This year Rachel, Michael, and I all participate in the MUN (Model United Nations) elective, which is also like a debate class.  We have two conferences we can attend a year: one international and national.  Last week all three of us chose to go the the conference in QingDao (Ch-ing Dow) China, Mom signed up as a chaperon and Maddie tagged along to watch (Yes, Megan and Dad stayed at home)!  I think it was my favorite conference experience!  In my comity of Disarmament, there were seven other TIS students, including Michael.  I was the delegate of the Russian Federation (and no, I didn't use a Russian accent).   During the lobbying day, a day designated to writing and sharing resolutions in the conference, all the TIS students broke off into groups and together wrote a resolution on each of the topics so we were fully prepared for the debates.  In the debates we consecutively followed each other up to the podium and supported and defended each other's resolutions.  It was really fun!  The conference was a small one, and few delegates were very active in debate other than the TIS students so to liven up the debate, because by definition debate is "… opposing arguments …" and we weren't really feeling "opposition", we split up 4 TIS students For and 4 students Against.  I really enjoyed it and learned so much!  After the conferences I would go with my friends to the pool and spa of the hotel because the conference was being held in the hotel we were staying in.  Then we would have dinner in the mall connected the hotel.  I was really blessed to be able to attend this conference with all my family there!  All in all it was an amazing trip full of hard debating, learning, playing, eating, relaxing and domination!