Olomouc is a city I am most definitely going to miss. In my personal opinion, it’s even better than Prague. Olomouc is smaller and has everything close by. In Prague, there are spacious areas where there is only sidewalk and road with the gems hidden in scattered areas (but boy are those gems worth it). We stayed the night at the hotel Marriot, which was quite fancy. On the first floor was a place to lounge, on the second was a restaurant, and on the third was a gym. The view of the main area of the hotel from the sixth floor was just as beautiful as the view outside. We walked over to the souvenir shop at the airport soon after we got situated and I bought everything else I needed for my folks back home.
The flight home was smooth for the most part. Coming back, it is hard to believe that everything that I experienced really happened. It felt as if I was Dorothy waking up back in Kansas after her balloon trip from Oz. I will not forget each of the people I have bonded with during the course of this trip: my teammates: Armando, Alex, Alexis, Aliyah, Amy C, Amy B and Lewis; our professors: Professor Slater and Dr. Rivero; and everyone else I have met on the trip. I look forward to my future with MNUN.
Fancy seeing this in the Paris airport after representing UNESCO in Model UN…Final meal in the Czech Republic before going home!Inside of the Marriott.Airport as viewed from the 6th floor of the Marriott.Saying “goodbye” to Olomouc.
When it came to representing China in the 2015 NMUN Conference in the Czech Republic, I will say that I did fairly well. Unlike my previous blunders in simulations where I struggled to make an effective speech, I managed to stand my ground and speak with certainty at Palaky University.
For the first time, I saw how competitive the environment can be in and out of conference. Everyone is certainly in it to win it. Though since we all are paragons of diplomacy, we maintain and create good relationships with other delegates (though there are some delegates that are uncharacteristically aggressive, it is a small percent). I enjoyed being able to collaborate with others towards a common goal despite representing different ideals and priorities. Not only is this a necessary skill for anyone in domestic and international relations, but it is also needed when connecting with other individuals in our everyday lives. At the end of our conference, we passed four papers and led one. We are proud to state that Lewis and Armando received a best position paper award! I look forward to signing up for the New York conference in the spring of 2016.
After-conference pictures. With me are Malaysia, Brazil, and the two guys representing South Africa.
Other fun tidbits during the rest of this week included our American Thanksgiving Dinner. The Czech people, of course, had little prior knowledge about the holiday, and when they read about Pilgrims and Indians, they logically concluded that “Indians” meant those from India. We ended up with turkey cooked in Indian curry for our first course!
An original Thanksgiving dinner.
Also, Palaky University is where Gregor Mendel went to study. He was the botanist who cross-bred pea plants and discovered how the dominant and recessive genes that make up our genotype are expressed in our phenotype. As a biochemistry major this is certainly something to brag about!
For me, this day marked the highlight of the entire trip. I have wanted to see snow since I was born, and experiencing it the way I did made the wait worth it. The mountainous terrain we hiked to get to the caverns were draped in snow. There is a saying that “the world is your oyster,” and how magnificent it is to be in a place that shimmered like the surface of a pearl!
The way up was a pleasant experience as well. I talked for a while with members from the UK delegation who were all pleasurable to talk to. Prior to the trip I had a certain anxiety about interacting with people, and after it is all over I am proud to say my confidence really increased. Once we got to the entrance to the cave, our delegation had a huge snowball fight. We were having so much fun in our folly while the other delegations smiled at us, amused that we were enjoying snow as much as we did. As Floridians, an opportunity like this does not come by very often.
My first ever snowball!
As for the caverns themselves, they were an adventure like no other. Stalactites and stalagmites tacitly spoke about a lengthy history of erosion. Our tour guide was insecure about her English, but she was doing perfectly fine. The most intriguing aspect about this cave was a formation that hung from the ceiling which looked like an elegant piece of drapery. A light shone upon it to illustrate that it was translucent. It is difficult to imagine such a masterpiece is the result of naturally-occurring geological processes.
