Travel and learn abroad by joining Model United Nations
To close out the 2008 spring semester I thought I’d give you something to look forward to: spring semester 2009.
Now I’m well aware that with summer vacation looming ahead you hardly have the patience for finals, let alone planning two semesters in advance, but I can assure you that one thing makes it worth the wait: Model United Nations (MUN).
No, no, don’t laugh.
How can a “model” of an already unpopular institution be worth laying down some of your quality class-skipping, beer-drinking time? Oh, but it is, my friends.
First of all, every spring semester the MUN class becomes a haven for all students who love international politics, debate and, basically, free trips to conferences in fun-filled and exotic locales such as Cairo, Egypt and San Francisco. Of course, there is real work involved, too, but I like to think that this “work” thing, when connected to MUN, isn’t so bad and may in fact be highly beneficial to people in a wide variety of majors.
For obvious reasons, international affairs and political science majors benefit from MUN because it’s the best way to put into practice those long, tedious hours of class, lectures, readings, and daunting 20-page essays.
Not only that, but the people attending these conferences are undoubtedly the future of the international scene. I know I’ve rubbed shoulders with the future heads of state, ambassadors and potential “real-life” UN representatives on many nights at the hotel bar after our meetings have ended.
As far as the more serious business or marketing majors are concerned, the whole MUN system is an exercise in bargaining, coercing and compromising to get what you and “your” respective country wants. And, to add to the excitement, next year’s MUN San Francisco Conference will feature a simulation of the World Trade Organization. What better way to warm up to your future career as head of a major international corporation?
Finally, for the rest of you education majors, engineering majors, mathematics majors and so on, MUN is just plain F.U.N. Yes, the meetings and conferences are political, but the people you’ll meet are phenomenal, the places you’ll visit are fantastic and the topics to be discussed cover a broad yet appealing spectrum that are fascinating to many.
How about a little exposure to the UN’s environmental policy thorough United Nations Environment Programme for those “earthy” types? Or for all you adrenaline junkies, how about an intense ride through a crisis simulation of North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Security Council? Wow, what a rush.
What better way to add a little excitement and variety to your college education than by pretending to be part of another country, culture or conference committee? Besides, what other class will ask you to spend time in Cairo and San Francisco and simply talk to other people for a grade? I know I’ve never had it so good.
Here’s lookin’ at you, spring semester: May 2009 be as fun-filled as 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005.
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May 7th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
MUN is defenitely awesome! Everyone should go in the spring, you won’t regret it.