sumitomo building off and on for about 4 years now. Those business classes have certainly helped me pay my way… But soon I’ll be finished for good. Only two more classes to go in fact. The students are nice enough. We are all around the same age and on pretty much the same wavelength. But I’ve had it with working evenings. And the paperwork.

I won’t miss that at all.