Mesmerizing formation in the caves.
After we explored the caves, we went to Bouzov Castle, a castle made for observing the trade routes among Olomouc and other as well as a stronghold for protection and capture during periods of conflict. It looked like something out of a storybook. We were shown into the various rooms of the castle, seeing windows architecturally built in a way to convenience archers preparing for attack, a kitchen and dining room prepared in a way for the Christmas holiday, and rooms containing secret staircases. The Christmas mannequins stuck out to me as they were strange depictions of frightening monsters. On the chandelier in the dining room was a witch riding on her broom stick, something I have seen all throughout Prague as well. I never received a clear answer as to why there were so many witches, but later I found out that witches are a huge part of Czech folklore and that every April 30 a major holiday called “Walpurgisnacht” is celebrated involving festivals and the burning of witch effigies. For a brief few hours in the day, we strutted like royalty.
In front of Buzouv Castle.The famous witch motif.Well well well, what have we here?
Later that night was the beginning of our first NMUN conference. I was extremely nervous for my first time, but with the help of my partner and by putting faith in my own abilities I managed to get things going for myself. The agenda was set to two to one as we hoped and Amy quickly began writing a paper while Russia, Brazil, Jordan, and I (China) began planning a paper as well.
A memorial now, this wall was where prisoners lined up awaiting execution.
There are certain places that are too powerful for words to accurately describe, and the Auschwitz concentration camps in Poland are paragons of this idea.
We all have learned about the somber stories of the Holocaust: Jews and other “undesirables” taken from their homes and stuffed into trains tighter than sheep at a slaughterhouse, forced to work and die at camps all around Germany-controlled Europe. As we toured through Auschwitz I, the Auschwitz camp with most of the military barracks and gas chambers, we came across two factors that put the experiences of its victims into a perspective that cannot be actualized through simply reading a textbook.
Collections like these are common. In the picture are children’s shoes.
The first of which was the cold. Despite wearing jackets, hats and gloves, we were all freezing cold. One of our team members reminded us that the prisoners wore next to no clothing when first arriving at these chambers, and their allotted clothing soon after turned meager at best. Finding the weather daunting after exiting a bus with AC and wearing multiple layers, the idea of it being so much worse struck us with an unprecedented graveness. In addition to this, chambers throughout the camp were lined with prisoners’ belongings behind glass displays spanning the length of the entire room. There was one filled with children’s shoes, another with luggage and baskets. The two the stuck out the most to me were the hallway filled with removed prosthesis from men, women and children all alike, and the display containing a mountainous amount of shaved women and girls’ hair.
Inside the gas chambers.
As for personal shock, the gallows left more of an impact to me than the gas chambers. In eighth grade my class read the autobiography Night by Eli Wiesel and a passage from it mentioned a man who was hanged from the gallows. It took him 15 minutes before he died because he was too malnourished for the rope to effectively snap his neck.
The gallows.
Auschwitz II, also known as Birkenau, was more like a huge pasture. This was where most of the prisoners stayed. The tour guide told us that prisoners favored removing waste from the restrooms because they would smell so putrid that the SS soldiers wouldn’t go near them to “make an example” out of them. The day’s whole experience was a very eye-opening and educational one that would not soon be forgotten.
On the railroad track in front of Birkinau.The ashes of Jewish prisoners that were able to be salvaged.
There were a lot of interesting statues in the Hotel Trinity.
I intended to sleep on the train ride to Olomouc, yet a more appealing happening took place. Being in the same enclave as Lewis, Aliyah and Amy was the first time I felt that I got to know my team members during the trip, which is important for any competition. It was an enjoyable recreation to eat terrible sushi and break out in song with a music major (Amy) and a thespian (Aliyah).
The landscape outside was truly a sight to be had. Initially filled with graffiti from the station we transitioned into endless fields of green and yellow. I don’t know much about the Czech Republic, but it is safe to assume at this point that agriculture is a significant part of its economy.
