Ahh! It was supposed to be the final Session of the UN Assembly and it was brought with much anticipation. There was only one deligation arriving for the session this year: the ever faithful Korea (S. Korea as a full deligation name). This was the last opportunity for eligability for Korea to be in the UN.
There had been a difficult medical issue that was presented to America during the Summer Recess that absorbed most all of the summer. It was rectified and for the most part, America came out at the end of the Summer Recess ready for some normalcy.
Korea arrived, just days before academic endeavours commenced. Korea spent most of the year working her tail end off and ended very strong even though she had contracted a very significant case of "Senioritis" (whatever that is). She managed to engage herself in theatrics and other entertaining endeavours, started a media campaign, continue in her work in STEM programs, picked a destination for further international engagements, set a course and destination for the rest of her life, partook in other international endeavours (which gave America some reason for concern), and also gave an amazing speech for her final farewell for the UN adn surrounding locals. All and all, Korea ended strong! It was a blessing to have her.
Korea left with a bang! Korea's National Leadership (half of it at least; referred to as "NL-Korea") came to the UN in order to make sure all the affairs were in order and that the time with the UN Assembly closed and were cleaned out well. The entire UN Assembly (well, minus Marshal and Guam) headed to the UN's own "tropical" island -- a sweet little hotspot commonly referred to as "Fudge Island". There was a lot of international relations that were built, memories made, and smack talk had. It seems that both the NL-Korea and the host nation both got on the Korean deligation as all leadership would naturally. Needless to say, this was an amazing time and Korea protested this treatment as "Mal-treatment" (again, whatever that is). Fun was had by all and lots of Fudge was taken back to the UN Headquarters.
And then America and US-Fiji were left with an empty house, or a house filled with the musings of Marshal Island and Guam.
Throughout this time of the UN Assembly, Marshal Island and Guam both started their academic endeavours. America and US-Fiji attempted to have more colonies but failed and it was decided that the core-host nation would remain at it's current four members.
Looking to the future, the Session of Fall 2018-2019, it proves to be exciting again. Germany has joined the UN and is the only member. Germany plans to attend UN for the first half of the session and then return to the home country with a full report of the mis-adventures of the UN. America is quite confident there will be a lot to talk about and include in that report. Hopefully National Leaders of Germany will approve of the misadventures and will be satisfied with the decision to send the deligate to the UN.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Minutes: Session 2016-2017
Here are the minutes of the past couple sessions:
Session - Fall 2016-2017:
China arrived and there was a tornado later that day. China did not comply well with UN Headquarter Rules and Expectations and China was asked to leave. China left a couple months after arrival and we were down to host deligate (America and US-Fiji) and S Korea (referred to as "Korea"). Korea a few weeks later ran into a deligate that was not engaged well in her current situation and within a few weeks, the UN had another deligate member (China2 for the purposes of this blog). China2 had a pleasant demeanor and was well engaged in the UN Assembly. The remainder of the Session went well.
China2 believed what she was told (provided for many laughs). She was great. Guam believed that China2 was the best thing ever! After China2 left, there was a lot of talk about "When China2 comes back...", "China2's room...", "China2 this...", "China2 that..." and on and on. China2 was missed by Guam. It lasted all Summer Recess and into the new Fall session 2017-2018. Hil-arious for the most part.
China2 and Korea did the every-two-year trip to NYC and that was amazing and fun for them. China2 and Korea both had an amazing time. The UN Hosts didn't think that trip would be a problem as China2 and Korea were very strong allies and the two of them (surprisingly enough for the state of geopolitics at the time) were the best thing for the UN Assembly.
The UN Session of 2016-2017 went off without a hitch. In the last days of the assembly, China2 decided that she would no longer be returning to the UN Headquarters for the final Assembly she was eligable for and that was sad for host nations and for the other deligate. So, UN disbanded for the Session in early spring of 2017, the UN Assembly Hall was cleaned out and reset for the fall session 2017-2018.
Session - Fall 2016-2017:
China arrived and there was a tornado later that day. China did not comply well with UN Headquarter Rules and Expectations and China was asked to leave. China left a couple months after arrival and we were down to host deligate (America and US-Fiji) and S Korea (referred to as "Korea"). Korea a few weeks later ran into a deligate that was not engaged well in her current situation and within a few weeks, the UN had another deligate member (China2 for the purposes of this blog). China2 had a pleasant demeanor and was well engaged in the UN Assembly. The remainder of the Session went well.
