Tonight, I'm leaving for the Asian International Model United Nations Conference (AIMUN) in Beijing, China!
I'm really looking forward to this trip. The Yale MUN team and I will first travel to Hong Kong to pick up some suits and shirts. Then, we head over to Beijing for the conference itself, which takes place from March 14-17. Afterwards, we'll go sightseeing around China. This trip is especially meaningful to me because, in my 8 years of MUN, I have yet to go to an international conference.
The conference itself should be especially interesting. I'm familiar with different flavors of American-style MUN, and I know a little bit about Latin American and European MUN, but I have heard absolutely nothing about Asian conferences. Given that Peking University is hosting the conference, and its attendees are mostly Asian schools, I have no clue as to what to expect from other delegates.
For me, MUN is competitive, educational, and experiential. From a competitive standpoint, I don't know if my strategies will work, or if awards are even all that important at this conference.
But from an educational perspective, I think I can learn a lot. I'm on the Security Council representing China. I will be debating Chinese policy to Chinese students. This could be intricately interesting or extremely embarrassing.
And from an experiential view, meaning the holistic experience of this trip, I believe this will be a hallmark of, not only my career in MUN, but my journey throughout college. I'll be doing something I love in a place that I've never been with people that I care about. College doesn't get much better than that.
I don't want to drum up this trip too much, lest the reality falls short of my expectations. I've been on international trips before, and many things tend to go wrong. People get sick; days get too long; activities aren't as exciting as one thought; and even the best of friends starting fighting with one another.
But let me just say that I'm really thankful to even have this opportunity. I'm thankful for the Yale International Relations Association, who's sponsoring this trip, and Yale MUN team Head Delegate JT Kennedy, who's organizing it. I'm thankful for Yale, the Macmillan Center, and the residential college masters who graciously agreed to fund part of this trip. I'm thankful for my parents and grandparents, who've supported my MUN endeavors ever since my freshman year of high school, and who continue to support me now.
I'm sorry for getting sentimental, but give me a break--I'm graduating in two months! (God willing)
Anyway, I plan to write updates throughout this trip. Wish me luck!
I'm really looking forward to this trip. The Yale MUN team and I will first travel to Hong Kong to pick up some suits and shirts. Then, we head over to Beijing for the conference itself, which takes place from March 14-17. Afterwards, we'll go sightseeing around China. This trip is especially meaningful to me because, in my 8 years of MUN, I have yet to go to an international conference.The conference itself should be especially interesting. I'm familiar with different flavors of American-style MUN, and I know a little bit about Latin American and European MUN, but I have heard absolutely nothing about Asian conferences. Given that Peking University is hosting the conference, and its attendees are mostly Asian schools, I have no clue as to what to expect from other delegates.
For me, MUN is competitive, educational, and experiential. From a competitive standpoint, I don't know if my strategies will work, or if awards are even all that important at this conference.
But from an educational perspective, I think I can learn a lot. I'm on the Security Council representing China. I will be debating Chinese policy to Chinese students. This could be intricately interesting or extremely embarrassing.
And from an experiential view, meaning the holistic experience of this trip, I believe this will be a hallmark of, not only my career in MUN, but my journey throughout college. I'll be doing something I love in a place that I've never been with people that I care about. College doesn't get much better than that.
I don't want to drum up this trip too much, lest the reality falls short of my expectations. I've been on international trips before, and many things tend to go wrong. People get sick; days get too long; activities aren't as exciting as one thought; and even the best of friends starting fighting with one another.
But let me just say that I'm really thankful to even have this opportunity. I'm thankful for the Yale International Relations Association, who's sponsoring this trip, and Yale MUN team Head Delegate JT Kennedy, who's organizing it. I'm thankful for Yale, the Macmillan Center, and the residential college masters who graciously agreed to fund part of this trip. I'm thankful for my parents and grandparents, who've supported my MUN endeavors ever since my freshman year of high school, and who continue to support me now.
I'm sorry for getting sentimental, but give me a break--I'm graduating in two months! (God willing)
Anyway, I plan to write updates throughout this trip. Wish me luck!
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