Success @ AMUN

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a morning person-I prefer to sleep in late because I stay up late. Anything that happens before 12pm is not for me. But at the AMUN conference I found myself looking forward to being in my seat at 8:30am for roll call and for some extra caucusing oppurtunities. I met amazing people from amazing places, shopped the 'Magnificent Mile', conquered Chicago and changed the world all in the course of four days. I couldn't have asked for a more fulfilling experience.

Chicago is a BEAUTIFUL city with so much culture. The skyline is gorgeous and it earned the name 'Windy City' as we almost got blown away on more than a few occasions. It's the city I most compare to home (Boston). In the beginning I was a little intimidated by more experienced representatives at our conference but I quickly used my inexperience as a motivation tool. I met with other delegates in the late night caucus areas, often until three and four in the morning, to compare country history and devise a plan on how we could get other countries to advocate for our cause. The simulation felt so real! When people would call out 'Italy', I'd respond. When I formed sentences they started with 'Italy' instead of 'I' and when I made decisions I didn't make them as an American but as an Italian. It was interesting to have to step outside myself and look at issues from a different perspective. I was on the 4th Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) and our primary focuses were Mine Action and the Isreali-Palestinian conflict. All my hard work paid off when my resolution on the conflict was passed with general consensus. The feeling of pride I felt when everyone applauded was unparrelled by any other success I've had this semester. It was a great end to a great trip.