Meet your fellow MUNers!
As seen from the wonderful photoblog “Humans of New York” by Brandon Stanton, we present to you, Humans of LIMUN, from the Press team.
The last two years have seen circumstances that can only be described as unforeseeable. The COVID-19 pandemic effectively turned the world on its head, transforming the lives of everyone in every country. Gone were the comforts of regular social interactions as shaking hands and hugging were deemed things of the past. Instead, masks, shoulder bumps and online meetings were the effective ‘new normal’.
Despite the challenges placed on our shoulders by the virus, the resilience shown by certain individuals shed light on the characteristics of the human spirit and the importance of positivity during times where there can otherwise be a shortage of hope. One such feat of resilience is the success of the 2021 online LIMUN conference. For the first time in its history, LIMUN could not be held in person and yet, delegates and chairs alike were still treated to an extraordinary experience. In fact, Georgia Saunders, representing Latvia in NATO, took part in last year's online LIMUN and affirmed that "they did a really good job last year" and that "everyone got to know each other online".
Nevertheless, we are back in person for the 23rd annual LIMUN conference this year. Delegates and chairs crowded the halls of Central Hall, Westminster and were pleased with the opportunity to be in London and share the space with some familiar and some unfamiliar faces.
Gariyasi Gary, a crisis backroomer, commented on how much she liked the Central Hall when asked about what she finds most exciting about being back in person. The building itself serves as an important reminder of what was missed online — the ability to go to places you've never been to before and see sights you would otherwise not see. Adam Vjačka from crisis also stated that online conferences could get "quite chaotic", especially when it comes to joint document writing, and he's therefore excited to collaborate face-to-face. Furthermore, the delegate representing Brazil in the Security Council stated that she thinks [an in-person conference] will be different from an online conference because you won't have the technical issues".
Technology has revolutionised the way we communicate going forward. We are presented with software systems such as Zoom and MS Teams, which allow for online meetings and other interactions. Unfortunately, these, more often than not, do not go to plan in the way we hope. As a result, the last two years have been filled with awkward moments, whether unmuting yourself accidentally, embarrassing backgrounds or unwanted interruptions. When asked about a funny online experience, Maxime Bonhomme described when his friend joined an online class pretending to be another student!
The return to in-person sessions makes this year's sessions exceedingly thrilling as everyone looks forward to the start of an unforgettable three-day affair. When asked what three adjectives delegates and chairs would use to describe how they feel about this year's conference, the most recurring answers were nervous, fun and excited — a healthy mixture that indicates just how much LIMUN 2022 means to everyone involved. The mood going into this conference is undoubtedly high, with everyone fresh-faced and grinning, ready to find solutions to contemporary challenges and do it all in person
