By Jamie Chen
As eras pass and generations change, so does the perception of dance and the advancement of women in power. Three years have gone by since the debut of THIMUN-Singapore and the number of women in powerful officer positions has also changed with the time. Although the THIMUN-Singapore dance has remained an annual event, the acceptance and formality that dancing once had has evolved along with transitory centuries and rising female clout.The modern world, with a shallow mask of superficial worries and insignificant queries, has clouded the perception of the ancient art of dancing. Ritual dances performed in past cultures entailed intensive premeditation, which also confirmed the intended impression that it was to leave on its respective audience. While many dances had the intent of honoring the beauty and worth of the female body, actual respect and authority for the female as an individual was not considered. The idea of treating males and females as equals was far too avant-garde and unreasonable an idea for it to be taken into consideration.With an outrageous connotation, the South Asian population during the reign of the Mughal Empire saw dance as an act of courtesans—women who exchanged morality for a salary. Eventually, the terms ‘dance’ and ‘prostitution’ became interchangeable. Under British rule, the performance of public dance was banned in order to maintain the virginal reputations of inexperienced young women. Early Greeks had a different perception of dance, but also thought of virginity as the essence of a woman’s worth. In eighth century B.C., Greeks reserved the inauguration of sacred occasions to temple virgins, who would dance in celebration. Women who were without sexual experience were viewed as unadulterated and pure, while those who had lost their virginity were viewed as valueless and unworthy of the Greek gods. Without sexual purity, a woman would be left without her only dispensable source of currency and thus, her source of power.As women generally dominate the dance floor today, it’s clear that many things have changed in this day and age. Not only are dancing and dances seen as socially acceptable in most cultures, they are viewed as entertaining and appropriate for multiple occasions and many groups of people. Due to the unexpected female and male distribution this year and the looming pressure of a THIMUN dance, many had different predictions for the events of the night. Although the amount of boys and girls present is not equal at the conference, Cecile Gros stated that, “[At least] the boys [would] be happy” with the dominating presence of girls. Tabitha Ankoviak agreed that the boys would have a “good night” and predicted that a few would be “flirty” and enter the dance with “a girl on each arm.” By the end of day three, boys and girls both came to the general consensus that girls will need to take initiative at the dance and that it would be “a great opportunity” to have some fun.Along with the suitability of dancing and its encompassing events, the role a woman plays in society and her ability to obtain a position of power have also altered; THIMUN-Singapore 2007 is a prime example. With an entire female assemblage of Deputy Secretary Generals (DSGs) and Sanam Kader as the Secretary General this year, the popularized saying, “Girl power,” has never been more appropriate and accurate. At the first THIMUN-Singapore, seeing more than a few girls at a time was rare, much less seeing a girl in an officer position; the ratio of female to male delegates was twenty percent to eighty percent. Now, the ratio of delegates in 2007 is sixty percent female and forty percent male.The opinions differ from delegate to delegate about the completely female ensemble of executive officers; Alfred Wall of the Advisory Panel to the Question of Kashmir (APQK) is fine with the outcome of the executive officer positions because he believes that “It’s still a man’s world” and that “the guys do the talking.” Yet, the majority sees eye to eye with Delegate Lu Yongquan of the Advisory Panel and are also “in admiration of the competence displayed by the female [executive officers].” Yongquan believes that “‘gender equality’ is exemplified by their work, [which proves] that females can work as well as, if not better than males.” The increasing authority that women continue to receive is symbolic of the rising equality of women’s rights. Perpetual progression is inevitable as evident by the attending delegates and the appointed executive officers of THIMUN-Singapore 2007. One can only hope that the year’s theme will bring the much-needed attention to gender equality and instigate a sense of responsibility in each of the attending delegates.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Tasty Tales
By Renee Klioufis and Jamie Chen
