SANMUN

First of all, Lauren Colby, if you see this, please leave a comment on my blog containing your contact information. I can’t seem to get ahold of you any way shape or form….and I have been trying to for the last month!!!!!!
This past week, a teacher from school heard me speaking English to another teacher who gives me Norwegian lessons every Tuesday. He informed me that he had a group of kids that would be attending a debate that weekend at another school and asked if I wouldn’t mind joining since he felt that his students had a slight disadvantage not knowing enough English as compared to the other students who would be going who recognize English as their first language and attend IB schools. Completely excited that I would be involved in an extra curricular activity, I a said yes…without quite thinking my answer completely through. Come to find out, this debate he spoke of was a world wide debate called SANMUN (Skagerak and Nesbru Model United Nations) in a town called Sandefjord, a couple of hours from home. (Oh…before all of this, I had attended ONE debate on Thursday to prepare me for SANMUN. We went to another school about half an hour from here.) For these debates there are four committees: 1. Disarm. Int. Sec, 2. Financial and Economical, 3. Social, Humanitarian and Cultural, and 4. Environmental comm (mineJ) There are delegates which represent a country and debate the issues presented according to their countries stance on the matter. I had found out that I would be representing Germany about an hour before we were to leave for the opposing school. So, while some delegates have had months to research their country and topics at hand, I was left two days. Saturday morning I woke up early to be at the bus stop by 6:45 a.m. Vilde (pictured below) lives on the same street as me, so we waiting for Kristian (the teacher) together. We picked up the others along the way. When we arrived I was clueless as to what was going on. We registered ourselves as present and entered into the General Assembly Hall which you can see in the first picture below. After the opening speeches, which I am giving in the third picture, the Chair split the delegates into their committees and separated us all into different rooms. It was in these rooms, with one delegate representing each country, that we were presented with our topics 1. Overfishing and 2. Biodiversity. All delegates were to work together with our allied countries to come up with resolutions to the problems. First, the issue of Overfishing was discussed. After around three resolutions were submitted to the Panel, the debates began. The Environmental Committee then voted on one of the resolutions to pass onto the General Assembly (GA) where all committees would be able to question and debate the operative clauses agreed upon. The GA would only be in session on Sunday afternoon however, so that left the remainder of the day to discuses Biodiversity and to come up with resolutions for that topic. I made the mistake of actually proposing many well thought off operative clauses that the delegates nominated Germany to be the Main Submitter of the resolution. Although I should have been jumping for joy that Germany would be submitting a resolution that could very well prevent the destruction of natural habitats in order to protect biodiversity….the delegate of Germany was shaking in her shoes as she walked to lunch. Argh, speaking in front of crowds is completely fin with me, but the fact that I would have to answer questions about our resolution completely unprepared and impromptu, scared the crap out of me. Myself, along with my co-submitters, sent our resolution into the Panel to be approved…shortly after lunch. After a few more debates on Overfishing, we were dismissed to our hotels, to prepare for the GA the next day. Keeping in mind that the GA is every delegate (4) from each country in the United Nations ( 192....so do the math) you will recognize the anxiety and nervousness I would have been going through. It was hard to know what to pray for….1. That the resolution passes and I speak in front of the GA and answer completely unknown questions possibly leading to a real solution to the problem at hand or 2. The resolution fails, therefore leaving me in the GA’s audience to simply question the main submitter on their resolution, which was accepted to appear in the GA, and hope that their resolution was truly better than the one submitted by Germany. Ha, it was tough. Back at the hotel that night (after the dinner and dance)I skyped my sister, who happened to be on the phone with Vincent, one of my brothers friends back home. This was a fantastic, for many of the points brought up in the original resolution submitted by Germany came from comments made by Vincent earlier Friday evening. I completed the speech I was to give so other countries would vote in favor of the resolution. After my roommate, a fellow delegate to Germany, arrived and talked for a bit, I was tucked into bed around 1ish. Sunday morning, I woke up at 6, got ready, went downstairs to get some breakfast (which was quite delicious I might add) and then head on out to the bus which took us over to the debates around 8. This was my big day. After speaking with Germanys co- submitters, I was walked over to a different building to speak with the Judging Panel to see if my resolution passed. YUP! Ahhhh. Back with our committee again, the debate began. I took the floor, read off the operative clauses, and the speech I had prepared. Right away, Italy was recognized to a Point of Information. As a co-submitter of this resolution, my shaking was at ease.....for a bit, until the U.S.A. was recognized for a Point of Information. The shaking commenced. Ha. He did not like Germanys answer to the question of operative clause 3 which reads, “Suggests that all member nations limit forestry by the use of quotas.” Once I had taken my seat and yielded the floor to the IUCN, a note passing debate began between the delegate of the U.S.A. and myself. Ha. This was quite interesting, and am a little confused as to why some of our comments were not screened by the admin staff, as was earlier warned. Although some comments made the hair on the back of my neck stand, I think it is safe to say that we both had fun…all in all. Well, now it was time for GA. All committees were re-united and the final four debates (one representing an issue discussed by each committee) began. I still have the resolutions for the topics discussed: 1. Measures to reduce the damage caused to civilians by cluster munitions, 2. Measures to Equalize the Uneven Trade between LEDC’s by MEDC’s, 3. Measures to prevent human trafficking an the sex trade through global cooperation, and 4. Measures to prevent overfishing. If you would like any of them, just send me an e-mail or post a comments saying so. Anyway, the GA was closed, and SANMUN 2009 adjourned (after a nomination to impeach the chair...ha). I was so nervous the whole time, never knowing what to expect next, but hindsight is 20\20, and I really enjoyed myself. If there was ever the opportunity to do it again, I would take it in a heartbeat. I even went to a Chair workshop while I was there, and really found it quite appealing. :) We will see what happens. Anyway, enjoy the pictures. Some may seem unecesary to post, however, this makes it funnier for those who know them personaly. :)

Alrighty, this picture was mentioned in the ginormous book I wrote above. You can see the podieum there to the right, and all of the empty chairs which were once filled by the GA. Keep in mind while looking at this picture, that the camera is not completely on the left side of the room. :) OH, and this is Kristian's (the teacher) daughter, Lilie Alice, who was a chair in a differnt commission than my own. Not so sure which one.

