Seven and Eighth day, at the Academy

Friday December 19th

We would spend the next two days at the academy in Otzenhausen doing E.U. policy decision making. On Friday it was just a simulation between the Kennesaw Students. We had a guest leader and our topic was on European migration policy. I was really glad we had this topic because my final essay for my EU politics class, just a week before hand, was on non-European migration to Europe. So I already had a bit of background knowledge.

 There were two presidents, four political parties, and three special interest groups. I was part of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Each team got a room where they would come up with a plan and what they would share with the rest of the group. Although it was "just" a simulation, it got really intense. I would lie if I said there weren't any rifts between people after this day. But, luckily, we were able to come to a conclusion and make some change in the union ;) BUT this was a starter simulation to get us ready for the next day.

We began our day around 9am and students from a near by university would arrive around 10am. When they arrived and we took seats in the main room, they began to introduce themselves. Their professor let us know that within those students, there were about 20 plus nationalities represented. From Italy to Poland and from Kazakhstan to Albania. There was an unbelievable amount of diversity. But let me tell you the dread I felt when they began to introduce themselves. Sure some of us are IA majors but we had nursing, education, chemistry, and English majors (& freshman :P). Their university on the other hand is an institution focused on European Integration, is a postgraduate institute, and their focus is European and International law. UM. Luckily, we we're going to mixed and just work together. Our professors called four or so of us up there to be something other than just a basic member of the commission, the council, or the parliament. All I remember was thinking please not me please not me, and then, "Melissa". So I went and stood at the front of the room and we could choose who we wanted to be but I'm still confused as to WHAT was going on. But I got stuck being the president of the parliament. Which was honestly the best for me! The Commission is the executive body, while the council and the parliament are the bicameral legislative bodies. The council represents the governments of the EU member states (countries), while the parliament represents democratically elected politicians (political parties). I hope I'm not dead wrong BUT ANYWAYS, I kind of just oversee and manage the parliament. Each group had their own rooms to discuss. We came to conclusions on our topic, legislation on tobacco, and then went to present it to the group. We had differing views than those of the commission, so we met again and negotiated so that we would get something done #government. And we did it!!

It was a day long event, but very rewarding. I was freaking out, but now really knowing the process, I'd do it again!

All photo credit to Dr. Noah McLaughlin