[voodoo]

Hey there!

I am now participating in the first Model United Nations in Iceland. This is really interesting stuff and has given me an amazing glimpse into how the UN works and what the UN actually IS. I am representing Norway, which isn't in the Security Council so I don't have much chance to vote on anything important but I have to get my countries voice and opinion an the matters at hand through talking to the SC delegates and get Norway's POV on their working paper. This is the first day of three and so far so good. This is essentially roleplaying and there are some American students representing France, some Swedish students representing the UK and Iceandic students representing the US etc. There are many students from more than 10 countries participating, from Mexico to Italy. Right now we are debating on the formation of the Iraqi constitution et al regarding Iraq. The student representing Iraq is Norwegian but he's roleplaying very well. So are the US delgates and it is really fun to see them talk like the Bush administration even though the students actually don't agree with that administration at all.

[Lerkfish]

Have fun! When I was a senior in high school, in 1977, we participated in a similar thing in NYC. My high school represented the then Eastern Germany (GDR).
We had the actual GDR representative come meet us...his name was Hans Krueger...very cool. I was the lead delegate but in the Soviet Bloc you pretty much followed russia at the time.
You should really enjoy it, its a great eye-opener!

[thunderous_funker]

Congrats.

Attending high school in germany for 2 years gave me the opportunity to participate in The International MUN at The Hague.

One year we were Bahrain, the other Romania. Both were great opportunities to examine politics from an angle I would normally not have considered as a young patriotic American.

One of my most memorable high school experiences.

The more accurately the delgates roleplay, the more illuminating the experience will be. Always healthy to try and see things from a different perspective.

[voodoo]

Here is a photo of your very own voodoo watching the closing ceremony!



Deligate of Iran sits on my right. In the back row from the left: Delegate of Mexico (from the US); delegate of Pakistan (from Italy); deligate of Japan (from Iceland); Delegate of Russia right behind me (from Iceland) and delegate of France (Norwegian).

[thunderous_funker]

I'm bad with stage directions...is the delicious dish behind you the delegate from Russia or France?

[voodoo]

That would be France

(she was the best speaker of the entire crowd btw - very intelligent!)

[thunderous_funker]

Originally posted by voodoo:
That would be France

(she was the best speaker of the entire crowd btw - very intelligent!)

<sigh>
I suddenly had a Sondheim moment...

[singing with terrible french accent]
It's detente! Oui, detente!
Zat's ze only thing we want!
Just detente! Oooh, detente!
No agreement could be more fair!
Signing pacts, passing acts,
Zere's no time for making warfare
When you're always busy making wiz ze
Mutual detente!
[/singing with terrible french accent]