Within the heart of Hwa Chong Institiute is situated the market-like cafeteria home to more than four traditional food stalls for the THIMUN delegates to choose from. With food and fruit and drink cards, the food stalls facilitate many different cultural cuisines including Chinese, Muslim, Western, Economical rice, and fruit and drinks.Singapore is known around the world as the “Food capital of Asia” as in its markets, restaurants and stalls there is a large diversity and cultural diffusion, as well as a melange of flavors from around the globe. Singaporeans have a passion for eating, and their cuisine is a significant cultural attraction. Inside the markets Malayan hawkers sell halal versions of Tamil food and include Chinese, Indian, Malayan and Tamil influences. In to many of the Chinese foods, chefs introduce traditional Malayan ingredients in their cooking techniques which create extra oriental flavors in meals. The diversity of foods call for largely diverse diets from Hainaese chicken rice to satay as well as wide varieties of seafood including crabs, clams, squid, and oysters.The tasty tales of Singaporeans unique cultural tapestry with influences from around the globe capture the essence of Singapore’s multicultural heritage and are presented at festivals such as the World Gourmet Summit and the Singapore Food Festival.At Hwa Chong’s own “markets’”delegates have encountered the Singaporean culture without leaving the grounds and have enjoyed the experiences of tasting different foods daily. Mr. Adrian Diaz (American School Foundation of Mexico) states that his favorite food is “Taros al Pastor (shredded pork)” and has been able to enjoy his favourite meal while at the conference from the Economical Rice stall. Judge Bashar Aalni (American School of Doha) states that “Food is as important as breathing to me.” The fabulous selection of foods available is said by all to be a necessary and exciting part of THIMUN conference. As shown in the pie graph 20% of delegates enjoy the experience and food in the Hwa Chong cafeteria. 2% bringing their own food to lunch because they didn’t enjoy the cafeteria experience. Although many have enjoyed their favorite meals served at the cafeteria others have been slightly less lucky, unsure of food and unable to dine to their tastes. Severine Cao, ISB France states, “Goose liver (Pate) with Baguette toast and escargots with butter” are her favorite meals, but she has been unfortunate in not being able to find these dishes in Singapore. Unfortunately 78%a majority, have not enjoyed the cafeteria experience because of reasons such as long lines and food choices.For the local people who staff the vender court, the experience has been admirable despite language barriers that exist between the themselves and delegates attempting to order food that they aren’t sure of. Hwa Chong students have played an instrumental role in the halls, collecting tickets and helping venders immensely with organization of lunch lines, and translations.
Within the heart of Hwa Chong Institiute is situated the market-like cafeteria home to more than four traditional food stalls for the THIMUN delegates to choose from. With food and fruit and drink cards, the food stalls facilitate many different cultural cuisines including Chinese, Muslim, Western, Economical rice, and fruit and drinks.Singapore is known around the world as the “Food capital of Asia” as in its markets, restaurants and stalls there is a large diversity and cultural diffusion, as well as a melange of flavors from around the globe. Singaporeans have a passion for eating, and their cuisine is a significant cultural attraction. Inside the markets Malayan hawkers sell halal versions of Tamil food and include Chinese, Indian, Malayan and Tamil influences. In to many of the Chinese foods, chefs introduce traditional Malayan ingredients in their cooking techniques which create extra oriental flavors in meals. The diversity of foods call for largely diverse diets from Hainaese chicken rice to satay as well as wide varieties of seafood including crabs, clams, squid, and oysters.The tasty tales of Singaporeans unique cultural tapestry with influences from around the globe capture the essence of Singapore’s multicultural heritage and are presented at festivals such as the World Gourmet Summit and the Singapore Food Festival.At Hwa Chong’s own “markets’”delegates have encountered the Singaporean culture without leaving the grounds and have enjoyed the experiences of tasting different foods daily. Mr. Adrian Diaz (American School Foundation of Mexico) states that his favorite food is “Taros al Pastor (shredded pork)” and has been able to enjoy his favourite meal while at the conference from the Economical Rice stall. Judge Bashar Aalni (American School of Doha) states that “Food is as important as breathing to me.” The fabulous selection of foods available is said by all to be a necessary and exciting part of THIMUN conference. As shown in the pie graph 20% of delegates enjoy the experience and food in the Hwa Chong cafeteria. 2% bringing their own food to lunch because they didn’t enjoy the cafeteria experience. Although many have enjoyed their favorite meals served at the cafeteria others have been slightly less lucky, unsure of food and unable to dine to their tastes. Severine Cao, ISB France states, “Goose liver (Pate) with Baguette toast and escargots with butter” are her favorite meals, but she has been unfortunate in not being able to find these dishes in Singapore. Unfortunately 78%a majority, have not enjoyed the cafeteria experience because of reasons such as long lines and food choices.For the local people who staff the vender court, the experience has been admirable despite language barriers that exist between the themselves and delegates attempting to order food that they aren’t sure of. Hwa Chong students have played an instrumental role in the halls, collecting tickets and helping venders immensely with organization of lunch lines, and translations.
