Q: Initially, what made you decide to study abroad? Why did you choose your program?
A: I decided to study abroad because I was interested in pursuing graduate studies at the University of Tokyo in the future and wanted to better understand its research environment. Since I had not previously participated in formal research, I also saw this program as a valuable opportunity to gain firsthand research experience while experiencing academic life in Japan.
Q: What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?
A: The highlight of my study abroad experience was discovering something unprecedented in my field of research. Specifically, I found that ChatGPT could be used to generate airfoil designs, which opened up new possibilities for applying AI tools to aerodynamic research. This was an exciting and meaningful achievement for me, as it demonstrated the potential to approach traditional engineering challenges in innovative ways.
Q: What was your greatest challenge abroad and how did you overcome it?
A: My greatest challenge abroad was the limited time of the short-term program. Although I made an exciting discovery, I was unable to continue the research long enough to fully develop it or publish an official report or paper. I overcame this by accepting the limitation as part of a short-term program and reframing it as motivation to continue this line of research in the future if I have another opportunity to engage in fluid dynamics.
Q: How did your coursework abroad compare to your courses at UC Merced?
A: Since I did not have prior research experience at UC Merced, I cannot make a direct comparison. However, my research abroad was conducted primarily on an independent basis with one-on-one guidance from my professor, while also receiving advice and new perspectives from University of Tokyo students and other international participants. This environment emphasized self-directed learning and collaborative discussion rather than structured lectures, assignments, or exams.
Q: What did you gain from your study abroad experience?
A: From my study abroad experience, I gained valuable technical skills in Python coding and computational fluid dynamics (CFD), which I had the chance to apply directly in my independent research. I also developed significant experience in exploring how AI tools can be effectively integrated into engineering research. Beyond technical skills, this experience helped me grow personally by building confidence in conducting self-directed research in a new academic and cultural environment.
Q: What advice do you have for students considering study abroad?
A: My advice for students considering study abroad is that your motivation does not have to be purely academic. In my case, I went abroad mainly to explore academic opportunities and learn more about graduate programs, but I believe it is equally meaningful to study abroad simply because you want to experience a new country, explore a region you have never been to, or learn about a different culture. Any reason to go abroad can lead to valuable growth and memorable experiences.
Q: What do you wish you learned about studying abroad before you left for your program?
A: Before leaving for my program, I wish I had known more about what previous students had accomplished through the same program. It would have helped me better understand the scope of what could realistically be achieved within the limited time and given me clearer expectations for setting my own goals.
Q: Describe a typical day abroad.
A: A typical day abroad began with doing laundry in the morning before heading to campus around 9:00. I spent the day in the lab running simulations, writing Python code, or planning research strategies until about 5:00 p.m. For lunch, I usually ate with other international students or University of Tokyo students at the campus cafeteria or at restaurants nearby. After finishing at the university, I often went out for dinner or shopping with other students, or returned home to continue planning and coding for the next day’s simulations. In the evening, I enjoyed walking through Ueno Park after sunset. One personal rule I kept was to always try new restaurants and avoid repeating the same place, which made dining out a fun way to explore the city.
Q: If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why?
A: If I could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, I would go to France. Two of the study abroad students who were in the same laboratory with me in UTokyo came from France, and I would like to visit them. I am also very interested in going because I have never been to Europe before and would like to experience its culture and history firsthand.