By the time we got to the station we were given the chance to talk with MNUN students from other universities. They were all very eccentric people. We were all thankful to arrive at the Hotel Trinity, which had Wi-Fi, comfortable quarters and working elevators. The tree lighting later that night was a sight to be had: a huge tree flickering on right next to the Trinity Column. The Trinity Column is a famous World Heritage Site, which appealed greatly to Amy and I who were part of the UNESCO committee. Maneuvering through the crowd was a nightmare; it was like walking through Disney World with every visitor multiplied. It was all worth it, however, when Amy and I got some famous Czech sausages and returned to the hotel after having our fill of the sights.
The elegant train station in Prague.Inside Palacky University, where we will have our Model UN MeetingsThe Trinity Column, a world heritage sight made in the Baroque period in celebration of Catholicism.Lighting of the Tree Festival soon after our arrival in Olomouc.
What a surreal experience it is to have my first Model UN experience on the other side of the world!
The Czech Republic is certainly what one thinks of when one mentions Europe, what with its centuries-old roads and buildings coupled with bustling tourists all around. My other team members seemed excited to be there even considering their culture shock in experiencing Europe for the first time. Visiting Rome earlier in the year, I was prepared for most of what was in store, though there were a lot of things I certainly was not prepared for!
Unlike Italian, which shares a lot of similarities with French and Spanish, the Czech language is unique all on its own, and I knew how to speak absolutely nothing. Also, it was freezing cold and I left my coat in the luggage, which was delayed until after the day’s tour. One aspect about the Czech Republic is that everything closes early and it gets dark by 19:00. Later that night we had our tour, which was simply amazing. We walked all around the old part of the city and passed by monoliths such as the Cathedral of St. Vitus and the Charles Bridge. It was interesting to learn about how Prague was intended to be used by the Nazis to store stolen treasures. Being able to waltz right through the government building where the president resides was very intriguing to us as Americans where edifices like these would be heavily guarded. It was an amazing first day and I look forward for more to be had.
On one side of the Charles Bridge looking over the other.Cathedral of St. Vitus looming over onlookers.
It seemed like this last day was designed specifically for our departure. After we packed, we were taken back to downtown Rome and went into the Capuchin Crypts. It was very exciting entering crypts made completely out of the bones of the deceased members of the monks, creating many forms of the Memento Mori such as the winged hourglass and a clock. The crypt served to remind people of their own mortality yet bestows upon them the idea of rebirth. We unfortunately could not take pictures at the crypt, but I bought a few post cards.
We went to the top of the Spanish Steps, looking down on a Roman square proceeding a feast day. It was very messy. We walked through Borghese Park afterwards, and it is jaw-dropping in its beauty. It is hard to believe that this entire park used to be a private yard of the Borgheses. There was an immaculate lake where we could ride a boat for only three euros. Emily showed me and Summer how to row the boat, which was awesome.
After doing some last-minute shopping and eating dinner, we arrived in front of the Castle Sant’Angelo in front of a swarm of people. There must have been thousands of people of all nationalities gathered up to see the fireworks designed by Michelangelo himself. It was the best fireworks display I have ever seen, complete with fireworks I have never seen before. Needless to say this was the perfect way to close our trip.
Me at the roof of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
Today was the best day yet. We visited the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. Call me strange, but this center is more exciting to me than anything else here in Rome.
Each room, funded by different countries of the United Nations, was like stepping into another culture. The presentation moved me. It was a discussion and PowerPoint dealing with the issue of world hunger and sustainable agriculture.
A lot of factors poured into the mix of solutions; soil quality, illegal fishing, climate change, poverty, arid land, you name it. I used to have a cynical view of the UN, believing that it is mainly the powerful west trying to impose their ideals on developing countries and forcing them into a state of irreversible dependence and thus submission to these nations.
