International Relations Conference 2008

I was first told that I would be attending the International Relations annual conference in Oriel College, Oxford, at the end of April. Those months until July 26th that I arrived to Great Britain were full of expectations and curiosity, because although I had been to England several times, I had never visited Oxford. When I finally arrived, I found a wonderful city, and was not a bit disappointed. I even had a very warm welcome with a 30ºC lovely summer day.

On Sunday 27th in the afternoon I arrived to Saint Catherine’s College and met in the lobby with a Hong Kong and Estonian delegate. We made quick arrangements to meet again in 45 minutes in order to get on time to Oriel. We did so and were first met with Katie Brock and Anette Fisher. We were given some material for the week and asked to be back in an hour to meet with the rest of the delegates. So off we went for a short visit to Christ Church.

At 5 o’clock all delegates gathered in Oriel again were each one of us introduced themselves. We were around 20 since a few delegates had not arrived yet. We were given all the details of how our week would be and went to drinks in the lovely yard. After that we had our first dinner in the beautiful dinning room.

The intense week started with a lovely city tour given by Mr. Alistair Lack. Since he lives in Oxford, we were able to get a very personal view of the city. After that we started with very interesting lectures such as International Relations Today and Peace Keeping and Peace Enforcing. The second day was also started with international relations lectures, but the afternoon lecture given by a member of the NGO Oxfam was one of my favorites. I was thrilled at the possibility of listening to him since his work is related to lobbies and global an local civic campaigns.

The third day was more focused on economic and trade matters but in the afternoon we went to Stratford-upon-Avon. We went around the lovely city (into Shakespeare’s family house) and to its river in small groups. At 6 o’clock we met again for lunch and at 7 were in the Royal Shakespeare Company ready to watch the Hamlet version leaded by the famous David Tenant and Patrick Stewart as Claudius. I really enjoyed every minute of it and was very sad when it was over! We were told that tickets for this play were pure gold since none could be bought before December 2008!

Thursday (my favorite day) was dedicated to British institutions. It was my favorite day because the lecture given by Lord Watson on how the British Parliament works was too short for me! I would have stayed there asking him more questions on MP’s habits but had to let him leave. This was my favorite part of the conference because I work with Argentina’s National Congress and local legislatures. I asked Lord Watson plenty of questions and was able to show him the book I had worked on for the last seven months (Directorio Legislativo). That evening’s dinner was full of very interesting guests, starting with Lord Hunt of Wirral (Chairman of the English-Speaking Union). He spoke of the ESU’s long and rich history and of its crucial work as an organization dedicated to promoting international understanding and human achievement through the use of the English language.

Friday, our last day was a very sad one because it meant the conference was getting to and end. Our last dinner with Valerie Mitchell (General Director of the English-Speaking Union) and her husband was a lovely end to a very special week. She told us about the importance of ESU and how privileged we were on becoming an alumni of such an important organization. After dinner, nearly all delegates went out to a pub as a farewell party because nearly all of us left the next morning for London and our home countries. I had the wonderful possibilities of staying for a week in London with some friend who live there.

And now, speaking in general terms, I would like to say that the aspects of the Conference that I found most useful were the wide range of lectures. We had the possibility of listening and asking questions to former ambassadors, NGO leaders, multinationals companies CEOs and very distinguished professors. On the other hand, seeing it from the attendant’s point of view, it had also a very wide rage of participants. We could learn a lot about 25 different countries in only one week! And the most important part of this experience was that I had the chance to know more about UK’s politics, economics and its social and cultural life. The simple fact of just being there was amazing because it is such a multicultural country. Everywhere I went I found people from very different countries. I got to know a lot about countries that I had only vaguely heard about or seen in a map. Long conversations were dedicated to knowing countries so different from us such as Armenia, Rumania, Serbia, etc. Lastly, I can’t help but recognize that the delegates from the four Latin American countries (Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Argentina) got along extremely well, showing once more, how many things we have in common.

Another aspect that I found a bit strange at first, since it was an International Relation’s Conference but in the end loved it, was the fact that there were only two other delegates (from Mexico and Chile) that worked on public issues. This multidisciplinary team was an asset since I was able to learn so many interesting things from such very different professions (teachers, journalists, doctors, etc.).

I would not like to end this report without thanking the English Speaking Union for choosing me and giving me this amazing opportunity. Both personally and professionally speaking it has been an extremely positive experience because it gave me the opportunity of being part of a multicultural group where freedom of speech and tolerance were living values, not simple words without meaning.

Noel Alonso Murray

International Relations Conference 2006

I had great expectations about the Summer Conference, I was convinced that it would be an utterly interesting opportunity and I felt very lucky for having obtained the ESU scholarship but I can assure that the experience significantly surpassed any idea I had formulated about it and I learnt, enjoyed and met incredible people in one fantastic and unbelievable week.

The arrival in the UK was warm and bright: the July sun welcomed us and stayed with us during the whole week; it was a perfect time to visit the country because we could make the most of the day outdoors (there was daylight until 10pm!), admire the lavish and neat gardens and enjoy the general good mood the sunny season brings along.

