IAESTE／理工系学生のための国際インターンシップ Daedalus Proiect 2023年6月12日～2023年7月21日

As a second-year master's student at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, I was fortunate enough to receive an AC offer from IAESTE. This enabled me to complete a 6-week internship at Daedalus Project, an urban planning and architectural design firm in Sibiu, Romania, from June 12 to July 21, 2023. Though it can be unsettling to move away from the familiar school environment, doing an internship in a new country is a beautiful journey filled with opportunities to learn new things, discover unique traditions and cultures, and gain a better understanding of oneself. In this report, I will share my experience of this incredible journey under six major categories: Hosting country, Work Environment and Conditions, Work Content, Accommodation, Free time and Travel, and Cost of Living.

1. Hosting country and city
Let me begin with some background information about Romania and Sibiu.
"Romania"
Location: East Europe (a part of the EU)
Capital: Bucharest
Population: 19million
Language: Romanian
Currency: Lei/Ron/ (1ron = 32jpy)(July, 2023 rate)
Religion: Christian
Famous for: Transylvania history, Dracula, Wooden Churches

"Sibiu"
Location: Central Romania, a 6-hour ride by train from Bucarest (Image.1)
History: A region in Transylvania
Town: Medieval town
Population: 169,056
Architecture: House with eyes in Sibiu (Image. 2)

The standard working hours at this firm are 8 hours per day, with a 1-hour break for lunch, for a total of 40 hours per week. Work typically begins between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. and ends between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. The firm has a team of seven architects and two cats who roam around the office (Image 3). Initially, I was apprehensive about working with cats, but I grew to enjoy their presence after settling into my work environment. The work schedule is flexible, and I can take a short break to rest on the bench for 10-15 minutes outside, depending on my workload. Most of my colleagues speak English fluently, making communication easy. They are friendly, offering helpful advice on construction regulations and project outlines and assisting with planning trips outside of work.

I worked on 3 main tasks of the residential sketch project. Although the architectural drawing was completed a year ago, numerous adjustments needed to be made during the construction stage to minimize the construction budget.
The first task was to fix the errors that occurred after mirroring the project model in Revit. Using my past Revit knowledge, I listed how to verify the errors one by one and provided 3 alternative solutions, including creating Revit model libraries.
For the 2nd task, I needed to ensure that the number of parking spaces in the basement and aboveground garage met the construction standards and the volume of the building should be reduced. In several versions, I created some ideas for a parking lot that meets this requirement in the given area. After consultation with the senior employee and the construction engineer, we selected the most suitable version and drew on the AutoCAD software (Image 5). As a result, our team reduced the basement's size by 25% and lowered building costs.
The 3rd assignment was to redevelop new floor plans based on updated garage proposals drawn. Due to the building structure and plumbing changes, it was necessary to enhance existing apartment plans and layouts. To achieve this, I searched residential building references from other countries, considered end-users needs, and analyzed current apartment planning trends. I sketched seven variations of apartment plans by hand and then shared them with my colleagues for review (Image 6). After carefully considering the client's requirements and the residents' comfort, I created two apartment plans in Autocad.

This apartment project gave me a better understanding of the practical aspects of architecture in Romania. I also hope to contribute my skills and knowledge to the apartment project.

I resided in a single room in a student dormitory during my internship. The room was furnished with beds, desks, chairs, refrigerators, and showers. Additionally, there were shared kitchen and study spaces in the common areas. I found purchasing groceries and home supplies from the nearby "Carrefour" supermarket quite convenient. Moreover, I met students from various countries who had come for internships, summer schools, and student exchange programs. We often gathered on the chairs and tables outside the building to communicate with each other, share experiences, and expand our network. However, it's worth noting that there were significantly fewer Asian students, and most international students were from other European countries.

I have much free time on weekday nights since the time difference makes it difficult to call my loved ones in Japan and Mongolia. Therefore, I usually stay in my room and focus on self-development activities like meditation and reading books to make the most of this time. Although I initially planned to visit neighboring countries such as Hungary, I had to cancel due to visa issues. Instead, I decided to explore Romanian culture. On weekends, I visited Brasov, Rasnov, and Bucharest, admiring famous buildings, exploring museums, and taking in the city's charm. I also had the chance to attend the Sibiu International Theater Festival, where artists, dancers, comedians, and lecturers worldwide gathered to perform. As an art enthusiast, I enjoyed watching as many performances as possible. One of the festival's highlights was when Kengo Kuma, a renowned Japanese architect, presented his project on Kabuki theatre. Overall, this festival was a memorable experience during my internship.

The salary provided by the company is sufficient for everyday living expenses, including your accommodation costs. However, if you want to go to other places and do fascinating activities, you must carry some money. I brought half of my money in cash and the other half in my mobile Revolut wallet. Revolut is a popular payment option in most European countries, and it is simple to send money, exchange currencies, and pay with a card. In total, I spent about 120,000 yen in 6 weeks. As a reference, I set down the cost of daily necessities. Please remember that this is just an average price and might fluctuate in a range. 1 ron = 32 yen (July, 2023)
Eating out - 30-35 ron
Internet - 25 ron for local SIM + 25ron for 100GB data monthly.
Bus - one-way ticket 4 ron

Groceries:
Bread - 11 ron
1L Milk - 6ron
1 Avocado - 5 ron
Banana 1kg – 8ron
Beer 1bootle - 5 ron
Water 500ml- 2ron
1L Juice Drinks – 8 ron
Salad (100g)– 4ron
Groceries are calculated at the Carrefour store price.

In summary, my six-weeks internship was a remarkable experience I will never forget. Aside from learning about the work processes of architecture firms in Romania, building codes, and architectural styles, I also broadened my cultural knowledge by exploring different cities, attending local events, and conversing with fellow students. Moreover, the internship gave me ample time for introspection, allowing me to read books, write in my diary, and conduct research, which helped me see myself differently and develop my character. It also made me appreciate my identity and my country's values. I strongly recommend other students to pursue international internships as well. Ultimately, "embarking on an overseas journey transforms a person in ways they never thought possible."