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Students’ voice on rewarding overseas experiences
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Students’ voice on rewarding overseas experiences

Tue, Aug 29, 2017
Students’ voice on rewarding overseas experiences
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Waseda Weekly, an online magazine of Waseda University, interviewed three students from different faculties to learn about the rewarding experiences they gained overseas.

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Interacting with people from overseas who share the same love for robots

Minako Saito, third year student from the School of Creative Science and Engineering
◆Place visited: Jakarta, Indonesia
◆Purpose: to participate in the Abu Asia-Pacific Robot Contest as a representative from Japan

At Waseda University, I belong to an official student club recognized by the University called ROBOSTEP, which deals with making robots. In June 2016, ROBOSTEP represented Waseda University to take part in NHK Student Contest and won first place. By winning the national contest, we were privileged to present Japan in the Abu Asia-Pacific Robot Contest that took place in Indonesia where participants gathered from about 20 different countries across Asia to compete in badminton using the robots each team had designed and programmed.

During the contest in Indonesia, I had the opportunity to interact with other participants from other countries. Through such interaction and exchange, I came to realize that the design concept, materials, processing methods, production environment of robots differed largely from each country. It was an eye-opening experience to learn that each robot had its own uniqueness that seemed to reflect respective cultural and ethical diversities of each country.

Nevertheless, all participants shared something in common and that was the love for robots. In fact, I grew really close to the participants from China and had the chance to learn about their imaging process program installed on their robot. However, when I was trying to explain certain features of our robot, I realized that I was unable to do so in great details because I lacked the necessary knowledge of the technical terms used in English. As such, it made me want to study hard for English in order to become an successful Engineer who can interact and work with people from overseas.

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Steeping out of one’s comfort zone to study at a top university from overseas

Yuta Yoshikawa, fourth year student from the School of Law
◆Place visited: Bejing, China
◆Purpose: to do a joint double degree program in Law at Peking University

I started studying Chinese since I was a high school student. Interested in international politics and law after attending a seminar class when I was in year one, I decided to study abroad at Peking University under the joint double degree program tied with Waseda University. The university students at Peking University were all very pro-active when engaging in discussions during class. I still remember in one of my classes on nuclear security in Northeast Asia, students from Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea, Russia and America actively exchanged opinion on the subject, a setting resembling the six-party talks. Trying to fit in and contribute as an individual in an environment filled with outstanding students from diverse backgrounds was not easy. However, I felt that I was able to learn and grow as an individual.

In addition, I also participated in a one-week internship program with one of the Airlines when I was in Beijing. Throughout my internship, I was assigned to many different departments – reservation center, airport, cargo, operation – you name it. It was a very fruitful experience.

I hope that I can make full use of the experiences and knowledge I gained when I was in Beijing not just as a student but also as a working adult after I graduate from university. Studying overseas made me appreciate the good things about my own country. It also made me want to bring in the good things and practices from overseas to make Japan a better country.

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Things being a comedian actor in the U.S. taught me

Tomohiro Nakano, first year student from the School of Fundamental Science and Engineering
◆Place visited: Seattle, U.S
◆Purpose: to learn about diversity and expose myself to different ways of thinking

My dream is to become a leading person in Japan in the field of aerospace industry. In order to fulfill my dream, I decided to challenge myself and travel to Seattle in the U.S known as the holy land for aerospace industry to learn more about the industry in September 2016. When I was there, I went to Bellevue College where small-size seminars and closed supervision are the characteristics of the classes. When I was studying at Bellevue College, I also joined the rugby club at Washington University (UW) and became a Japanese language assistant. My days in the U.S were very rewarding.

The thing that I remember the most was my experience as a comedian actor. Towards to end of my studies abroad, I did an internship with a NPO organization. Somehow, the jokes that I made received very well responses from the Americans around me. As such, I decided to try performing as a comedian again, which I did when I was in high school. As Americans and Japanese have different sense of humor, I have to think of even better jokes that will appeal to the Americans. “Stand-up comedy”, which comedians perform only with a mic is the style and termed used in the U.S.. Turning my background as a Japanese to my advantage, I participated in their showcase. Even though it was my first time participating, I received very good responses, way better than what I had expected. It really boosted my confident level and made me realized the importance of conquering all difficulties with bravery at all times. Reflecting on these experiences, I began to think about the career I want in future. Aerospace is an industry with strict rules and regulations and because of that, it is very important to step out of one’s comfort zone and repeatedly challenge oneself. I hope I will be able to continue challenging myself, and make new creations in that business world that is not restricted to the norms that we are so used to.

 

This article is based on the interviews conducted with respective students in 2016.


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