Relationships at MUN:
By Jen Wang
On the second day of the conference, participants of THIMUN-Singapore III arrive smiling, despite the early wake-up calls and glaring morning sun. Students arrive on buses with their schoolmates, but as they hurry delightedly to their forums, they are often reunited with friends and colleagues from previous sessions.Every year, thousands of students worldwide participate in various MUN conferences, which inevitably leads to forming new friendships. Over the few days of the conference, participants of THIMUN-Singapore III meet students from different schools and work together collaboratively, through the cooperative nature of Model United Nations, leading to a successful conference. Seasoned participants make new acquaintances through lobbying and merging resolutions in their respective forums. Newcomers to THIMUN-Singapore come in hopes of meeting people from whom they can learn. “One of the main reasons I come to THIMUN is to meet new people who have good knowledge of topics,” said Kenneth Chew, the Delegate of the USA in GA4. Chew also expressed that, “Many delegates I have met are much older and wiser than I.” Officers and chairs get to know each other when they work together to make the conference run smoothly. However, some chairs think it’s easier to get to know the delegates. “You feel more relaxed, and you don’t need to be someone they look up to and respect,” admitted Gayatri Bahadur, chair of GA2, “though it would be nice if they did.” Last but definitely not least, press members work together on articles as reporters, editors, photographers, artists and page layout staff. “Most reporters make friends through the discussion of their articles, but I made my friends by providing printing services for the reporters,” Jason Cheng, co-editor of Munity-East, sheepishly admitted. In all aspects, MUN really is a team endeavor. However, for many veteran participants at THIMUN-Singapore, the chance to return to this conference means seeing friends they met at last year’s THIMUN-Singapore or other conferences such as THIMUN the Hague, BEIMUN, and IASAS. Between old friends, conversations fly, trying to catch up on what has happened in a year’s time. Being a veteran also means that there are no longer so many first meetings. Jerome Tan, the Delegate of Belgium in Security Council says that it’s, “not awkward at all now because I know many of them from previous conferences.”After meeting in the conferences, students extend their meetings by hanging out and eating and shopping together after conference hours. During THIMUN-Singapore throngs of students converge around Orchard Road and Raffles Boulevard. Students use this opportunity to get to know their peers and better explore the exciting city of Singapore. The backdrop of dazzling lights that line the streets of Singapore at night creates a great atmosphere for a nice walk with that certain someone in your forum that you’ve had your eye on.The fact that THIMUN-Singapore is so diverse in the respect of representing different schools from different countries makes keeping in touch a bit difficult. However, popular web sites such as Facebook and MySpace are making it easier for participants here to stay in touch after returning to their homes. Other popular ways of keeping in touch include Skype, an internet-based phone service, which is free between users and relatively cheaper than a long-distance landline phone call. Cell phone services such as short messages are also convenient because they are cheaper than making a call, and most cell phone providers allow long-distance messaging. Long gone are the days when telephones and post mail dominated our connection abilities. A good way to make new friends at MUN is just to walk up to someone in your forum that you haven’t met and introduce yourself. Chances are, they’re also eager to meet new people, and now you are well on your way to becoming the most popular delegate in your forum. However, just in case you need any help with any of the above, refer to our handy MUN pick-up lines. These pick-up lines are best delivered in a French accent, but please, proceed with caution.
“You want to meet in the lobby and merge?”“I’m only waving my placard ‘cause you’re making me hot.”“I have no imMunity when it comes to you.”“Point of Personal Privilege: May I have the privilege of getting personal.”“The Delegate of Jamaica, ja-makin’-me crazy!”
“You want to meet in the lobby and merge?”“I’m only waving my placard ‘cause you’re making me hot.”“I have no imMunity when it comes to you.”“Point of Personal Privilege: May I have the privilege of getting personal.”“The Delegate of Jamaica, ja-makin’-me crazy!”
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Students Joining the Hustle and Bustle of Singapore
By Pertz Liao, Jen Wang, Renee Klioufis and Andrew Tarn