To my surprise, I learned that organizations like the FAO assist not primarily in providing food to those who need it, but to promote ideas that will assist these nations in procuring a stable environment for a healthy living. Instead of impeding upon cultures, the FAO helps them thrive.
The front of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggoire
I want go into the United Nations now, or at least become one of the scientists who meets with the UN to contribute a new form of innovation.
We looked at a few churches after this. They were a lot smaller than the Basilica, but much more reserved and ambient. I liked seeing the staircase where St. Elise had lived humbly under, and I loved the statues found within the church of St. Lawrence. Perhaps the most interesting thing we did between the UN and lunch is look through a keyhole into a whole other country: Malta! (not the island, somewhere within Rome that’s only a few blocks!). It’s very interesting, being able to peer into another nation through a doorway.
Lunch was great today; we had American food. Who knew burgers here could be as good as they have it back home?
The latter half of the day was found traveling to the Basilica of St. Maria Maggiore deep within Rome. The crowded bus is starting to become less immersive and more uncomfortable! St. Maria Maggiore really spoke to me. This is where the supposed manger of Jesus was held. I am not sure whether or not this is true, but there was a certain aura of holy respect centered among the place. Even though I am not a Christian, I felt the need to pray inside this church. Upon doing so, I felt a feeling unprecedented and unexplainable. I never doubted the existence of a god, but I never regarded one as “present.” I think I can conclude that the presence I felt was something that came from deep inside as well as something coiled around me from the outside, and these two things, both the same substance yet fundamentally different, came together in a powerful way…
…Now. Away from the weird stuff, on the way back to the hotel we stopped at a nerd store. In it there were Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and other fantasy-based memorabilia as well as Celtic-inspired trinkets. I freaked out in here; I wanted this place to be my new home. I could spend all my Euros in here, but because we have another 5 days to go, I settled with getting a Gothic-style decorated box for my dad and a hand-mirror with a mermaid handle for my friend Emma.
Today was a blast. We had our last day of class, which was bittersweet, but also meant that we had more time to explore Rome with the following days. Margaret and Chloe showed me this rad pizza place during lunch, and it was a shame I didn’t visit it earlier! It had some of the best pizza I have ever had.
We visited St. Peter’s again shortly after. (I don’t think I officially took back what I said about it being “smaller than in pictures.” The outside, maybe, but the inside dwarfs you.) We saw some things we didn’t get to see on Tuesday, such as the embalmed bodies of Pope John XXIII and Pope Innocent XI, as well as a whole hall of tombs for deceased popes underneath.
The Vatican Museum had to be the most overwhelming place we have been to yet. So much art from so many artists filled the place, and a great deal were well-known. Our tour guide was very nice, never speaking too much or too little. I was shocked and entertained to learn that the main reason Michelangelo painted figures on the Sistine Chapel naked was because the pope refused to pay him. His works are very passive aggressive, placing a critic of his in Hell and having the pope hold up his skin, as if he had him working away his flesh. The marble works all had their distinct charm, many of which I have read about in textbooks, some of which looking like famous folk from the last century, like Bill Clinton. A peculiar structure within the museum is a large basin made of volcanic rock. This was the bathtub of Nero’s wife. The huge bathtub would be filled with donkey milk for the Empress to bathe in, for it was said to smooth the skin. This is impressive because even today, cutting a meter of volcanic rock could take an hour.
The ceilings on the hall to the Sistine Chapel is the most impressive paintwork I have ever seen. I had to ask the guide whether they were actual carved ornaments or really good paintings! Needless to say they were paintings that served their purpose of perspective trickery quite well. I saw my favorite painting, The School of Athens, in the museum, to which I can say it lives up to its fame.
