JOMUN XII Proposal

IB/CAS Proposal

Candidate Name: Enya Calibuso

Activity/Project: Johannesburg Model United Nations (JOMUN) XII

Date: 27 August 2014

Intro:

I chose to continue JOMUN for my second year, because I found it very rewarding and interesting last year. I learned a lot and the debates sparked my interest and allowed me to be a more influential journalist. This year I go into JOMUN with more confidence and a overall understanding of the United Nations. My skill level is intermediate. My talent is fast typing and a good listener.

Targeted Learning Outcomes:

I am engaged in issues of global importance through JOMUN by researching the new topic “Finding Solutions to 21^st Century Challenges in Africa” including: achieving universal primary education in Africa, creating equal opportunities for women in education, work, and government participation, and the situation in Nigeria involving the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency. As a journalist, I will always keep a strong consideration on the ethical implications pertaining to the articles I write to be published for JOMUN. Sensitivity on the subjects and an open mind are essential for writing the truth. I will continue to display perseverance and commitment to my fellow press team. I will represent the American School of Johannesburg in the JOMUN Conference to the highest standards of excellence.

This activity would complete my Creativity section of CAS.

Activity Description:

We will prepare for the JOMUN conference by writing preliminary articles pertaining to specific topics. Currently, I am revising the JOMUN book to reflect this years United Nations topic – “Finding Solution to 21^st Century Challenges in Africa.” In addition, the press team is working on a new layout for the Jomun Journal. Tasks have been assigned to each press member. The article will be prepared the day of the delegation by taking notes, and then drafting the article that will be published in the newspaper. My role in JOMUN is to be a columnist. My responsibilities include note taking, background context, correct facts, and composing gathered information into one article for the JOMUN newspaper.

End:

The opportunities are endless for the development of my learning outcomes. Being a second year journalist, I have honed by skills as a writer. The efficiency to pull out pertinent information that will provide the greatest details and insight to clarify the topic to its fullest. I will uphold my civic responsibilities as a senior, to be a positive professional role model throughout the JOMUN conference. I will represent JOMUN with the upmost integrity.

Specific Schedule for Commitment:

JOMUN meets every Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. at AISJ. The JOMUN sessions started on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 and ends on Sunday, September 28, 2014. The conference will take place from Thursday, September 25, 2014 to Sunday, September 26, 2014.

Supervising Adult:

Ms. Deanne Slattery

dslattery@aisj-jhb.com

CAS Coordinator:

Ms. Deanne Slattery

dslattery@aisj-jhb.com

Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro Celebration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1YtVdConIE&list=UUAo-yDBQci8pkp_0PKDkuRw

Summitting Mount Kilimanjaro August 2014

http://youtu.be/hLUOoEKX-8U

Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro Reflection 8 - 9 - 14

Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro Reflection

            August 9, 2014, summit night… We awoke at 11 p.m. and began to summit at midnight. A full moon was shining. The temperature was below freezing. Our headlamps were a beacon in the night. We literally looked light a colony of ants trekking to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro to reach Uhuru Peak. It was extremely challenging and exhausting. I must say I was delirious at times. My extremities, fingers and toes, never got warm despite hand warmers and two pairs of gloves. Focus with every step, hearing my own breathing, and pacing to the step of ‘pole pole’ meaning ‘slowly slowly’. Water bottles froze, surrounding hikers collapsed and vomited. Hour upon agonizing hour passed by, conditions the same with less oxygen. Finally, the sun began to rise. My family and I’s optimism came out of the dark. We reached Stella Point at 7 a.m. and Uhuru Peak at 7:45 a.m. This has been the most challenging expedition I have ever faced. Elated I made it to the top with my family. It was an incredible accomplishment. Our journey only begins, we still have to descend for hours, pack our porter bags at Barafu Camp, and continue to descend to Mweka Camp another 10 hours of hiking. You think the body reaches a point of no return, but it manages to be resilient and carry you forth. The mind was in a state of stupor trance. The final steps to Mweka Gate were elating and such a feel of accomplishment.

