The best experience alongside the Worlds Outstanding Delegation in WMUN 2024
It is very difficult to to describe how much Harvard WorldMun 2024 has impacted my trajectory as a Peruvian Universities delegate. If you told me back in July of 2023 that I would be going to Taipei, on the other side of the world, to debate at this conference, I would’ve laughed in your face. But I can assure you that this has been the experience of a lifetime.
On one side, the preparation, despite being tough and demanding, went smoothly for many of us. An aspect I found pretty useful was the fact that the team started to train from the very first moment the lineup was announced. That led to us getting to know each other on an even deeper level. Nevertheless, I will always treasure the karaoke night we had as an integration activity. I think that was the catalyst for the close and horizontal relationship we had, and have, as a team. That includes our faculty advisors because without them we wouldn’t be where we are now.
Going back to the conference itself, I don’t know where to begin. Taipei is a very far location from Lima and, despite having a bit of jetlag during the beginning of my stay, I had the experience of a lifetime. The weather was perfect for going out and exploring the city, which is exactly what we did when we decided to visit Jiufen, an old town an hour away from the city. That helped us to settle in with the local culture, know a bit more about our surroundings and, especially, relax before the conference began.
I debated the topic of nuclear proliferation in Northeast Asia with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) along with my partner Sandro Ratti. In that sense, the sessions were extremely demanding: many delegates, many familiar faces, many big personalities, but very low chances of snatching an individual award. And something I was able to learn from this conference is that you have to be quick on your feet, at any given moment.
But putting the tension aside, I am extremely surprised by the amount of friends I’ve made inside, and outside especially, the committee. From delegates from every single committee, pagers, my assistant directors, staff, and many more. Harvard WorldMun is a conference to establish connections. And that leads me to my next point: the culture. The level of intercultural exchange was way bigger than I’d imagined. It did not just happen during the Global Village, known to be a classic social event, but this happened even during debate and lobbying with your peers.
Overall, having won or not, I am very happy to be the person that I am now because of this conference. If you are reading this, I encourage you to dive into one of the most culturally rich experiences of your life.
