International Profile at Model United

Four days in Denmark and gaining knowledge as if an entire school year had passed.

The Internationality profile (S2, S4) of Gymnasium Rahlstedt followed last week's invitation from Gymnasium Nyborg (Denmark) and represented Germany, Brazil, and Russia at the Model United Nations (MUN) conference hosted by Nyborg Gymnasium.

The journey there was characterized by anticipation, but also a hint of nervousness, which only showed how much this mattered to us. We knew that a demanding time lay ahead. After a pleasant trip, without delays, we made it to the opening ceremony. There, among others, a former Danish ambassador waited for us with a guest lecture, sharing his expert knowledge. This was followed by the ambassadors' speeches from the participating delegations. The speech by the ambassador of the Russian Federation sparked a heated debate with the Ukrainian ambassador. This exchange set the tone for the conference and made clear how realistic MUN is.

The following days were exhausting for us all but also enriching, which fits our profile motto "Work hard, play hard," although the "work" part this time predominated. In the various committees, different political issues were addressed, and the delegates worked together on solutions. This conference also featured the International Court of Justice as an institution, with Ukraine as the plaintiff and Russia as the accused in the case of alleged genocide in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. There were many good debates but also some disagreements. The delegates demonstrated their diplomatic skills; in particular, the Russian delegate in the Historical Security Council was able to reach an agreement with the United States delegate – after numerous debates and proposed solutions.

A break from all the diplomacy was provided by the evening program. This included an MUN party, in which most people had a lot of fun. New international friendships were formed, hopefully to last a long time. We are, of course, grateful to the teachers who accompanied us, Mr. Köhler and Ms. Eller. For the latter, it was even her first MUN conference.

This time, several awards were given to GyRa delegates, namely to Julia Kolanowska (S2, Russia), Svantje Priess (S2, Germany), and Lenja Evers (S4, Russia). One noteworthy detail is the hair of the German ambassador, Vico Vollbrecht (S2), which was specifically praised during the award distribution ("They looked fantastic"). The GyRa therefore made an impact on many levels! And to emphasize the effort of the four days: after a brief conversation with a participant from our "Technology in Focus" profile who participated with our partner school from Gymnasium Meiendorf, it turned out that MUN is probably much more exhausting than computer science at the advanced level.

Overall, it was an unforgettable experience that not only stimulated us intellectually but also enriched us personally.

We can look back with pride and already look forward to the next MUN conference in Berlin!

A report by Helia Ebdaollatri Kalkoran, Internationality profile with Mr. Köhler, S2

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