            My learning moment was how resilient the human body can be when pushed to limits such as high altitude, lack of sleep, and continuous exercise. My commitment to complete this journey to the summit is solidified. I made it! It was definitely a challenge. The biggest challenge I have ever faced at age 17. My strength I pulled deep within along with my physical one step in front of the other and the endurance of hours upon hours in motion. My weaknesses that I encountered during this hike, were physical weaknesses such as: headaches, dizziness, and lightheadedness. I know that it was all due to altitude. As soon as we descended down to Mweka Camp, my symptoms literally disappeared.

            I know the lesson that I learned here is that it takes team effort in order to successfully climb Mount Kilimanjaro. We had a total of 11 people in our group and the Ultimate Kilimanjaro team consisted of 41 porters, guides, cooks, toilet crew, etc. This is definitely a team effort. I don’t feel that there were any changes that needed to be made. Ultimate Kilimanjaro did an amazing job! Our fellow hikers all put 100% into their hikes.

            Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro has given me the confidence and the wisdom to pursue another mountain such as Machu Picchu in Peru. So, this will be my future endeavor.

Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro 8 - 5 - 14

Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro Reflection

            August 1, 2014 my family and I are busy packing for our trip to Mount Kilimanjaro. Just packing alone for Mount Kilimanjaro is quite a challenge. It is unbelievable the amount of gear that is needed to complete an eight day hike. We are hiking from August 3^rd through August 11^th. On August 2^nd my family and I boarded the plane for Tanzania. We will be hiking through five biomes: lower slopes (6560 ft. / 2000 m), rain forest (9840 ft. / 3000 m), heath and moorland (13,120 ft. / 4000 m), high desert (16,400 ft. / 5000 m), and summit (19,680 ft. / 6000 m). In order to be able to proficiently hike these different biomes, an array of clothing is necessary. For the lower slopes and the rain forest, hiking pants SPF 40 that zip off into shorts, a long sleeved wicking ability shirt, a hat with a large brim, hiking boots that are ankle height, sock liners, and wicking ability socks are needed. In the heath and moorland and high desert you would add long johns and a fleece. Summit you need at least five layers on the top and four layers on the bottom along with gators. The five layers on top consist of: long johns, wicking ability shirt, fleece, down jacket, and raincoat. The four layers on bottom consist of: long johns, fleece pants, hiking pants, and rain pants along with gators around your boots.

            Our group of 11 hikers from Ultimate Kilimanjaro began our journey in the lower slopes on August 3^rd. On day 1 we moved from Londorossi Gate to Mti. Mkubwa, which was a 4 hour hike with an altitutde of 11,500 ft / 3,505 m. On day 2 we moved from Mti. Mkubwa to Shira 1 Camp, which was a 6 hour hike with an altitude of 12,500 ft / 3,810 m. On day 3 we moved from Shira 1 Camp to Moir Hut, which was a 6 hour hike with an altitude of  13,800 ft / 4,200 m. On day 4 we moved from Moir Hut to Barranco Camp, which was a 6 hour hike with an altitude of 13, 044 ft / 3,976 m. On day 5 we moved from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp, which was a 6 hour hike with an altitude of 13,106 ft / 3,995 m. On day 6 we moved from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp, which was a 5 hour hike with an altitude of 15,331 ft / 4,673 m. Summit night, we moved from Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak, which was a 8 hour hike with an altitude of 19,341 ft / 5,895 m. On day 7 we moved from Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp, which was an 8 hour hike with an altitude of 10,065 ft / 3,068 m. On day 8 we moved from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, which was a 4 hour hike with an altitude of 5,380 ft / 1,640 m.

            My very first observation of Mount Kilimanjaro was my flight into Tanzania through the airplane window. My perception at that time – that mountain looked humongous. At that moment I realized I had a big challenge that awaited me. It was going to take both physical and mental strength to get through these eight days. My commitment is 100%, my attitude is 100%, and I’m ready for this climb.

