Self-introduction
Introduction
Hello everyone. I’m Daisuke Sonoda.
I’ve been working as a web developer in Tokyo for about 14 years.
I joined this online salon to get some inspiration, because I couldn’t go out to meet people anymore under the influence of COVID-19.
Let me introduce myself briefly.
Body
Engineer career
First, I would like to talk about my career path up to this point.
After graduating from college and subsequently backpacking for 2 years, I studied web development at Linux Academy for about 6 months.
Then, I got a job at a medium-sized web system order development company in Tokyo and worked there for about 10 years.
In mid-2017, when machine learning was trending, I start to learn Python. Then, I worked on a few small projects as a side business while staying with the company. I eventually became independent as a freelancer. And I worked at a small start-up in the field of machine learning for 2 years, with the application of Django and AWS.
Current occupation
I mainly use Python, Django, RESTfull framework, and AWS for my work.
After finishing up the last project I was engaged in, I’m taking a break now. I already have a next project scheduled, but it is still some time away. So I’m studying about infrastructure construction, taking advantage of the time I can use for myself.
Why I became an engineer and what I want to aim for in language learning
My dream is to travel around the world like a nomad and to find a place to live wherever I go.
I think the most realistic way to realize my dream is to work remotely as a software engineer from anywhere in the world.
Hobbies
Travel, more than anything.
Last year I went to Okinawa and stayed there for a week working remotely.
I’ve been planning to go to Europe next. But because of the COVID-19 crisis, I haven’t been able to do that yet.
I also enjoy going through photo books of interesting landscapes.
My favorite photo books are of the Wonderland’s Heritage seriese by kenji Sato.
It is so exciting to see the strange landscapes in his photos.
And, I like to tinker with Raspberry Pi time to time to make small programs.
Programs can be written in Python on Raspberry Pi.
Actually, I would like to build a robot one day.
Overseas experience
Not as much as I would like.
I went to Thailand, Guam and Los Angels when I was a university student.
And when I was backpacking, I visited Mexico. I also had a chance to visit Sri Lanka when I was a company employee.
Reasons for participating in the exchange meeting
I want to increase the chance of learning English and my learning companions.
Are you interested in working abroad?
Eventually, yes.
If I find a good place during my travel, I would like to work there for about a year.
What country or region would you work abroad in?
I’ve never been to Europe and I’m interested in it.
Want to work in an overseas project in Japan?
I want to try it someday.
Since the influence of COVID-19 is promoting remote work all over the world.
I think there is an opportunity.
Usual English input
I’ve been learning English through an English instruction provider called YouWorld.
And I basically try to read my work-related documents in English.
Usual English output
I occasionally post simple English articles on Medium.
What format would you like to have next time if you hold an exchange party in this club activity?
I would like to see participants can choose a theme from a list, write down their own thoughts in English and give presentations on it.
It would be nice to discuss it among the participants afterward.
What I want to ask people with long overseas experience
- When considering learning efficiency, is it best to study abroad?
- I think it must have been extremely difficult when you first worked abroad, but how did you overcome it?
- If I want to find a job as an engineer abroad, do I need a computer science degree?
Conclusion for the future
I’m now struggling to keep my career on track just like everyone else.
In the meantime, I am doing my best to improve my English skill for my future. And ty the time the COVID-19 problem subsides, hopefully, I am ready to use my English to further my career.