After going through the Sistine Chapel, which, needless to say, was breathtaking and the epitome of Michelangelo’s genius, we went to dinner. At the Vatican Courtyard was a buffet. It certainly was the time to be alive to be given this opportunity: to dine at one of the holiest sights in the world. We went to an exhibit of Ancient Egyptian works shortly after. The whole museum was immense, the largest museum in the world next to the Louvre in Paris. I cannot fathom what it must be like over there. Looks like I have my next travel destination in mind!
The ball in the foreground is the same size as the one on St. Peter’s in the background!Laocoon getting attacked by serpents.Nero’s wife’s bathtub where she bathed in donkey milk!Believe it or not, these are all paintings, no reliefs at all!
One of two Dali paintings. He’s one of my favorite artists.
Oh Florence, where do I begin? We got up extra early this morning and took a private bus to the train station. Unlike other public faculties in Rome, bus drivers do not mess around if you are late! Luckily we were not. We then took a train to Florence. More on the train later on the way back, as I did not have a window seat here. One of the poorer experiences was at the station, where you had to pay a euro just to use the restroom.
However, Florence, otherwise known as Firenze, was one of the best experience! It’s much more lively and modern than Rome, and it is the home of Early Renaissance. The churches are much more lavishly decorated to the point that they were nearly Gothic. There was one with a huge dome known as the Santa Maria del Fiore. Many artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael, and Da Vinci intermingled here, sometimes even in competitions with one another. One notable contest involved Brunelleschi (rediscovered 3D perspective in 2D art), Ghiberti, and Donatello. Ghiberti won, and designed beautiful bronze doors to the Florence Baptistery, creating a relief of New Testament scenes on the north doors, and later Old Testament scenes on the east doors.
Bronze Doors Ghiberti sculpted
My favorite thing to see in the main square is the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence’s main hall where major executions were held. Savonarola, who falsified prophecies, was burned in front of it and Fransisco De Pazi, who staged the assassination of the Medici family during mass, was hanged naked off of the Palazzo. Many statues also decorated the area, including a copy of Michelangelo’s David.
Palazzo Vecchio
The Basilica of Santa Croce was where we went to after the Palazzo. We got to see the tomb of Michelangelo and Dante! Dante Alighieri is one of my favorite authors with Inferno, so it was so cool to see his tomb, even if he is not yet buried there. When we continued our walk after this we saw a church without its facade. I can’t believe how plain it looks without all the aesthetic details!
Dante’s tombChurch without its facade
We then went to the leather market. Markets like these highlights the mass immigration coming into Italy, and many of those immigrants were of African or Middle Eastern descent. They all speak a lot of languages, which I suppose is necessary to make a living in a tourist-heavy area. The leather came from cows in Tuscany, and many of the food in Florence, as we found out during lunch, are Tuscan specialties. Also during lunch, we realized American 70’s music was not only popular in Rome. It is a very strange penchant of modern Italians.
Now it’s time for my favorite part! The Medici Summer Palace, the Palazzo Pitti, was simply fantastic. Later used as a base for Napoleon, this palace has a lot of Baroque and Rococo influences. So many paintings lined the place, and Professor Hesting confessed that this was even better than the Uffizi! Many people can say they saw David, but we can say we saw Napoleon Bonaparte’s bathroom!
Napoleon Bonaparte’s bathroom
We had free time for ourselves after this, which was spent looking at very expensive stores that lined Firenze. There was one sweets store with a chocolate waterfall behind the counter! We had dinner once we got back together, then it was time to go back to good ole Rome. The train ride back was insightful. I noticed many small communities along the way that were fairly spaced out. I wonder what it must be like to live in such rural areas between the bustling cities of Rome and Florence, and what sort of lifestyle the inhabitants conform to. I wonder if there are schools in the small towns or if students need to take the train to another town. Once there was a shack in the middle of nowhere, and I pictured the thought of someone down on their luck having to live there, or perhaps choose that lifestyle as a form of religious devotion, or perhaps it was simply an abandoned stable… Sometimes the most thought-provoking things can be found in the minute details of this world.
