Model United Nations (MUN) is when students model the real United Nations by debating in committees, representing a country, and try to find a solution to real world problems. For however long the conference is, they act as real delegates and work to compromise, while keeping true to their country's beliefs and policies. I was representing Lithuania at this conference while debating the independence of Kosovo and Palestine.
I got the chance to attend the conference because I participate in after school politics club, who is this year focusing on the subject of illegal immigration in Europe. However, there is not the chance to go to a conference every year, as it depends on the students, standardized testing dates and the feasibility of the trip. This conference was especially unique because it was bilingual- French and English. It meant that knowing both languages gave us a huge advantage in understanding what was going on at any given moment, seeing as the other students spoke in either of the two languages.
The conference lasted three days. The first day included an opening ceremony, the same at all conferences, but this one had the unique factor that it was inside the actual United Nations headquarters in Geneva. As I put in the caption under the first picture, we were in the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room, a hall that is really used for UN debates. We sat in the real chairs of the delegates and listened to simultaneous translations of the conference in either French or English. Throughout the ceremony tour groups were observing us, appearing for a few minutes at a time on the glass enclosed hall above the room. It really made one feel like an important delegate, especially when they took pictures.
Not all of our time was spent working, although it was the majority. There was also a delegate dance. Those who know me can correctly assume that I did not dance much. In fact, I danced once, but had a good time talking with some British students and watching the crowd surfers and teachers who joined in the fun. We also walked around Geneva at night, seeing a little bit of the city and spent a total of twelve hours together in the train there and back, which left plenty of time for sleeping, reading and watching the Princess Bride. Oh, and homework. I did that too.
Considering the violence that shocked the country almost two weeks ago, it was fitting that instead of violence, 500 students worked together peacefully by using our voices and speeches to find solutions to real problems.