My time at Doshisha University was truly wonderful and culturally enriching.
Lab Experience
Upon joining the lab, I had the opportunity to choose the project I would be working on. My project consisted of two parts.
The first part focused on addressing the challenge of scheduling program updates on a fleet of servers. To avoid potential issues with updated programs, a deployment schedule was created, allowing for a gradual update of the server fleet. Factors such as server traffic, configuration, and topology were considered in the scheduling process.
The second part involved monitoring the behavior of the binary after deployment. This required modeling and comparing the program’s behavior before and after deployment, utilizing machine learning and probability/statistics methods to detect differences and anomalies in the new behavior.
The lab environment was enjoyable, thanks to a supportive and outgoing professor who provided valuable advice. Social activities, including dinners with lab mates and a Christmas party, fostered a friendly atmosphere. Despite the language barrier, everyone was super-friendly and approachable. As a delightful side note, a lab-mate introduced me to the best ramen I’ve ever had in Japan.
Study Experience
I deliberately enrolled in a small number of courses to have time for other pursuits. The courses were comparatively easier than the European college courses I was accustomed to.
Extracurricular Activities Organized by the University
Participating in “Speakup,” an event organized by a student’s club, provided opportunities to engage in 30-minute conversations each week. Through this, I met interesting people, some of whom became friends with whom I later embarked on a skiing trip to Nagano and a hiking adventure to Soni Highlands, among other activities.
Overall, my experience at Doshisha University was not only academically rewarding but also filled with enriching social and cultural experiences.
