Newbie’s Guide to THIMUN-Singapore

By Ting Chen, American School in Taichung

There is no doubt that THIMUN-Singapore kindles a spark of nervousness and excitement whenever it is mentioned. Every year, international students from around the globe arrive at the gates of the Hwa Chong Institution, each ready to start a fresh new page on his or her MUN booklet. Compared to the previous year’s sixty-five participating schools, THIMUN-Singapore 2008 welcomes the addition of six more schools, totaling around 133 delegations. As the number of participants increases, the percentage of newcomers also continues to soar.
One problem that most newcomers face is the immense size of the institution. The twists and turns of the corridors and hallways often throw people into severe confusion. The delegate of Brazil, who wishes to remain anonymous, first became acquainted with THIMUN-Singapore during his sophomore year. Like many other newcomers (and some returnees), he was clueless about the conference location. “When I arrived, I was startled by the school’s enormous size,” he recalled. “The auditorium was three to four times larger than the auditorium in my school.” When he was returning to his committee after lunch, he “went in circular paths and could not find [his] way back.” He finally arrived at the doors of the Economic and Social Council “after twenty minutes of bewilderment.” Many participants have also shared similar experiences. The delegate of the United Kingdom from the General Assembly felt that he was “trapped in [a] maze because all [of] the committee rooms looked the same.” He recommends that newcomers bring along maps and follow the crowd at all times.
Despite the Hwa Chong Institution’s confusing setting, the THIMUN-Singapore conference allows all participants (advisors included) to make many new friends who share different cultural backgrounds and points of views. Most delegates have pointed out that lobbying serves as the best opportunity to communicate with others. “It gives everyone a chance to show his or her individual identities,” remarked the delegate of Brazil. The delegate of UK from the Human Rights Committee also suggests that enthusiastic newcomers socialize “through sources such as MSN and Facebook.”
Due to the great number of delegations, large committees such as ECOSOC, GA, and the HRC are often tightly packed. Newcomers need an incredible amount of courage to stand up on the podium in front of a large audience. “I was so nervous because I had never seen so many people who speak excellent English gathered together in an auditorium before,” said a Security Council participant as he remembered his first experience in ECOSOC. “When I got up, my hands were shaking and my feet were trembling. Sometimes when I spoke, I would stutter.”
In addition to being courageous, first-timers should be aware of their diction at all times during debates. They must realize that every word counts and that anything they say can easily be used against them. Though not all new THIMUN-Singapore participants are MUN novices, it is still difficult to get used to the challenging and provocative points of information that THIMUN delegates throw at each other. At this conference, eloquence and smooth rhetorical skills rule the floor. As the delegate of DPRK observed, “Be ready to be criticized, but get back [at those attacking you].”
However, not all debates carry on ceaselessly and humorlessly. The delegate of Brazil recalls a creative speech made by one of the main submitters last year: “The delegate defended his resolution by calling [it] a golf course,” said Brazil. “People were pointing out flaws in his reso, and he simply responded by saying that [flaws in a quality reso are inevitable]; a golf course would not work without holes.” Perhaps it is this blend of wit and vigor that evokes all MUNers’ passion for debate.
Newcomers, welcome to THIMUN-Singapore 2008. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and engage yourselves in heated debates. Let your voices ring through the microphone, and touch us with your exuberance. Examine the problem and expound on your ideas. The world is in your hands.