Although I had never participated this type of international simulation through a model UN or another type of model NATO, I was quick to register to attend my first international summit. A previous excursion with Pr. Mitrasca at the Quebec Student Forum taught me to trust his judgement when it came to the acquisition of general knowledge through real life experiences and simulations. 

At first, most of us did not know how any of the procedures worked. I acted as the representative of the mighty United States of America. Some colleagues representing other countries and I were delegated to the Military Committee. Our first "mission" was to complete a war game (a board game simulating an emergency simulation). After hours of discussion and reasoning with university students, we finally obtained a solution that became our main issue during our Military Committee sessions. 

As we got more and more familiar with the procedure of the committee, we were able to better represent the interest of our countries as well as to take a stronger role in debates and discussions.

Although this part of the conference represented the concrete result of previous research and writing on NATO's procedure and our country's positions on various issues, in my view, this was not the most educational part of this experience. 

My favourite part of the conference was the opening ceremony as we were able to mingle and exchange with many invited international officials as well as listen to lectures given by these same officials. As the first anniversary of the War in Ukraine was remembered as the conference began, it was interesting to listen to the Latvian, Ukrainian, Canadian, and American dignitaries' points of view each with slightly different optics relating to the role of NATO in the region. It was also interesting to hear input on other areas of concern such as the Indo-Pacific where China's growing influence gives goosebumps to many NATO officials. 

Other educational opportunities came in the form of visits. Specifically, our group visited the Danish and American embassies in Ottawa and the new Senate building located in the capital's old train station. It was fascinating to ask questions to diplomatic envoys on their nations' respective roles in world security countering threats in the Arctic, the Indo-Pacific and Eastern Europe. The diplomats also answered questions on their role and their job descriptions which allowed our group to obtain a better understanding of a career path that is considered by many. It was also interesting to see the relationship between the size of the country and the size of the embassy. For instance, Denmark has a four-room appartment in a mall whereas the mighty United States have a heavily guarded four-story building two steps away from Parliament hill.