THIMUN 2018, 50th Year at The Hague

With suitcases brimming with high heels and suits, and backpacks filled with resolutions, 21 of us reached the airport on 26th January, 2018 to embark on our journey to The Hague, Netherlands. After months of preparation, practice sessions, stress, and excitement, we boarded the plane, eager to take the floor at THIMUN and prove ourselves. However, we barely had the time to catch a breath of the cold Amsterdam air before we were floored by Holland’s unique and mesmerizing beauty. With our eyes glued to the windows of the bus, we travelled to our hotel in Den Haag, marveling at the petite yet grandiose windmills, the elegant and bare winter trees, the power that resonated from the Peace Palace, home of the ICJ, and the blanket of tranquility that seemed to lay over the country. Dropping our luggage in the hotel, we rushed out to soak in some more of Netherlands from its winding canals, the streets near our hotel, and the awe-inspiring Mesdag museum with its panorama painting that left us speechless. We visited the town of Delft and clicked hundreds of pictures of its impressive architecture, and were then delighted to visit Madurodam, a park with miniature versions of all of Holland’s best architecture. Over the week, we even got the chance to visit M.C. Escher’s museum of his transfixing work with optical illusions, and witness a heavenly sunset from Schvenigen’s freezing yet pristine seaside. Our evenings were those of good food and great company, always ending with sessions of collaborative work in the hotel, where our delegation truly came together as a team to better each other’s clauses and resolutions and ensure that each of us had the opportunity to excel to the best of our abilities in the conference.

Although Netherlands itself was a thing of wonder, it was our experience during the THIMUN conference that truly blew us away. The conference had around three thousand delegates from a hundred and eighty-six schools representing two hundred organizations or countries – to say we were amazed and exhilarated by this very prospect would be an understatement. There were people from every corner of the world, from Afghanistan to Brazil, from Sudan to Germany, from Malaysia to Tanzania. The sheer diversity of this conference served to remind each of us that the opportunity to learn from this amalgamation of cultures was truly a once in a lifetime chance. This did not, however, serve to intimidate us even once. If anything, it only pushed us to work harder, to be recognized, to be constructive, to listen, and to try our best to perfect the art of diplomacy. In every committee that we were in, we submitted resolutions and amendments, spoke eloquently, and listened eagerly, all while ensuring that we would make some lasting friendships with people from the other side of the world. Yes, THIMUN doesn’t give out awards, but it was the fact that we worked this hard despite that, and had our chairs coming up to us at the end of the conference to commend us, that gave us more joy and pride than any award ever could. The first advocacy from our school at the ICJ this successfully presented their case, and our Ambassador of Germany made us all extremely proud while waving the German flag during the ceremonies. The members of press from our school were integral and valued parts of the Munity team, pushing out excellent articles and beautifully designed newspapers. Our delegation of Paraguay at THIMUN’s first Historic Security Council truly made a mark, and every delegate from our school ensured that they made their own impressive contributions to their committees. It was an exhilarating, satisfying, eye-opening and amazing experience that we each loved every part of. From every morning of dressing up in our formals to every evening of returning with a sense of happiness and achievement, there was not a single moment that we weren’t keen and excited. And of course, for this, and for the perfect experience that we were having, we had Miss Sen and Mr. Roy to thank, for dealing with our multiple queries and continuously offering guidance. As the conference came to a close, every one of us felt reluctance and nostalgia, unable to believe that such a wonderful journey had to come to an end that we wouldn’t have to wake up the next morning to wear our suits and ties, but rather our t-shirts and jeans. Our trip to THIMUN 2018 was an experience apart from any other we have ever had, and not one of us would hesitate, if we had the chance, to turn back time, and do it all again.