Today was interesting. In the morning, we performed our Model UN assignment. There were nine countries to choose from, and I ended up with Saudi Arabia. In my resolution, I decided to get the members to agree with me that my request to launch more oil drillings, and to sell oil for lower prices everywhere. Of course, my resolution never passed, it was merely tied. Along with several other students’ resolutions. It seemed like no one could make up their mind. Meanwhile, I was worried on how I, a sixteen-year-old girl would have to try and justify why their women are treated as second class citizens. The United Nations experience helped me understand new perspectives. Anyway, the day really gets interesting after lunch.

Today, my peers and I visited the Vatican Museum. It was pretty packed, being the home of The Sistine Chapel (note: apparently, simply calling it The Sistine Chapel is incorrect, because in technicality there were more than one. Pardon me). Our guide, Jill, was very helpful in informing us of the artworks. And…seriously, some of the works I saw in there were incredible. All of them, actually. There was one technique that some Renaissance painters used by using correct shading and highlighting in the right places to make their two-dimensional paintings look three-dimensional. And it was no gimmick, it works. In some places, on the ceiling, what I thought were statues turned out to be completely different with a closer, more observant eye. The interior of the museum consisted of several long hallways, some more striking than others. There was painting and inspired artwork on every inch of the walls. When there was not artwork, there were hand drawn maps of parts of Italy before most of our mapping technology had been created. No devices, only math and careful observations. Every hall looked so complete. Of course, how could I forget to mention The Sistine Chapel? As crowded and as loud as it was, I was able to take in as much detail as possible. The painting at the ceiling represents God revealing himself, creating humanity, and then humanity having to pay for their sins. There were several scenes on the side, including images of Jesus Christ. With help from others, I could find the devil, who is insidiously adorable and small, sitting on the shoulder of Judah’s shoulder. I was completely enthralled with my experience, no matter how many people were there.