By: Tomas Brito

The first day of SAMUN was filled with excitement and expectation. To get the thoughts and comments of SAMUNers on this first day, I met with them in CIC hallways and corridors. Some want to meet new people, some just want to get their resolution passed, and some only care about having fun. These are some of the comments made by SAMUNers when asked “What do you think about the first day of SAMUN?”

Maria C., who is part of the committee of Humans Rights, answered very cleverly, “The first day is so exiting, everybody is very nervous and in a hurry.”  She confessed, “I lost my opening speech three times.”

Danny C. from Maracaibo, Venezuela, said, “It was easier than I thought.” Danny’s goal is to follow the process and get his resolution passed.

Gisela C. from Caracas, Venezuela, pointed out that this Model of the United Nations (MUN) is different from others that she has attended. She told us, “This SAMUN has different dynamics and different rules than other MUN that I went to.”

Jean C. B. is from Germany. This is his third year in SAMUN, and he informs us that this is the smallest SAMUN he has ever attended. He noticed that there is a lot of pressure on everyone, but he is glad that each person is well-prepared and wants to cooperate with each other. He likes to direct people and that is why he joined as a co-chair in this SAMUN.

Pankaj C. from Curaçao is seventeen years old. This is also his third time in SAMUN. He thinks it is great. He likes to debate and to try to solve world-wide problems. Pankaj thinks that it’s really cool to try to come up with solutions at a very young age. He likes being a judge. He thinks that SAMUN is a positive experience and that it is a good preparation for college.

Ms. Jeffers, a Director of SAMUN, said “This is the most successful first day of SAMUN ever.” I asked her, “How do you react to the fact that some people think this is the smallest SAMUN?” She replied, “This year we have added a new Peacebuilding commission in keeping with reforms in the real U.N., there are more schools from outside of Caracas attending, and we have more ambassadors and representatives attending the round table session, all of this has made SAMUN, well rounded and gives the students a richer experience. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next stages of lobbying, merging and debating and how SAMUN continues to develop this year.”

These are some of the comments from SAMUNers on Day One. If you want to express your point of view in tomorrow’s article, you should talk to me Tomas Brito.

Also remember to take a look at an article called ‘Corridor Gossip,’ tomorrow (November 11) where you will find the funniest, weirdest, and most interesting things about SAMUN XVIII and its SAMUNers.