From DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.orgWed Aug 30 10:15:20 1995 Date: Mon, 28 Aug 1995 18:11:00 +0100 From: Debra Guzman Reply to: beijing-conf@tristram.edc.org To: beijing-conf@tristram.edc.org Subject: Staying Sane in Beijing [The following text is in the "ISO-8859-1" character set] [Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set] [Some characters may be displayed incorrectly] ## author : newwdc@igc.apc.org ## date : 21.08.95 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Excerpts from: Suggestions for Staying Sane in Beijing By Muriel Smith July 31, 1995 Winnipeg, Canada I have survived four UN Conferences and have developed a few useful hints that might be of help for first-timers, and maybe even a few veterans. I have found it to be extremely useful to keep a running diary of where I have been and the key ideas, experiences I have had. You will be surprised how quickly jam-packed days can mesh into an undifferentiated mush in an over-stimulated mind and over-ti red body. Not only are these notes useful for sharing with others, they are of inestimable value when it comes to reporting back or later networking. Have a special place for calling cards and names and addresses, including fax and email numbers. Get s ome calling cards of your own made - a friendly exchange can often lead to interesting pieces of mail and visitors in the years ahead. Start out each day with your day's supplies: comfortable shoes, key papers for identification, money, bus schedule, event booklet, sun hat, water bottle, camera, writing materials, extra paper if you want anything printed by the free computer services, t oilet paper, even a wet cloth in a plastic bag, a light sweater and/or rain gear for starters. Don't forget your sense of humor and your yen for adventure! Be ready for agenda changes - they are bound to happen. Just revise your personal itinerary. Visit the computer room - you may be helped to sign on to a conference program and email just for the duration. Take time out when you need it. Two or three w eeks of intense activity can wear you down and you are no use to anyone if you are sick or over-fatigued. Be sure to master the travel arrangements in case you get separated from your buddies. Always have a fall back plan. Branch out on your own at lea st part of the time. Volunteer for working groups. The responsibility is generally shared and there's no better way to get your feet wet and to feel a part of the whole undertaking. Everyone's experience will be important for reporting back. Some will be observing the political processes and focus on global strategies. Still others will pick up anecdotal reports gleaned from one to one conversations. Some will acquire or create art , new songs, videos, photographic records. Some will join networks and plan for future interaction. Remember: There is no one right way to take part in a UN Conference. No one but you can chart the right way for you. Treat it as an individual adventure. Stay cool when that's what's called for...celebrate...become indignant...plan ahead...work hard an d play hard. There's nothing like it!