This would be Fredrikke Woxmyhr (representative of the Financial and Economical committie for Germany) and myself (Ambassador to Germany as well as the representative of the Environmental Comm). We are preparing my opening speach to the GA which will be given in a few minutes. Behind us, you will see the delegates representing Idia. However, two of these individuals are from Sweden, one from China, and one from India itself.

There are 192 Member States of the United Nations (UN) and many of the delegates representing these countries flew, drove, or boated to Norway to participate in this debate concerning eight very disputed topics. From this picture you are able to see me as the Amassador to Germany, giving the welcoming speach. I also still have that with me, if you wanted a copy. On the floor with me you can see the Ambasador to Iceland to my right, A to India to my immediate left, A to Indonesia next, and followed by the Ambassador to Iran at my far left. Five countries were recognized to take the floor at one time, give their speaches and then sit again, before the GA was split into committions. Below, you will see me returning to my seat, followed by the A to India, and the A to Iran.

Once the day was over and we returned to the hotel, my name were on the T.V., so I took a picture of it. Appariently, the Hotel is able to know our names and enter them into a system to be placed on the t.v. Neat? Heck yeah!

All the girls getting ready for the dinner and dance that evening (No, I am not in it..hehe, I don't like to dress up....but yes, I did anyway.) This is Hanne Marie in the black (delegat of Japan involved in the Financial and Economical commission), Fredrikke Woxmyhr (fellow delegate of Germany involved in the Financial and Economical commission as well), and in the pink we have Marie Hoff (delegate of Saudi-Arabia involved in Social, Hunamitarian and Cultural commission).

The dinner! You already know all on the left hand side except for Martin Thrane, who is in the back there and is the delegate to Japan involved in Disarm. Int. Sec along with Vilde Heggum seated directly accross from him. She also was a delegate to Japan, however she was involved in Social, Humanitarian and Cultural commission. To the left of Vilde, we have Mohammed al-Hayek who was a delegate of Saudi- Arabia involved in Disarm. Int. Sec. To his left, were two guests from another school. Come to find out, the young lady in white, attends the same school as Lucas (an exchange student and fellow friend here in Norway, from South Dakotah living only minutes from where Lucas, my brother, lives in North Dakotah) The lady to the left of her is half Indian, however, is representing Peru. You can not tell from the picture, but she is a vegatarian. (How is that for details Katie?...hehe)

This is Malin!!!! She was my roommate and arived Saturnday evening on the train at around midnight. She was also a delegate of Germany involved in teh commission of Sosial, Humanitarian and Cultural. She wasn't in any of our other pictures before, because she had arrived late. :( So now, the following pictures are of each individual delegate which comes from Røyken Vidregående. Well, Malin above and....

Mohammed al-Hayek

Vilde Heggum

Martin Thrane

Sorry Marie...( ha, but kinda a funny creepy picture...and the only one I had of just you..hehe) But yes, this is Marie Hoff in her greatest moment. :)

Hanne Marie Morberg (søt!)

....and last but not least, Fredrikke Woxkmyhr with her normal everyday face. hehe.

A more serious picture of the two...Fredrikke og Hanne Marie

The most amaizing desert of all time. An ice creem ball! Very creamy, very delicious, and very amaizing. I may have taken more than my fair share.

Marie og Vilde

Cute little outfits of the girls...hehe...Marie is still in there dancing.

So, this is the Ambasador of Iran. He is Canadia, and I think it's safe to say that he was the only one wearing a bowtie...ha. I had to take a picture.

Pimp.

BAHAHAHAHAH!!!!! Martin.....how do I subtitle this one? hehe Were you having fun? Ha!

Nice group picture......

Crazy group picture.

Hanne Marie, Lily Alice, and me. For some reason....overly excited

Hei!

This is what immature children do when their not being supervised....they try on random items they see at a gas station, display them, and take pictures...hehe...(in the moment, this was halarious...especially turning around and seeing Martin wearing a pink hat wayyyyy to small, girly, and Eastery for him.) Why there is toilet paper involved in the picture I am not so sure...ha. Just makes it all the funnier.

Drunk off Jul Brus

Ha, I uploaded the wrong picture. Martin, it was supposed to be that one of Vilde that is rediculous. Ha, but since it took forever to download all these pictures, its staying up for now, and I will just post it next time or something...ha, opps, sorry.

Apperiently we were taking a serious picture?...ha. I didnt get the message. Anyway, the three German delegates displaying their certificate for a debate well done! And just a reminder Fredrikke, the German flag consists of three colors, black, read, and yellow...hehe.

The view of the Chair from the seat of the Ambasidor of Germany.

Well, after a significantly long, blog post, I would like to thank you all for putting up with my rediculous spelling, jokes, and details that were requested by many...*cough* Katie. I finnally leave you with the last picture of the blog....a picture showing all the delegates which traveled to Sandefjord from Røyken! Ha det bra....and Tusen tacos (Italy)...hehe