China2 believed what she was told (provided for many laughs). She was great. Guam believed that China2 was the best thing ever! After China2 left, there was a lot of talk about "When China2 comes back...", "China2's room...", "China2 this...", "China2 that..." and on and on. China2 was missed by Guam. It lasted all Summer Recess and into the new Fall session 2017-2018. Hil-arious for the most part.
China2 and Korea did the every-two-year trip to NYC and that was amazing and fun for them. China2 and Korea both had an amazing time. The UN Hosts didn't think that trip would be a problem as China2 and Korea were very strong allies and the two of them (surprisingly enough for the state of geopolitics at the time) were the best thing for the UN Assembly.
The UN Session of 2016-2017 went off without a hitch. In the last days of the assembly, China2 decided that she would no longer be returning to the UN Headquarters for the final Assembly she was eligable for and that was sad for host nations and for the other deligate. So, UN disbanded for the Session in early spring of 2017, the UN Assembly Hall was cleaned out and reset for the fall session 2017-2018.
Oops!
I totally forgot about the misadventures of the "UN". Ha! So apparently my last post was in 2016 (two years ago). The UN still carries on with normal sessions, normal for the past 8 years. We have had the same S Korean deligate we had since Session of 2015 (however, SKorea did retire from UN Sessions this past spring and it was sad to see the deligate go after 4.5 years of political misgivings).
The UN was going to adjourn for the next several years simply because Marshal and Guam needed to be tended to as colonial countries and needed to develop roots in order to be successful deligates of the world on their own in the coming years. The UN (America and US-Fijian) does see need to see that they are successful on their own. The UN Conjured up one more session/partial session because Germany was in dire need of assistance. There was an unfortunate event that happened in Germany's planning and Germany ended up being a deligation without a destination. Welcome Germany. We are glad to have you!
Germany is going to give me gray hairs. Germany likes to involve himself in athletic competitions and, like many international deligations, American Football is a top pick.
Oh.American.Football. America has spent the last two years really focusing on the World Health and has learned a lot about the how the individual deligates function on their own -- in their own bodies -- and America has learned a lot about self-care, fueling the deligates, living wholistically (even tho the UN Headquarters falls quite short on these lofty expectations) and American Football seems to be in contridiction of these things. *Breathe in, breathe out* There are some obligations as a host nation and one of them (written and/or unwritten) that require member nations are able to engage in activities outside of the headquarters, outside of academic capacities, and that interest the member nations. This is good: it improves connection to host country, builds socical skills and ties, and overall is good for member nations to engage in. Oh.American.Football...why you?! I think of many ways and reasons that American Football may not be the greatest idea but I also understand that member nations experience certain things now and may not have this opportunity later. Go ahead German, play.
Read another post for a brief synopsis of previous sessions. I last left off with China coming and a tornado striking all in one day. You know the adventures are good!
The UN was going to adjourn for the next several years simply because Marshal and Guam needed to be tended to as colonial countries and needed to develop roots in order to be successful deligates of the world on their own in the coming years. The UN (America and US-Fijian) does see need to see that they are successful on their own. The UN Conjured up one more session/partial session because Germany was in dire need of assistance. There was an unfortunate event that happened in Germany's planning and Germany ended up being a deligation without a destination. Welcome Germany. We are glad to have you!
Germany is going to give me gray hairs. Germany likes to involve himself in athletic competitions and, like many international deligations, American Football is a top pick.
Oh.American.Football. America has spent the last two years really focusing on the World Health and has learned a lot about the how the individual deligates function on their own -- in their own bodies -- and America has learned a lot about self-care, fueling the deligates, living wholistically (even tho the UN Headquarters falls quite short on these lofty expectations) and American Football seems to be in contridiction of these things. *Breathe in, breathe out* There are some obligations as a host nation and one of them (written and/or unwritten) that require member nations are able to engage in activities outside of the headquarters, outside of academic capacities, and that interest the member nations. This is good: it improves connection to host country, builds socical skills and ties, and overall is good for member nations to engage in. Oh.American.Football...why you?! I think of many ways and reasons that American Football may not be the greatest idea but I also understand that member nations experience certain things now and may not have this opportunity later. Go ahead German, play.
Read another post for a brief synopsis of previous sessions. I last left off with China coming and a tornado striking all in one day. You know the adventures are good!
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Sriracha Please!