As early as last Friday, students from all over the world began to file onto the busy streets of Singapore. Some had the opportunity to explore their new surroundings, while others only had time to explore their hotel rooms. News traveled fast among students about the grand shopping malls, the clean atmosphere and the wonderful food native to Singapore. For many, the excitement about coming to Singapore is greater than the excitement about attending THIMUN-Singapore III.Upon arrival, delegates were greeted by the unrelenting heat and the dazzling lights of the city, but their feelings of fatigue and nervousness were quickly eliminated by the excitement and anticipation of the THIMUN Singapore conference.For those delegates who arrived early, the itinerary for the first few days of their stay was full to the brim, with visits to Far East plaza, Tangs on Orchard Road, Sentosa, Raffles, the marina and the quays. Shopping in Singapore ranges from high-end department stores to the bargain markets, where better deals can be found. Some of the favorite stores among students include Forever 21, Top Shop, Zara, Mango, Charles and Keith, Ripcurl, and Diesel.Delegates from many countries have already “shopped till they dropped,” as well as danced the night away at concerts at the marina. Head of delegation for Thailand, Amelia Stojevski from the Presbyterian Ladies College in Sydney, said, “We are all very excited to be in Singapore and have enjoyed our stay so far such as sightseeing, shopping and experiencing the Singaporean culture.”One of the earliest schools to arrive in Singapore was the American School Foundation from Mexico City. Participants from this school arrived on Friday, November 16 after an exhausting thirty-hour flight, but they had plenty of time to wander around. They were able to go shopping in downtown Singapore, go on a city tour, and visit Jurong Bird Park with their host families from the local Overseas Family School. Students from the Shekou International School in Shenzhen, China arrived on Monday in hopes of exploring the city. Fortunately, they were able to shop at some of the major malls located here in Singapore city as well as take in some of sight-seeing. They were able to go on a “boat ride at Harbor Front as well as a ride in a cable car,” as told by Angel Chui, Delegate of Cote d’Ivoire in GA2. Delegates and press members from National Experimental High School arrived on Tuesday afternoon and only had time to go shopping at one of the malls close to their hotel. The selection of stores was described by Clifford Chen, Delegate of Haiti, as “really girly,” but he also said that “the mall has really good food.” Caught off-guard by the weather, some students were forced to walk from the MRT station back to the hotel in the rain.Those from Western Academy of Beijing arrived on Tuesday morning and were able to visit Sentosa, the resort island of Singapore. Beaches attract travelers to the island, which features three different coastal stretches. Palawan Beach is a good place for families, while Silosa Beach is the “hippest beach in Singapore” according to the official Sentosa website, http://www.sentosa.com/, and Tanjong beach is known as the tranquil beach. Sentosa Island, despite its popularity as a beach tourist attraction, also offers an educational experience. Sentosa Island was originally a fort controlled by the British and has now been recreated into a museum, which has one of the largest collection of World War II memorabilia. Alex Zhu, Delegate of Egypt in GA2, stated that Sentosa was “a nice place, but it was a bit humid.” Students from Concordia International School in Shanghai also had the opportunity to travel to Sentosa. Arriving on Sunday afternoon, they have already gone shopping on Orchard Road, explored the Clark-Key area, and even experienced luging. Kangda Zhou, Delegate of Armenia in GA1, remarked that “Singapore is really hot and humid, but the people are very polite and friendly and the food is delicious!” Delegates have grasped cultural differences, such as not being allowed to chew gum and ensuring that there is no inappropriate exposure of undergarments, and finally coming to terms with the climatic differences. For those from the lower southern hemisphere, the humidity and lack of sunshine has been a shock. Nevertheless, all delegates have had splendid times exploring the city’s sights and shopping centers. Delegate of Botswana, So Young An from International School Eastern Seaboard in Thailand, arrived Tuesday night and expressed her joy of jumping into Singapore’s shopping straight away: “We went to the hotel to leave our bags and then shopped all along Orchard Road and we are hoping to do the same thing tonight. Oh, and of course writing our resolutions.”Schools that are relatively closer, such as those from other parts of Asia, arrived slightly later. Those from the International School of Beijing cut it a bit close, arriving at 12:30 AM the night before (or rather the morning of) the conference. Arriving so late meant the students were not able to get out; however, they were able to explore the 7-11 next to their hotel. Students were a bit disappointed at the lack of free time to go shopping and visit different sites prior to the start of the conference, as about half the students from ISB are new to THIMUN-Singapore this year.With the looming preparation for the conference, outings were cut short to ensure that the THIMUN conference would take precedence over extracurricular activites. Delegate of Thailand, Stephanie Ralph, stated that, “We have all done a lot of preparation with staying up late writing speeches last night after dinner.”Across the board, all the participants of THIMUN-Singapore are excited about the opportunities that Singapore presents. Many expressed enthusiasm about the shopping on Orchard Road and the dance and night safari this Friday at the Singapore Zoo. They are eager to make an impression at this conference and to take home wonderful memories of new friends and the new sites they will encounter here in Singapore.
