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India Internship Week 1: Arrival and Onboarding
My overseas internship at Sasken Technologies in Bengaluru, India has finally begun. Eight students from Ritsumeikan University are participating, and I have been assigned to the AI/ML development team for automotive Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS). In this blog, I will look back on the four-week internship, with each week running from Monday to Sunday.
Sasken Technologies is a "product engineering company" that supports products in a wide range of fields including telecommunications equipment, semiconductors, automobiles, and industrial equipment. With locations both inside and outside of India, they support corporate product development from both hardware and software perspectives, ranging from embedded software to cloud, data analysis, and AI. The office is equipped with RF/antenna labs, acoustic labs, and verification facilities for semiconductors, giving the impression of a "workplace where research and practice are seamlessly connected."
The track we participated in this time deals with AI/ML for automobiles, specifically a project themed around Driver Drowsiness Detection / Driver Monitoring System, which detects driver sleepiness, inattentiveness, and head orientation. I am now involved in part of a system provided to global automakers, and I started with a sense of gravity, realizing that "the code I write might directly contribute to someone's safety in the future."
Mon–Wed: Final Preparations Before Departure
The first week of the internship started while I was still in Japan. From Monday to Wednesday, I proceeded with final preparations for travel and living while reviewing the content learned in pre-lecture courses at the university. In addition to checking visas and insurance, I read through Sasken's preliminary materials to familiarize myself with the corporate philosophy, the products they handle, and an overview of the AI/ML track I would be assigned to.
The explanation regarding the corporate culture, represented by "Sasken Values," was particularly memorable. The materials conveyed an attitude that emphasizes not only technical capabilities but also psychological safety and diversity, heightening my expectations of what kind of people I would be working with.
Thu–Fri: From Itami to Bengaluru (Travel via JAL) and Induction Training
I departed Japan on Thursday, traveling from Itami Airport to Narita Airport on a domestic flight, then connecting to a Japan Airlines (JAL) international flight to Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. Since it was my first long-haul flight, I felt a mix of nervousness and excitement even before takeoff. However, listening to the English announcements and the conversations of foreign passengers on board, the realization gradually dawned on me: "I'll be living in an environment where Japanese isn't spoken for a while."
It was late at night when I arrived at Kempegowda International Airport, but the moment I finished immigration and baggage claim and stepped outside, the warm, humid air and the constant din of honking horns made a strong impression. Once all eight members from the university successfully gathered and headed to the accommodation by shuttle bus, seeing the atmosphere of the city and the text on the signs made it truly sink in: "I've really come to India."
Friday was the first day of the internship, and I participated in induction training all day. In the morning, guided by the HR representative, I completed various procedures related to joining the company, followed by a session called "Sasken Overview," where I received a detailed explanation of the company's history, business activities, and Sasken Values. In the subsequent information security training, I learned the rules to be followed in practice, from handling confidential information to managing development PCs and access rights, with specific examples.
After lunch, there was an HR session on harassment prevention and a campus walk. I was shown around the office environment, which is designed for engineers' ease of work, including the cafeteria, gym, and relaxation spaces. Finally, I set up a QR code payment app commonly used in India.
In the latter half of the afternoon, I met the technical leads who will be working with us on development during this internship, and I received an explanation regarding the overall policy of the AI/ML track and the rough schedule for the next four weeks. Afterward, I was shown to my desk and performed the environment setup to start full-scale development next week, including initial setup of the development PC, account registration, and connecting to the internal Wi-Fi.
Sat–Sun: Settling Into the New Living Environment
Although there was no work on Saturday and Sunday, it was an important time to get used to the new living environment. The eight members took a walk around the neighborhood of the accommodation together, checking the locations of nearby supermarkets, shopping malls, and currency exchange offices, and buying daily necessities and drinking water.
While I had a strong image of curry when it came to India, there was actually a wider variety of dishes than I had imagined, such as biryani, dosa, and tandoori chicken. Every dish used plenty of spices, and I was surprised not just by the heat but also by the depth of the aroma. On the other hand, I was reminded of the need to be careful with water and raw foods, so I made sure to carry mineral water at all times.
As for transportation, I immediately experienced the "auto-rickshaw," a local staple. At first, I was overwhelmed by the speed and the frequent honking, but through English interactions with the drivers, I gradually became accustomed to the local traffic conditions and the sense of distance.
Weekly Summary
Week 1 (from departure to the first week of the internship) can be described as a "week for setting up the environment" rather than producing technical output. By understanding Sasken's culture and rules and establishing a base for my new workplace and daily life, I felt like I had finally reached the starting line.
On the other hand, I regret that I didn't ask many questions during the Q&A session of the induction training and remained passive throughout. Starting next week, I will be fully involved in the practical work of the AI/ML track, so I want to be conscious of asking questions proactively and taking the initiative to learn.
Weekly Snapshots (Photos)
Right before departing Japan
The hotel room where I stayed for a month
The super spicy biryani I ate at the shopping mall food court
Commemorative photo with the 8 members in front of the Sasken office
A lunch box from a 3-star hotel provided by Sasken
Discussion