The Sriracha recently changed locations. It was made in some factory, I believe in California, that they out grew. Well, the new town protested heavily regarding the new Sriracha factory because of the smell that making the condiment produced. Yep, it's spicy and it smells like it!
Genuinely, it is a lovely sauce. You can add it to many things: eggs, deli meat sandwiches, thai soup, fried rice, a variety of dutch dishes, anything you can imagine.
America should know. She watches China put it on EVERYTHING! America feels it is great fun to watch all the creative ways this condiment can be used and the ideas are spreading. So much so that Korea is branching out in the Sriracha experiment. America has finished off one bottle (it was half full when China joined the UN) and is well into the second bottle.
America has now added this to "list of things we never want to be without". Also on this list: toilet paper, and toothpaste. Just about anything else can be gone a day or so without.
America isn't going to lie: we all like Sriracha!
Genuinely, it is a lovely sauce. You can add it to many things: eggs, deli meat sandwiches, thai soup, fried rice, a variety of dutch dishes, anything you can imagine.
America should know. She watches China put it on EVERYTHING! America feels it is great fun to watch all the creative ways this condiment can be used and the ideas are spreading. So much so that Korea is branching out in the Sriracha experiment. America has finished off one bottle (it was half full when China joined the UN) and is well into the second bottle.
America has now added this to "list of things we never want to be without". Also on this list: toilet paper, and toothpaste. Just about anything else can be gone a day or so without.
America isn't going to lie: we all like Sriracha!
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Day 1: Welcome to the USA China!
China arrived. It was very little fanfare or drama: Marshall and Guam were under curfew, enforced by relative forces, international carriers were pushing us to go faster and faster lest we miss the arrival, and ports of entry were under construction. What can I say??? This time of year is construction season!
Oh little China. China's first day in the UN was relatively uneventful. China decided that it would be in the nation's best interest to rest up and try to figure out a way to get acclimated to all things USA and America, Fiji, Marshall, and Guam were in compliance. Unfortunately (or not so...well, it didn't really seem to matter) the weather didn't cooperate. About 10 minutes into China's rest recess, a tornado touched down less than a half-mile from headquarters. Chaos nearly ensued.
America summoned the host nations to assemble in the lower level of the headquarters in order to ride out the tornado. America elected herself as dictator for the next while due to the fact that she was the most experienced in tornados and there was no time for discussion. Marshall protested of course. He was way too involved in a movie he'd seen a thousand times. Guam joined up with Marshall but clearly had no clue what was going on. America insisted that Marshall, Guam, Fiji, and America all play something in the lower level. When asked why (by Marshall) America simply stated "Because there is a really big storm". (Of course I realize that the US Marshall Islands are used to feeling the brunt of Hurricanes/Cyclones and a tornado may not seem to be much bother in comparison, this is however, people we are talking about, not real countries.)
So down everyone went. Except China of course. ...Now before you get in a tissy, read on... China was way too involved in her rest-recess to take any direction from anyone. Thankfully, no one needed to alert China because China already resides in the lower level.
Rain.
Wind.
Harder rain.
Marshall taking off all his clothes.
Harder wind.
Tornado sirens.
Plants horizontal.
Fiji insisting that he can run upstairs to get more clothes for Marshall.
Crashes.
Fiji stating the neighbor's tree is on the ground (you know, the one that is about 6-7 feet around).
Thuds.
More tornado sirens.
Marshall complaining because he's being told to put his clothes on.
Sounds of freight trains.
Marshall insisting he doesn't want to wear clothes...ever.
More tornado sirens.
Texting.
More thuds.
Watching.
Waiting.
20 minutes passes.
Something resembling calm.
Someone get their finger off the siren button! (Sirens continue off and on for another five minutes or so).
Three of the neighbors trees were down and one more almost down. Branches on the UN property down. Trees in houses. Trees on cars. Roads closed. Looks like a tornado went through.
And three hours after all the commotion began, America went to wake up China (figuring dinner is coming up and there would probably be a need to sleep at the same time everyone else is). America updated China on the current events and China's eyes were as big as saucers! Something tells America that it was good China slept through it.
Welcome to the USA China. This year is off to a smashingly good start!
Oh little China. China's first day in the UN was relatively uneventful. China decided that it would be in the nation's best interest to rest up and try to figure out a way to get acclimated to all things USA and America, Fiji, Marshall, and Guam were in compliance. Unfortunately (or not so...well, it didn't really seem to matter) the weather didn't cooperate. About 10 minutes into China's rest recess, a tornado touched down less than a half-mile from headquarters. Chaos nearly ensued.