As early as last Friday, students from all over the world began to file onto the busy streets of Singapore. Some had the opportunity to explore their new surroundings, while others only had time to explore their hotel rooms. News traveled fast among students about the grand shopping malls, the clean atmosphere and the wonderful food native to Singapore. For many, the excitement about coming to Singapore is greater than the excitement about attending THIMUN-Singapore III.Upon arrival, delegates were greeted by the unrelenting heat and the dazzling lights of the city, but their feelings of fatigue and nervousness were quickly eliminated by the excitement and anticipation of the THIMUN Singapore conference.For those delegates who arrived early, the itinerary for the first few days of their stay was full to the brim, with visits to Far East plaza, Tangs on Orchard Road, Sentosa, Raffles, the marina and the quays. Shopping in Singapore ranges from high-end department stores to the bargain markets, where better deals can be found. Some of the favorite stores among students include Forever 21, Top Shop, Zara, Mango, Charles and Keith, Ripcurl, and Diesel.Delegates from many countries have already “shopped till they dropped,” as well as danced the night away at concerts at the marina. Head of delegation for Thailand, Amelia Stojevski from the Presbyterian Ladies College in Sydney, said, “We are all very excited to be in Singapore and have enjoyed our stay so far such as sightseeing, shopping and experiencing the Singaporean culture.”One of the earliest schools to arrive in Singapore was the American School Foundation from Mexico City. Participants from this school arrived on Friday, November 16 after an exhausting thirty-hour flight, but they had plenty of time to wander around. They were able to go shopping in downtown Singapore, go on a city tour, and visit Jurong Bird Park with their host families from the local Overseas Family School. Students from the Shekou International School in Shenzhen, China arrived on Monday in hopes of exploring the city. Fortunately, they were able to shop at some of the major malls located here in Singapore city as well as take in some of sight-seeing. They were able to go on a “boat ride at Harbor Front as well as a ride in a cable car,” as told by Angel Chui, Delegate of Cote d’Ivoire in GA2. Delegates and press members from National Experimental High School arrived on Tuesday afternoon and only had time to go shopping at one of the malls close to their hotel. The selection of stores was described by Clifford Chen, Delegate of Haiti, as “really girly,” but he also said that “the mall has really good food.” Caught off-guard by the weather, some students were forced to walk from the MRT station back to the hotel in the rain.Those from Western Academy of Beijing arrived on Tuesday morning and were able to visit Sentosa, the resort island of Singapore. Beaches attract travelers to the island, which features three different coastal stretches. Palawan Beach is a good place for families, while Silosa Beach is the “hippest beach in Singapore” according to the official Sentosa website, http://www.sentosa.com/, and Tanjong beach is known as the tranquil beach. Sentosa Island, despite its popularity as a beach tourist attraction, also offers an educational experience. Sentosa Island was originally a fort controlled by the British and has now been recreated into a museum, which has one of the largest collection of World War II memorabilia. Alex Zhu, Delegate of Egypt in GA2, stated that Sentosa was “a nice place, but it was a bit humid.” Students from Concordia International School in Shanghai also had the opportunity to travel to Sentosa. Arriving on Sunday afternoon, they have already gone shopping on Orchard Road, explored the Clark-Key area, and even experienced luging. Kangda Zhou, Delegate of Armenia in GA1, remarked that “Singapore is really hot and humid, but the people are very polite and friendly and the food is delicious!” Delegates have grasped cultural differences, such as not being allowed to chew gum and ensuring that there is no inappropriate exposure of undergarments, and finally coming to terms with the climatic differences. For those from the lower southern hemisphere, the humidity and lack of sunshine has been a shock. Nevertheless, all delegates have had splendid times exploring the city’s sights and shopping centers. Delegate of Botswana, So Young An from International School Eastern Seaboard in Thailand, arrived Tuesday night and expressed her joy of jumping into Singapore’s shopping straight away: “We went to the hotel to leave our bags and then shopped all along Orchard Road and we are hoping to do the same thing tonight. Oh, and of course writing our resolutions.”Schools that are relatively closer, such as those from other parts of Asia, arrived slightly later. Those from the International School of Beijing cut it a bit close, arriving at 12:30 AM the night before (or rather the morning of) the conference. Arriving so late meant the students were not able to get out; however, they were able to explore the 7-11 next to their hotel. Students were a bit disappointed at the lack of free time to go shopping and visit different sites prior to the start of the conference, as about half the students from ISB are new to THIMUN-Singapore this year.With the looming preparation for the conference, outings were cut short to ensure that the THIMUN conference would take precedence over extracurricular activites. Delegate of Thailand, Stephanie Ralph, stated that, “We have all done a lot of preparation with staying up late writing speeches last night after dinner.”Across the board, all the participants of THIMUN-Singapore are excited about the opportunities that Singapore presents. Many expressed enthusiasm about the shopping on Orchard Road and the dance and night safari this Friday at the Singapore Zoo. They are eager to make an impression at this conference and to take home wonderful memories of new friends and the new sites they will encounter here in Singapore.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Refresh Yourself on Orchard Road
By Jennifer Tseng
