Mr. Shin Hasegawa, a second year student of the Doctor's Program of the Graduate School of Computer Science and Engineering at UoA has finished his three-month research (from January 4 - March 29) at Stanford University, California, U.S.A. on UoA's International Short-term Study Program for Academic Year 2007.
Here are reports on his research and daily life in U.S.A.
After finishing his three-month research at Stanford University
The grateful three months have gone. I felt them very short.
Professor Chris Constantinou who hosted me was very kind and took good care of me while I was at Stanford University.
During my stay, I audited four courses on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday, I was at an office in a hospital that is called Veterans Affiliate Palo Alto Health Care System. Prof. Constantinou he gave me an office room in the hospital because he also works there. Since there was no place to access to the internet, I was not able to do research and thus, I normally did my homework there. Normally, I meet Prof. Constantinou or do my homework in the morning and eat lunch at VA, go to the Starbucks in California Ave, and study and do research on the internet.
Since I arrived in the United States, I had sought a room. However, I had been faced with difficulty finding one and I had to stay at a hotel for three weeks. After I came back from L.A. at the end of January, where a conference, "MMVR," was held, I finally found a room and moved in it. Working out many problems to find a room gave me confidence to find housing by myself in the United States. My roommate was a lady named Kelly. She was so kind. She often talked to me and made many chances for me to speak English. After I moved in the room, I cooked my dinner every night. Beef was very cheap in the United States. It only costs $2 per 1lb and thus, I ate great steak everyday.
On weekends, I went to the theater to watch some movies, to San Jose or San Francisco. I also visited the head quarters of famous companies in Silicon Valley. I just saw the buildings form outside because I could not enter the buildings.
Since the mid-February, it had been very clear and sunny days. I had worn short sleeved