America summoned the host nations to assemble in the lower level of the headquarters in order to ride out the tornado. America elected herself as dictator for the next while due to the fact that she was the most experienced in tornados and there was no time for discussion. Marshall protested of course. He was way too involved in a movie he'd seen a thousand times. Guam joined up with Marshall but clearly had no clue what was going on. America insisted that Marshall, Guam, Fiji, and America all play something in the lower level. When asked why (by Marshall) America simply stated "Because there is a really big storm". (Of course I realize that the US Marshall Islands are used to feeling the brunt of Hurricanes/Cyclones and a tornado may not seem to be much bother in comparison, this is however, people we are talking about, not real countries.)
So down everyone went. Except China of course. ...Now before you get in a tissy, read on... China was way too involved in her rest-recess to take any direction from anyone. Thankfully, no one needed to alert China because China already resides in the lower level.
Rain.
Wind.
Harder rain.
Marshall taking off all his clothes.
Harder wind.
Tornado sirens.
Plants horizontal.
Fiji insisting that he can run upstairs to get more clothes for Marshall.
Crashes.
Fiji stating the neighbor's tree is on the ground (you know, the one that is about 6-7 feet around).
Thuds.
More tornado sirens.
Marshall complaining because he's being told to put his clothes on.
Sounds of freight trains.
Marshall insisting he doesn't want to wear clothes...ever.
More tornado sirens.
Texting.
More thuds.
Watching.
Waiting.
20 minutes passes.
Something resembling calm.
Someone get their finger off the siren button! (Sirens continue off and on for another five minutes or so).
Three of the neighbors trees were down and one more almost down. Branches on the UN property down. Trees in houses. Trees on cars. Roads closed. Looks like a tornado went through.
And three hours after all the commotion began, America went to wake up China (figuring dinner is coming up and there would probably be a need to sleep at the same time everyone else is). America updated China on the current events and China's eyes were as big as saucers! Something tells America that it was good China slept through it.
Welcome to the USA China. This year is off to a smashingly good start!
Friday, August 19, 2016
Seven Years Ago...
Seven years ago I started a blog. My husband and I had been married just over 3 years, we moved into our house (headquarters) a few months prior, and were about to embark on an amazing journey: hosting exchange students (the convening of the United Nations/UN). I wrote a blog (kellymram.blogspot.com - starts on the blog dated September 4, 2011) about the adventures and misadventures of daily life in a home where one Fijian citizen, one Korean citizen, and one American citizen encountered a crazy Spaniard (abet briefly). It was...crazy. It was...the best life ever!
And now another day passes. I've often thought about continuing to write but it seemed that in the midst of the crazy of that first year, the blog was my therapy. It made me think of the good, bad, easy, hard, simple, and awkward in terms of entertainment instead of insanity. The blog got me through some difficult moments. But it also garnered a small and faithful following that have kept prodding me to reconnect with it. So here I am.
Seven years later this crazy journey continues.
The UN has convened for the past 5 years. We have seen many member nations come and go, those include (in order of addition): S Korea, Spain, China, Thailand, and Switzerland. We have had 2 member nations join and leave shorter than their term was expected: Spain and Thailand, for differing reasons not to be discussed here. We have had repeat nations that have brought us varying delegation members (because they love us and think being a part of a global community is in their larger agenda): S Korea (2 members total of 5.5 cumulative sessions) and China (one current member, one other member arriving today actually). We've had our Fiji member nation merge with the US member nation. This member nation currently represents both Fiji and US (husband got his US citizenship but is also still considered Fijian citizen). And we have had two US territories joining us: the US Marshall Islands (for the past three, nearly four years) and Guam (who celebrated her second year with the US this past June). The US delegation is currently scouting out another territory but negotiations have not yet begun. We will be keeping you updated.
This UN Session officially begins on Aug 29 (I believe). Member nations are joining us today (China) and next Saturday (S Korea). As in before, member nations true identity are hidden but members are referred to as male/female pronouns and country of origin. None of the discussions, adventures/misadventures, and/or other events are to be considered actual international dealings or relations: they are purely circumstances that happen with regards to this headquarters (our home, located at a US Street address that will remain undisclosed).
Please leave comments. I LOVE reading about your reactions -- hopefully good but the other stuff too.
All the best!
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