Previous to last Thursday, my interactions regarding the UN included:
1. A tour of the UN with my family in 9th grade
2. Dickinson Model UN trips to Montreal/DC where we went clubbing instead of attending meetings
3. And, a love of the movie, “The Interpreter.” Great movie AND takes place in the UN.
Luckily, my wealth of experience helped me out when I accidently – truly, without meaning to – attended a UN meeting. Oops.
What happened was Claire and I who intern together a “Cameroon Youth and Students for Peace” went in Thursday instead of Wednesday. Totally our fault, our boss even emailed us saying come in on Wednesday but we missed the email. So we get to internship and Eugene, our fantastic boss, just says “Well, I meant to see you on Wednesday – today I am giving a presentation at UNFP. You guys can come along.” I didn’t realize what the UNFP was (hint: United Nations Food Program) but I knew something was up when we went to Basto, the richest and nicest neighborhood in Yaoundé. Then we get greeted at the gate and go through security. And, most notably of all, there is AC in the building. Um, whaaaaaaat.
Anyways, so then we go inside a conference room where everyone is dressed to the nines except Claire and I who look ridiculous in our cotton skirts and tank tops. If being the only white girls under the age of thirty wasn’t enough, my style of dress is actually offensive.
The meeting was largely non-profit, for-youth groups giving presentations to UN officials. Nothing exciting to report (especially since I was everyone was speaking French) but we did get included – no, forced – to join the “photo with the UN family.” Absurd.
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