After a brain-straining day of debating or reporting, you sure deserve a break and a relaxing night. Orchard Road is a fantastic place for not only refreshing yourself but also for experiencing a foreign lifestyle in Singapore. Packed with restaurants and departments stores, Orchard Road provides travelers a good chance to learn more about the culture and to have fun.Attracting a great number of tourists, the famous strip has over ten major shopping areas. Opened in 1978, Lucky Plaza is one of the most famous centers in Singapore. It boasts the most escalators throughout Malaysia and Singapore. Also, it has eight high-speed passenger lifts, and the two sets of glass-walled lifts are world-renowned attractions. The plaza sells watches, shoes, kimonos, sporting goods, and electronics. The basement food court joins the building, and hungry shoppers can dine on cuisine such as Indian food, Chinese food, and even Filipino food. The upper levels include bars and nightspots. With its various kinds of services, Lucky Plaza is sure to satisfy all the travelers.Another well-known shopping center is the Paragon. The building itself demonstrates an artistic style of the design. The ambiance originates from the cave paintings of ancient Inner Mongolia. The sculptures reveal both ancient Mongolian and modern elements. It not only provides people places to dine but also boasts many shops filled with recognized brands, such as Alfred Dunhill, Gucci, Fendi and more.Next to the MRT station is the Wisma Atria shopping mall. The basement of the mall joins the MRT station, and the other underground link connects the mall to Ngee Ann City Shopping Centre. Consisting of five floors of shops, Wisma Atria is a young people’s paradise for buying things like earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and clothing. In addition, a Food Republic graces the fourth floor. Just like its name, it serves different kinds of food from foreign countries. Notably, located nearby is the most famous bakery branch, BreadTalk, down in the Basement 1. The creative design of the stores makes distinguishes them from other shops. The “see-through” kitchens located next to or within the retail outlet allow the public to experience the baking process. The quality of the food is ensured by high standards.Although all kinds of shopping malls and restaurants, a book store, Borders, on the side of the Orchard Road might also catch your eyes. The latest novels, magazines, and various kinds of books fill the first floor. Immersing yourself in the adventure of words, you can travel through time and countries without restraint. On the second floor is the Apple computer store. All the newest computer gadgets might attract your attention. In addition, knowledgeable computer experts can solve any kind of computer problems that you might encounter. Above the second floor, another shopping center connects to the Borders, which allows shoppers to turn their shopping mood on and enjoy the excitement of wandering in the glass building.Singapore is really a place worth visiting. There are many exciting things to do on Orchard Road. Just use this valuable chance to discover this visitors’ heaven. Spending time enjoying your off-hours with friends in these numerous shopping centers might be the wisest choice to make.
After a brain-straining day of debating or reporting, you sure deserve a break and a relaxing night. Orchard Road is a fantastic place for not only refreshing yourself but also for experiencing a foreign lifestyle in Singapore. Packed with restaurants and departments stores, Orchard Road provides travelers a good chance to learn more about the culture and to have fun.Attracting a great number of tourists, the famous strip has over ten major shopping areas. Opened in 1978, Lucky Plaza is one of the most famous centers in Singapore. It boasts the most escalators throughout Malaysia and Singapore. Also, it has eight high-speed passenger lifts, and the two sets of glass-walled lifts are world-renowned attractions. The plaza sells watches, shoes, kimonos, sporting goods, and electronics. The basement food court joins the building, and hungry shoppers can dine on cuisine such as Indian food, Chinese food, and even Filipino food. The upper levels include bars and nightspots. With its various kinds of services, Lucky Plaza is sure to satisfy all the travelers.Another well-known shopping center is the Paragon. The building itself demonstrates an artistic style of the design. The ambiance originates from the cave paintings of ancient Inner Mongolia. The sculptures reveal both ancient Mongolian and modern elements. It not only provides people places to dine but also boasts many shops filled with recognized brands, such as Alfred Dunhill, Gucci, Fendi and more.Next to the MRT station is the Wisma Atria shopping mall. The basement of the mall joins the MRT station, and the other underground link connects the mall to Ngee Ann City Shopping Centre. Consisting of five floors of shops, Wisma Atria is a young people’s paradise for buying things like earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and clothing. In addition, a Food Republic graces the fourth floor. Just like its name, it serves different kinds of food from foreign countries. Notably, located nearby is the most famous bakery branch, BreadTalk, down in the Basement 1. The creative design of the stores makes distinguishes them from other shops. The “see-through” kitchens located next to or within the retail outlet allow the public to experience the baking process. The quality of the food is ensured by high standards.Although all kinds of shopping malls and restaurants, a book store, Borders, on the side of the Orchard Road might also catch your eyes. The latest novels, magazines, and various kinds of books fill the first floor. Immersing yourself in the adventure of words, you can travel through time and countries without restraint. On the second floor is the Apple computer store. All the newest computer gadgets might attract your attention. In addition, knowledgeable computer experts can solve any kind of computer problems that you might encounter. Above the second floor, another shopping center connects to the Borders, which allows shoppers to turn their shopping mood on and enjoy the excitement of wandering in the glass building.Singapore is really a place worth visiting. There are many exciting things to do on Orchard Road. Just use this valuable chance to discover this visitors’ heaven. Spending time enjoying your off-hours with friends in these numerous shopping centers might be the wisest choice to make.