Some of the highlights that I encountered in the beginning of our hikes on Mount Kilimanjaro were the beautiful fauna and flora deep within the rainforest. The flora was deep and vibrant. The sounds were exotic. The temperature was warm. I had the opportunity to eyewitness first hand a family of Columbus monkeys in the wild.

My physician had prescribed Diamox for altitude sickness. My family and I began to take it the day before we hiked. Some of the strengths and weaknesses that accompanied the Diamox were the side effects: frequent urination, tingling and numbness in the extremities, and dry mouth. The strength that it took me to drink 3 liters every day was a challenge, but became easier throughout the days. One of my limitations was that I suffered from frequent mild headaches. However, I learned that drinking lots of water would relieve the headaches.

This journey on Mount Kilimanjaro I cannot compare to anything else. It has placed me in an element of newness. I would not have changed a single thing. I feel this was well orchestrated and I encountered no problems.

For future goals this hike on Mount Kilimanjaro has placed some desire to possibly hike Machu Picchu, Peru in the future.

            

Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro Reflection 7 - 5 - 14

Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro Reflection

            July 2014, my training regime is continuing. I go to the gym Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. I start off with 20 minutes on the stair stepper set at level 9, 20 minutes on the treadmill at a gradient of 9 and a speed of 6, 10 minutes on the rowing machine, 120 abdominal exercises, and various weigh lifting machines. Incorporated with the exercise my goal is to drink at least 4 liters of water per day.

My family and I also attempted to train on the West Cliff steps in Johannesburg, South Africa. However, we found this exercise very interruptive and short. So, we are back hiking in Groenkloof and Klipriviersberg every Saturday and Sunday.

I know I have mentioned the altitude-training mask in my previous reflection. I would like to reiterate on its function and purpose; the mask simulates high altitude levels in 20 minute intervals. I will train every week at least 20 minutes on every hike to increase my lung capacity and allow me to acclimate according to the training mask.

Part of the exciting journey to make it to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is having the proper gear. Throughout the weeks my family and I have been regular customers at Drifters, Due South, and Cape Union Mart. We were invited to attend a Kilimanjaro orientation at Drifters through the company Adventure Dynamix International with Sean Disney. This was a very informative orientation that lasted about 2 hours. He basically briefed us on what to expect, how much training to put in, what to wear, etc.

My commitment and perseverance into the second month of training is solidifying my desire to make it to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Although, I know I still have weaknesses because training is only a fraction of what it takes to make it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Mental strength and concentration is the other part of the equation. Sleep and lots of water are essential, but can also be a challenge.

Into the second month of training, one of my learning moments was that I preferred to use one pole versus the two. This is just a personal preference, because I felt more comfortable and was able to hike with more ease. Another learning moment that came to me in the tranquility of hiking the trails was to enjoy the moment now, because it’s not all about making it to the summit. So enjoy the fauna and foliage, the smells and the sounds of the earth.

I’m always going to keep in mind that my health and my safety will take priority over negative implications that could affect me if I pushed myself too far. The altitude affects on the human body can be mild or can be deadly. Thus, use wise judgment when you are challenging yourself.

The only changes that my family and I made in the month of July in our training regime was that we allowed our body to dictate how long we were going to be training for. We did not set a certain time limit. The wonderful part of that is the more you train the more your body will be able to accept.

I wear glasses and they pose a problem with conflict of interest. During my Kilimanjaro orientation at Drifters they forbid the use of glass lenses and recommended polarized plastic sunglasses due to strong ultraviolet rays at high altitudes.

Our action plan is to hike all the way up until the last week of July. Our flight will be departing for Kilimanjaro, Tanzania on August 1^st. We will use our last week for rest and recuperation.

If I reach my goal of reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, I feel that this experience will be a great tool for me to use on my resumes showing commitment, perseverance, and accepting a challenge.