Dark Garden

Monday, November 24, 2008

And so THIMUN '08 ended with a less than emphatic bang, or so it did for the admin. With all the clearing up of chairs, tables, projector screens, boards etc. But not being glam didn't mean that it wasn't just as amazing. I thought my admin team was wonderful. Thanks Teck Seng and Daniel! We had so much fun uncovering what hidden treasures lay when cleaning up the APQN room, including apple cores, love letters literally in cut out in a heart-shape and of course, a plethora of water bottles or varying water levels. And we sort of defaced the whiteboard or rather, decorated it to read APQN and on it the last vestiges of our sessions.

Ending pose, bottles and the board

22nd month anniversary...And the note shaped like two 2s that make a heart...Cute

The last day was more relaxed than the previous, considering the fact that the entire committee had more or less perfected the proposal. And we were all just waiting for the Security Council to come in to evaluate the clauses etc and make suggestions/amendments. So APQN was geared up and all when the Security Council came up. And even the admin team (That'd be us) had quite a bit to do setting the room for a sudden doubled amount of people. And of course our water provision service which we take so much pride in haha. So everything was in place, amendment sheets, water bottles, tables and chairs all set neatly awaiting the Security Council's arrival. And they did in a pack of 15!

The admin set this up! In session with the Security Council.

The one in the background is APQN. So they engaged in a heated debate...Yea right. More like the Security Council's passiveness or rather, incompetence was just unexpected and laughable. It was just pathetic that they could barely find any fault with the proposal and those horribly shallow queries of theirs.

Point of contention 1: Erosion and plant degradation due to tourism?
which we easily countered by stating that the necessary measures will be taken to preserve the ecological state of Nepal because after all, the environment is what the tourism is all about isn't it?

Point of contention 2: Cultural erosion?
Err...We threw globalisation being inevitable.

Point of contention 3: Proposal states that laws protecting workers' rights of the formal sector, but not the informal sector?
But too bad they didn't think that those working in the informal sector, mostly in agriculture, would have no maximum working hours or minimum wages. Those are all dependent on their the quality and quantity of their produce.

Point of contention 4: Proposal states that only those below the poverty line in Nepal will have their medical care sponsored so what about those above the poverty line? Like 1 cent above?
Well, we introduced subsidies. That way everyone stands to gain. And then that particular delegate of the Security Council proceeded to recommend providing free healthcare for ALL...And quoted UK as an example...Which is ridiculous given the vast differences in both countries' goverments' financial states and the geographical/socioeconomical factors.

Point of contention 5 & 6: Women should know about contraception and World Bank should be given appreciation in the proposal.
FINE!

See? I learnt from Evil Genius, never take anything at face value but that's exactly what the GREAT Security Council was doing. So when they cleared out, we sliced through their 8 amendments in barely half and hour.

APQN back together

And everyone was free to chat...move around etc, enjoying the last hour or so with the fellow "experts" of APQN. So people went around taking photos etc...

Random shot

Another random shot

The entire APQN!

Deputy President Evan and President Rachel

And some photos of me:

That's Emil, the multi-linguist German, and on the right, Dhruv, the one who passed the first interesting note haha - Enquiry about a girl's name and her grade

Jasmin on the left who was really nice throughout the entire MUN and Radhika on the right who got me to take random photos haha.

I've got more photos on facebook so if you're in love with APQN too, by all means go take a look! I had fun in the MUN process, got appointed "Admin who did not sleep" muhahaha. Showing them the alternative route to the canteen - Past the bushes near Block C, down the stairs, and cutting down the slope towards the canteen. Listening in on discussions, which was very enriching really. I couldn't sleep on the last day because I was too amused and busy keeping up with the Security Council's scrutiny of the APQN proposal. Mmm, that's why a copy of the proposal should be provided for all admin staff. I understand Nepal so much better now haha and got to know the useful NGOs like UNHCR...UNHCHR...UNICEF...IMF...UNMIN...Huma Rights Watch etc. And it was hilarious why they couldn't just pronounce Medecins sans frontier the French way though. Oh wells, I loved the constant American accent though. And the occasional touch of German. Chatting with Ephraim and Joel...Discussing all our delegates and stuff...Bradley too with his literal "Thundergod's wrath" haha. And Kevin! We enjoyed blasting the failed human rights homosexual resolution. Of course Kevin and Bradley brightened things up. Together with him I guess, dance was super fun! I can't emphasize more that it was the best night out I've ever had with friends dancing! Wait...It's the only night out that I've danced with friends...Oh heck it was really enjoyable! I'm joining THIMUN next year! Not as an admin! I want to participate as a delegate! Or expert in APQN! Ending off with photos.

Bottles! We provide water! For all! Only in APQN!

It's Ephraim but taking photos when at least 5 people are squished against you isn't easy...With Jonathan and Kenneth in the background

Guess he did have fun...

XUEZHENG! ZOMG! What politically-correct message are you sending!? And Joel seems pretty happy while Junxiang tries to laser-eyes him into nothing...

Page one of our proposal with my notes

Things that bored admin staff do: Try to recreate and incorporate periodic tables into proposals. Unfortunately...my periodic table knowledge was getting rusty...

Poor poor ephraim...Front and back...Double-sided assaults. Yup, that's Ling Feng and Bradley. Sexual obsession is contagious...Of course, Ivy is immune to that, along with all poisons and diseases etc.

Frontal assault by Bradley...And well, no surprise he's enjoying it. I mean Bradley of course.

Last memories...

Dark Memories[11:12 PM]

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