![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/fsci\/assets\/uploads\/2017\/12\/photo1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n- \n
- Name
\nMAELL Martin
\n<\/strong><\/li>\n- Country\/ Region of Citizenship
\nRepublic of Estonia
\n<\/strong><\/li>\n- Graduated from
\nUniversity of Tartu
\n<\/strong><\/li>\n- Department
\nDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Doctoral)
\n<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMEXT Scholarship (Embassy Recommendation) honored student
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
How did you find out about Waseda University? <\/strong><\/h3>\n
The first time I ever heard about Waseda University was actually 4 years ago, when I was a master\u2019s student in the University of Tartu, Estonia.\u00a0 Waseda was one of the few Japanese universities that had the inter-university cooperation agreement with the University of Tartu.\u00a0 I applied to the \u201cGraduate studies program\u201d, did a 1-year exchange (2014\/2015) and the rest is history.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Why did you choose Waseda University?<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/fsci\/assets\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Fujikawaguchi-610x343.jpg\")
<\/a>For my exchange I chose Waseda because it seemed an interesting option.\u00a0 Also looking back, a key factor might\u2019ve been that Waseda was pretty much the only university that offered a graduate program.\u00a0 The rest, had only undergraduate programs.\u00a0 The reason for coming back for doctoral course is because I felt very good doing what I did during my exchange.\u00a0 I was graciously given an opportunity to the doctoral program here and as the saying goes.\u00a0 I took the bull by the horns.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
How did you get information for our program?<\/h3>\n
Most, about the programs, I learned during the exchange period.\u00a0 That was when I really got saturated by the wealth of information and opportunities here in Waseda.\u00a0 And there are many!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Did you have any concerns before coming to Japan?
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/fsci\/assets\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Matsumoto-Castle-610x407.jpg\")
<\/a><\/h3>\nI\u2019m quite certain I did have some, but can\u2019t really recall any.\u00a0 I guess one of the biggest concerns that any new student, in a new foreign country has, is a financial one.\u00a0 Tokyo is considered to have one of the highest living costs in the world.\u00a0 Thus securing a steady income is necessary.\u00a0 Fortunately enough there are good scholarship programs out there (e.g. MEXT, Jasso) which are good enough to survive here comfortably.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Have you had any difficulties when you started a new life here?<\/h3>\n
Most certainly, not going to sugar coat this.\u00a0 But perhaps it would be better to see these \u201cdifficulties\u201d more as an \u201cobstacles to overcome\u201d.\u00a0 Almost majority of things in Japan operate in a different way than in Europe.\u00a0 If one does not understand these cultural and\/or bureaucratic nuances and doesn\u2019t speak Japanese, then you are into some surprising moments.\u00a0 For the better part it\u2019s good to have a Japanese tutor or a friend who can help you out in tackling various parts of setting up your life here in Japan.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
How is your life in Japan and Waseda?<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/fsci\/assets\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Top-of-Mt-Fuji-610x453.jpg\")
<\/a>My life here is very good.\u00a0 I think the quality of your life, in anywhere really, is determined by the people you are surrounded by.\u00a0 And in that regard I consider myself to be a lucky person!<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
What do you do in your free time?<\/h3>\n
Eat sushi and contemplate whether the polar bears would like ice cream.\u00a0 Other than that though I try to discover Tokyo and Japan as much as possible (read: as wallet allows).\u00a0 I really like going to trips and see new places. Recently I did Japanese driving license and now Japan is my oyster!\u00a0 Also there is always so much going on in Tokyo for every taste, so boredom shouldn\u2019t be a real issue.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
How are the relationships with your supervisor and lab members?<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/fsci\/assets\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Field-survey-at-Nemuro-in-Hokkaido-610x407.jpg\")
<\/a>I would like to think that they are good.\u00a0 One of the driving factors in returning to Waseda for doctoral course was the very good relationship I had with my sensei (thank you my professor!).<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Outline of the research<\/h3>\n
I study coastal engineering and management, which has many different pathways one can choose to focus on.\u00a0 My main research interest at this time is to study how the extra-tropical storms under future climate change scenarios behave and how they might affect the countries in the Baltic Sea region.\u00a0 This research is largely built on numerical modelling techniques.\u00a0 Also, every now and then we conduct field surveys on disaster areas (e.g. tropical cyclones, tsunami, volcano etc.).<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What is your career goal after your degree completion?<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/fsci\/assets\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Presentation-at-WAYCEM-610x458.jpg\")
<\/a>After receiving my degree I hope to work in the academia.\u00a0 The idea of doing some meaningful research and (hopefully) contributing back to the society seems like a mighty fine idea to me.\u00a0 At this early stage nothing is yet set in stone, however the general layout has been drafted.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Short message to the prospective students<\/h3>\n
in English<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/fsci\/assets\/uploads\/2017\/12\/View-of-to-Fuji-610x326.jpg\")
<\/a>Stay strong, stay genki (happy) and everything works out!\u00a0 Life in Tokyo (and in Waseda) is fantastic, however it\u2019s not always a walk in the park.\u00a0 Sometimes you have sad, sometimes happy days.\u00a0 The struggles and perks are really the same, regardless where you live, but the only exception is that the people who you usually lean on are far away.\u00a0 Starting a new life in a new country can be daunting for some, but only if you choose that mindset, so \u2013 stay strong, be genki and eat all the good food!<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
in Estonian<\/h4>\n
- Country\/ Region of Citizenship