Through the Eyes of a Dumb Delegate: “Common Sense Not So Common”
By Raymond Chuang
This is a fictional account of a student’s embarrassing MUN experience. These events, however, are all based on true instances that the author has compiled from his experience as a delegate. You might be a little incredulous as you read on and merely snicker, or you might bawl and pound the table in frustration at the unbelievable stupidity of this imaginary character. Anyhow, if you’d sit down and ponder, you’d probably think of someone you know who vaguely—or strongly—resembles this delegate. All packed: My embarrassingly small TravelPro suitcase threatened to explode. The highly compressed bulk consisted of my MUN suit, five sets of clothing, deodorant, shampoo, razor, shaving cream, science textbook, a giant IBM that held nothing but online games, and god-knows-what-else Mom had warned me not to bring. A can of green hair dye was on the verge of implosion from the pressure exerted by a ten-kilogram dumbbell (I was going to stay fit). I ruminated in front of the trunk for a minute. “Fantastic,” I uttered to myself. “No, wait a minute. That’s not good for MUN,” I mumbled, and replaced the can of green hair dye with a can of pink hair dye. I stood there thinking for a while. Making up my mind, I grabbed hold of the green hair dye again and spent twenty seconds squeezing it into what little room the suitcase allowed. Why not? Singapore won’t cane me for having colorful hair. All prepared, I marched into my parents’ room and grabbed my sleeping mother by the shoulder. Oscillating her skinny frame from side to side, I accidentally emitted a vicious stream of spit as I shrieked into her ears: “Bring me to the bus stop, mother!” The Airport: I was lounging in a plastic airport chair when my advisor appeared. She demanded to see my opening speech. I actually have not written my opening speech yet, and I find it incredible that my advisor has not realized that, but of course I couldn’t give myself away.“Oh god, I left my passport in the bathroom!” I exclaimed. I grabbed my backpack and ran off to the nearest restroom in order to lock myself in a cubicle to privately finish the speech. I savagely tore my backpack open and found a pen and piece of paper. After struggling to finish that boring garbage, I finally managed to produce something that vaguely resembled an opening speech. I concluded that I’d just avoid my teacher on my way to the boarding gate and type the speech up once I get on the plane.Lobbying: I was lobbying with some of my fellow delegates and things were a bit confusing for me on my first day of MUN. So enthralled by my hair (which now looked like a Singapore Zoo peacock on hormones), this Danish-looking girl came to me with a piece of paper and said that I “most definitely must sign her resolution if I had a heart”. I still did not really know what a resolution was, so I signed hers just to make her happy. As soon as I finished signing it, however, this Sicilian-looking paisan with a 2000-dollar pinstriped Armani jacket and greased-back hair stopped in front of me and told me how great his resolution was. “It’s going to guarantee that no nuclear weapons are going to be illegally exported from Russia for the next four and a half years.” “Our resolution is much more specific; in fact, their resolution is simply breadcrumbs, we have a cinnamon bagel complete with raspberry jam- sign it.” I nodded in appreciation at his beautiful use of metamorphic language, and scribbled my name on his resolution sheet also.It took me a while to realize that I had screwed up, as I was only supposed to sign one resolution. Much to my chagrin, I finally mustered the courage to apologetically walk to Michael Corleone and withdraw from his resolution. His eyes became misty with grief when I spilled all my thoughts and said that I’d rather work with a delegate of the opposite sex than with some nuclear weapon nerd.Debate: Since I have been daydreaming for the past two hours, all I remembered doing after lobbying was buying several Starbuck’s Frappuccinos for my fellow delegates while they diligently merged their resolutions. Having said that, let’s skip the merging part and fast forward to the debate.I had been passing unauthorized (and therefore uncensored) notes to the voluptuous Delegate of Mexico for the first twenty-five minutes, but when I finally realized that she just didn’t dig my style, I tried to impress her by taking the floor. I gave a random wave of my placard and somehow ended behind the lectern.“Nuclear weapons are awesome!” I screamed hyperactively before the chair had time to allow me to proceed. Everyone stared at me with this peculiar expression, and as the chair asked the room for points of information, only North Korea volunteered. He stood up. “Does the delegate not agree that nuclear weapons are totally awesome?” He asked. Overly excited about North Korea standing on my side, I accidentally used the first person voice and said something along the lines of, “Yeah, man. I agree.” I thought I heard a disgusted groan from the back row.Wrap-up: Hopefully by now, you have realized that this MUN story does not serve as an example of what you should do, but what you should avoid to do. On a serious note, delegates are advised to leave some space in their suitcases, stick to the rules about formal clothing, research and prepare for the conference ahead of time, and have a basic understanding of MUN procedures. Quick and calculated thinking might also boost your negotiation skills, helping you evade those massive verbal attacks from the yearly horde of angry, vengeful, delegates during debate time. These reminders may all sound cliché, but we all witness these classic problems in every conference—instances that could otherwise have been avoided with that magical, instinctual thing we call common sense.
