This was my first time participating in MUN.

I worked specifically for Women's participation and leadership in Disaster Risk Management. Honestly, I didn't find this topic very interesting at the beginning. I thought I should be talking about "bigger issues" like war, violence, conflict etc. As I researched about the impact of disaster in lives of women, it felt more real and serious, something that needs urgent attention. Disaster can ruin lives to an extent that is irreparable, but why does it impact women so deeply and what hinders their recovery? These are the questions about which I spent a lot of time thinking and searching. But the goal wasn't just to understand what is happening but also to think of policies that may change the situation. Again I found myself questioning the point of this. How does stating something like "Oh member states should donate to Women Led Organisations!", help anything. But I had to think of policies for my position paper nevertheless. Once again, I spent time thinking and researching about appropriate policies, AND to my suprise I realised how difficult coming up with an actually good policy is. You need to have a vision of how should a problem be tackled. And these issues are so complicated that have so many aspects affecting them. It felt like a checkmate. I did come up with my policies but I don't think I did a great job at that. They felt too general and shallow, but I guess we learn from experience. Anyways I digress.

After all the preparation of writing position paper, practicing my speech, buying a suit, and learning how to tie a tie, we arrived in Kobe.

It was a set of super intense three days. I met soo many people. It was a test of my already terrible time management skills as I had other class's homework.

We worked alongside other nations delegates to decide policies. It got tense sometimes. But eventually we got through it. When we were making amendments on working papers I realised that I am better at finding flaws in policies than with coming up with new ones. I would say this was my favourite of the informal discussion meeting. I also want to mention that I was deeply moved by the talk given on the first day, opening ceremony by a guest who is a member of the United Nations. Her words were honest and real. She gave insight about existence of corruption within the United Nations and how she ensures that whatever is right must happen in an environment that might offer resistance to it.

That's all, thank you for reading.