Hello readers, it is Shelly.
I am Ph.D student (D3) from Yangon Technological University.
This article is about my stay in UTokyo during 14th December to 29th January and my research in REEL lab. My accommodation is at Komaba International Lodge near Komaba Campus of UTokyo. I was invited by the student exchange program of
SATREPS project in Myanmar. This is my third time coming to Japan. And I got new friends and many new experiences this times.
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| In front of Yasuda Auditorium while snow showering |
Research
During
this training in UTokyo, I had learned Rainfall Runoff Inundation (RRI) model
and Python programming. In the very first weeks of my stay, I had prepared replies
to reviewers of my submitted paper and finalized my revised paper for
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction (IJDRR). And then, I was
submitted my revised paper again and waited for acceptance. During my study of RRI
model, we had found many problems of inputting actual cross sections and high-resolution
DEM in RRI model, even though my friends, Sam and Yone Shin helped me a lot, I
also tried myself many times for overcoming the errors which gave me disgust
and the main issue of RRI is very long processing time. Now I am used to the
errors and interested in solving the problems of RRI CUI application. I finally
completed the model setting up and running RRI model to calibrate with observed
discharge and I only need calibration with more events in other year as my
ongoing research. Moreover, I had been learning python programming by the help
of Moiz to develop the damage estimation model which needs to be coupled with
RRI model. It also gave me new experience of how difficult of developing and
programming. Besides, I visited to ICHARM and met with Dr. Badri Shrestha for
discussion about my research. He gave me many suggestions and comments. I got
some new ideas for continuing my research. In the final day of my stay, I got
an awesome news from associate editor from IJDRR, and my scientific paper got
acceptance for publishing in that journal. I was very happy because my
cultivated plant is grown well up eventually. I had completed two-third of my
Ph.D research and have to continue my ongoing research to write the next
scientific paper which will be included the entire Ph.D research work.
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| Me and my desk in REEL lab |
Activities
Throughout my research period in UTokyo, I had already made two
presentations at Kawasaki’s Group meeting and one private meeting with Ikeuchi
Sensei for my current research progress and future research. And I attended REEL
lab hour meeting and Kawasaki Group meeting every week.
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| At my presentation in Kawasaki's group meeting |
I went to Tsukuba and visited to ICHARM alone to make
discussion with Mr. Badri Shrestha for my research. I got a chance to meet with
Koike Sensei and Dr. Sawano and could make a brief introduction to my research.
I couldn’t take photo with them as they were very busy. But I made an intensive
discussion with Mr. Shrestha and he gave me so many suggestions and comments.
He is very kind and welling to help. This visit is very good and beneficial for
me. I would like to thank Kawasaki Sensei for urging me to visit ICHARM and
meet with him.
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| Intensive Discussion with Mr. Badri Shrestha |
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| Me and Mr. Badri Shrestha at ICHARM |
Interactions
Through
the research exchange program, I got not only many Japanese friends but also
many international friends. I was also participated new year party of REEL lab’s members
and I got more friendships between my colleagues and friends. Moreover, before
I went back to Yangon, Kawasaki Sensei made a farewell party for
me with our
Kawasaki’s group members at the Indian Restaurant near Hongo Campus. I got a
very good friendships with every group members. They helped us a lot for the daily life in Tokyo
as well as our study in UTokyo. Chon San was helping me a lot not only before I
stepped into Japan but also throughout my staying in Tokyo. She is very smart
and I like the way she talks in English especially. My new friends are Liu, Yi-Chia
and Nakamura San. Liu is very kind and he helped me doing with ATM for room
payment of Komaba Lodge. Yi-Chia
is a very friendly guy and Nakamura
Figure 5. My farewell party with
Kawasaki’s group members
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San is easy to be friend. Sam,
Moiz and Yone Shin are very nice and helpful because they helped me in my study
even in their
busiest time. I am
appreciated
their help. Actually, my
staying in UTokyo is so convenient that I can smoothly do my research work.
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| My farewell party with Kawasaki's group members |
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| Me and Chon San |
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| Me and some of my friends from REEL lab |
New Knowledge and Experiences
I
had found that everyone in Japan work hard like investing their mind and body
in the job they do that I’ve been ever heard. Most of the students are working
until late at night without any command and order. Among them, I also copied their
habits. On the other hand, the good environment and facility in the university
drives to spend the student’s times in the laboratory and supports them to do
more things. I will contribute that kind of experiences to my friends at YTU
and I hope from my university to get better environment and facility which is
developing gradually.
In
this exchange program, I experienced Japanese Christmas and new year
celebration. In Christmas time, Christmas illumination is very famous in
Roppongi, Omotal Santo, and
firework explosion at
Odaiba. I was
visited Omotal Santo and
Roppongi for its famous Christmas illumination.
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| Christmas Illumination at Omotal Santo |
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| Christmas Illumination at Roppongi |
I
was lucky that new year time is within my stay periods. In new year holidays, most
of the Japanese people used to go trips or back to their home town. I thought I
also wanted to go a vacation trip. The place I want to visit the most for this
time is Kyoto which is the well-known ancient capital of Japan. So, I planned
to go Kyoto. Transportation cost to Kyoto is very expensive for using
Shinkensen and by flight and by bus is reasonable but I could not afford. Fortunately,
my (Myanmar) friend from Osaka invited me to visit her home and she advised me
to use Seishun 18 ticket for transportation. Seishun 18 ticket can be used for
riding every JR local train in the whole Japan for five days whoever use in
each day. I was travelled to Osaka by riding seven trains from Tokyo and total
time consumption is 9 hours. Even though it is not comfortable, I was
interested in seeing the wonderful views of every town the train was passed. I
saw beautiful sceneries of Mount Fuji as well as awesome coastal line passing
by the train. At Osaka, I visited Osaka Castle, Dotonbori at Shindaibashi and
Universal Studios which are the most famous attractions in Osaka. Moreover, I
visited Kyoto and Nara from Osaka. In Kyoto, I visited Kinkaku-ji Temple,
Ginkaku-ji Temple, Arashiyama bamboo forest, and Fushimi Inari-taisha. In Nara,
I visited and worshiped the Great Buddha at Todaiji Temple, Kofuku-ji temple,
Kasuga-taisha, and walked around the Nara park with deers. Sincerely, I liked
Nara rather than Kyoto, and I don’t know why. Whatever, I got unforgettable
memories in my life.
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My new year vacation trip to Osaka, Kyoto and Nara
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Another
new experience in Tokyo is heavy snow for the first time in four years and
paralyzing public transportation due to heap of snow. The floods of people could
not go home back and I was caught in the long queue of people at the Shibuya
station for Keio Inokashira line. Luckily, my accommodation was not so far from
Shibuya and I could get back home by walk under snow showering. Vividly, it was
the day I visited to Tsukuba ICHARM alone. So, it is also an unforgettable experience
for me. But I love the way of snow over Todai and taking photos with friends
though.
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| Long queue of people waiting for train at Shibuya Station |
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| Snowing day experience |
Acknowledgement
I
would like to convey my heart-felt thanks to Kawasaki Sensei and Sayarma Win. I
am very grateful to everyone concerned with this awesome student exchange
program.