This is a fictional account of a student’s embarrassing MUN experience. These events, however, are all based on true instances that the author has compiled from his experience as a delegate. You might be a little incredulous as you read on and merely snicker, or you might bawl and pound the table in frustration at the unbelievable stupidity of this imaginary character. Anyhow, if you’d sit down and ponder, you’d probably think of someone you know who vaguely—or strongly—resembles this delegate. All packed: My embarrassingly small TravelPro suitcase threatened to explode. The highly compressed bulk consisted of my MUN suit, five sets of clothing, deodorant, shampoo, razor, shaving cream, science textbook, a giant IBM that held nothing but online games, and god-knows-what-else Mom had warned me not to bring. A can of green hair dye was on the verge of implosion from the pressure exerted by a ten-kilogram dumbbell (I was going to stay fit). I ruminated in front of the trunk for a minute. “Fantastic,” I uttered to myself. “No, wait a minute. That’s not good for MUN,” I mumbled, and replaced the can of green hair dye with a can of pink hair dye. I stood there thinking for a while. Making up my mind, I grabbed hold of the green hair dye again and spent twenty seconds squeezing it into what little room the suitcase allowed. Why not? Singapore won’t cane me for having colorful hair. All prepared, I marched into my parents’ room and grabbed my sleeping mother by the shoulder. Oscillating her skinny frame from side to side, I accidentally emitted a vicious stream of spit as I shrieked into her ears: “Bring me to the bus stop, mother!” The Airport: I was lounging in a plastic airport chair when my advisor appeared. She demanded to see my opening speech. I actually have not written my opening speech yet, and I find it incredible that my advisor has not realized that, but of course I couldn’t give myself away.“Oh god, I left my passport in the bathroom!” I exclaimed. I grabbed my backpack and ran off to the nearest restroom in order to lock myself in a cubicle to privately finish the speech. I savagely tore my backpack open and found a pen and piece of paper. After struggling to finish that boring garbage, I finally managed to produce something that vaguely resembled an opening speech. I concluded that I’d just avoid my teacher on my way to the boarding gate and type the speech up once I get on the plane.Lobbying: I was lobbying with some of my fellow delegates and things were a bit confusing for me on my first day of MUN. So enthralled by my hair (which now looked like a Singapore Zoo peacock on hormones), this Danish-looking girl came to me with a piece of paper and said that I “most definitely must sign her resolution if I had a heart”. I still did not really know what a resolution was, so I signed hers just to make her happy. As soon as I finished signing it, however, this Sicilian-looking paisan with a 2000-dollar pinstriped Armani jacket and greased-back hair stopped in front of me and told me how great his resolution was. “It’s going to guarantee that no nuclear weapons are going to be illegally exported from Russia for the next four and a half years.” “Our resolution is much more specific; in fact, their resolution is simply breadcrumbs, we have a cinnamon bagel complete with raspberry jam- sign it.” I nodded in appreciation at his beautiful use of metamorphic language, and scribbled my name on his resolution sheet also.It took me a while to realize that I had screwed up, as I was only supposed to sign one resolution. Much to my chagrin, I finally mustered the courage to apologetically walk to Michael Corleone and withdraw from his resolution. His eyes became misty with grief when I spilled all my thoughts and said that I’d rather work with a delegate of the opposite sex than with some nuclear weapon nerd.Debate: Since I have been daydreaming for the past two hours, all I remembered doing after lobbying was buying several Starbuck’s Frappuccinos for my fellow delegates while they diligently merged their resolutions. Having said that, let’s skip the merging part and fast forward to the debate.I had been passing unauthorized (and therefore uncensored) notes to the voluptuous Delegate of Mexico for the first twenty-five minutes, but when I finally realized that she just didn’t dig my style, I tried to impress her by taking the floor. I gave a random wave of my placard and somehow ended behind the lectern.“Nuclear weapons are awesome!” I screamed hyperactively before the chair had time to allow me to proceed. Everyone stared at me with this peculiar expression, and as the chair asked the room for points of information, only North Korea volunteered. He stood up. “Does the delegate not agree that nuclear weapons are totally awesome?” He asked. Overly excited about North Korea standing on my side, I accidentally used the first person voice and said something along the lines of, “Yeah, man. I agree.” I thought I heard a disgusted groan from the back row.Wrap-up: Hopefully by now, you have realized that this MUN story does not serve as an example of what you should do, but what you should avoid to do. On a serious note, delegates are advised to leave some space in their suitcases, stick to the rules about formal clothing, research and prepare for the conference ahead of time, and have a basic understanding of MUN procedures. Quick and calculated thinking might also boost your negotiation skills, helping you evade those massive verbal attacks from the yearly horde of angry, vengeful, delegates during debate time. These reminders may all sound cliché, but we all witness these classic problems in every conference—instances that could otherwise have been avoided with that magical, instinctual thing we call common sense.
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