Voice from International Students
Regular Student
Leslie Bustamante
Electrical and Electronic Engineering, SE
PhD Program (MEXT Scholarship)
Period
September, 2017 ～ September, 2020
The reason why you decided to study abroad
I believe that although for nature human beings are creative, our way of thinking is influenced by our surroundings,
by our beliefs, our society, and culture. So, I wanted to experience a completely different perspective by changing
my environment and learning from different cultures.
Fortunately, I have had the opportunity to live in Ecuador, Taiwan, and now in Japan, and it has been full of
enriching experiences, a chance to improve myself, gain skills, find my talents, expand and explore my opportunities
and grow my career. I think studying abroad opens your mind to new experiences, another way of thinking, other life,
and working styles, and makes you realize that still there are many things to know and learn from this world.
Message for those who are considering studying at DU
Everyone has his/her own experience when studying abroad however, I sincerely recommend
choosing an institution like Doshisha University which is very committed to international students' well-being. I
think all the DU’s staff has been very helpful specially with international students.
Regarding academics at Doshisha University, I think it suits perfectly to everyone's needs or interests. Of
course, it will depend on each person's goals and aspirations. Whatever it be, I think DU will support and give
you the resources you need.
In my case, I am interested in research, and luckily I have had the opportunity to attend several local and
international scientific conferences.
I think that becoming a DU student will give you many opportunities for the future additionally, you will have the
privilege to belong to one of the most representative universities in Japan.
Career after graduation
As a Ph.D. student at Doshisha University, I have had the chance to join some internships at Japanese companies where I learned a lot not only about the job itself, but what is like working in a Japanese company. I especially liked the working philosophy of one of these companies so, I decided to apply for a job here. Although the process was a bit long and difficult, I successfully completed it and after graduation, I will be joining an important Japanese company. My job will be basically focused on research on cutting-edge technologies and the development of electronic devices. Additionally, I will have the chance to work in research laboratories around the world.
Daily Schedule in Japan
Weekdays
| 7: 30 | Wake up, check emails |
|---|---|
| 8:00 | Breakfast |
| 8:30 | Think about my day’s tasks |
| 9:00 | Workout |
| 9:40 | Shower |
| 10:30 | Go to the school |
| 11:00 | Make preparations for my experiment or build simulations models. |
| 12:30 | Lunch |
| 13:00 | Talk with friends and lab mates |
| 14:00 | Start experiment and while waiting for results, coding a simulation program or check a paper |
| 18:00 | Dinner |
| 19:00 | Run simulation (my computer works all night. |
| 20:00 | Go back home (if I got good results from experiments). |
| 23:00 | Sleep |
When I do not do experiments usually I go back right after dinner or if I have plans to eat with friends I go back earlier.
Weekends
| 8:00 | Wake up |
|---|---|
| 8:30 | Breakfast |
| 9:00 | Check social media |
| 9:30 | Workout |
| 10:20 | Shower |
| 11:00 | Go to the supermarket |
| 12:00 | Cook my lunch |
| 13:00 | Eat lunch |
| 14:00 | Meet with friends |
| 15:00 | Go to visit a new place/ volleyball game/ or study a paper |
| 19:00 | Dinner |
| 20:00 | Watch a movie or Japanese anime. |
| 23:00 | Sleep |
Generally, I do not go to the school on weekends, unless I have an important deadline for a paper, or I am behind on my schedule.