The first impression of Oxford was stunning: I observed the old Gothic buildings, ancient chapels and stony walls from the coach that drove along the road that lead to the centre. This University town had indeed a mesmerising atmosphere we would later confirm in every talk with Oxfordians, so proud and grateful of their days there. I had a map with me so I was able to follow the names and location of each College, and the point where I should get down. This was the main avenue, The High Street -“the High” in the local jargon-, which bustled with people going to and fro with maps and speaking in all different languages; it was holiday season, so tourists flooded the picturesque streets.

The white bearded porter at Oriel College´s lodge was stern but very polite, he handed me a folder that contained the history of Oriel, some brochures and schedules of the Conference, practical instructions regarding accommodation, and cordially explained to me the directions to get to my dormitory in the Island, the oldest block of the building. I was lucky to get one of the finest rooms: a suite with two chimneys and a sitting area, which would become the meeting place after the pub during the following days.

One of the moments I awaited most was meeting the other participants and I slightly quenched this conjecture by reading the list with the names, nationality and profession of each: the list covered every corner of the globe, from East Asia to Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa. I was already ecstatic!

We gathered for the first time at the Auditorium, where we briefly introduced ourselves and expressed our expectations on the Conference, and where Hellen Green and Gemma McCoy, coordinators of the programme, greeted us and traced an outline of the week. We had the welcome dinner afterwards, which was preceded by drinks at the lawn of the Quad, the typical squared garden in the middle of each building of the Colleges in Oxford. It was an excellent opportunity to chat with different representatives of ESU, as the Goodalds (from the Oxford Branch) and Valerie Mitchell (Director General), who immediately switched to Portuguese after learning I was working with Brazilian Literature. I could tell this would be a cosmopolitan experience!

High walls cladded in vitreaux, shields and portraits of distinguished names (such as Sir Walter Raleigh), long wooden tables with lamps and double sets of cutlery and glassware, name tags in each seat and people dressed up to the nines: an extraordinary elegant welcome dinner followed by a slightly more informal activity: watching the final match of the World Cup over a pint at the bar downstairs. Although opposite in terms of etiquette, equally enriching in terms of cultural exchange.

We were invited to this solemn hall again the following morning to try a fully fledged English breakfast with beans, sausage, potato, tomato, mushroom and cereal. I was convinced at first I would be able to handle such a nutritious meal during the forthcoming breakfasts, but after two days I switched back to my regular diet: coffee and bread. I had taken a jar of dulce de leche with me, so I introduced the others into the standard Argentinean breakfast too. Other participants had taken different objects from their countries to hand out as souvenirs too: Romeo (from Phillipines) gave out maps of his country, Tsolomon (from Mongolia), miniature boots similar to the ones used by the nomads; Valda (from Latvia), a CD-ROM with information on her country.

The first day we had a group photograph taken and later, embarked on a tour around town, where we learned about the history of each College, aspects of the architecture and style of the buildings, but also about singular corners of town where our Oxfordian guide, Mr. Alistair Lack, had trodden, his favourite chestnut trees and so on and so forth.

Regarding the lectures, these took place in the morning and after lunch. There was a coffee break in between where we could elaborate on certain issues that had not been discussed in the classroom, but in a more informal way certainly. It was interesting to distinguish the rhetoric of each speaker in their discourse, so strictly related to their profession: University professor, MP, Company CEO, School Headmaster etc.

The topics covered different aspects of International Relations and, in particular, the role of the United Kingdom in them. These ranged from National Security, Terrorism, Multiculturalism, the role of developed countries in the world economy, the status of the Arts in the UK, the importance of investment in Culture, to the English educational system. I enjoyed best the ones related to Culture, which is my field of interest, but enthusiastically listened and intervened in discussions related to other problems. I believe that the debate that followed the presentations was the richest element of the Conference: everybody expressed its opinion from its own cultural point of view and from its professional vision. I cannot help to mention Sidra´s (from Pakistan) eloquent commentaries, which always cast light on the speakers opinions and encouraged other participants´ interventions; Srdjan´s (from Serbia) provocative questions, or Rafat´s (from Yemen) references to Islam, the official religion of his country. Moreover, it was illuminating to tell the different perspectives within one state: there were three participants from China (Jiawei, Carrie and Ardil) and each one voiced a particular opinion related to the economical growth of the Chinese economy -a topic tackled in almost every single presentation- rooted in the region they belonged to.

Not only were currents affairs discussed during that week, but also experienced live. The unfortunate conflict in the Middle East broke out right in the middle of the week, and the two participants from Lebanon, Rossette and Ahmad, anxiously followed the episodes through their mobile phones. They were incredibly open and spoke about the issue and informed us calmly on it although their hometowns and families were in severe danger. We supported them and kept on writing to each other once we went back.

Myriad things could still be written about these days: the Royal Shakespeare Company´s “Julius Cesar” performance at Stratford upon Avon, the boat ride along the Thames, the chin wags with local people, the endless conversations with Martin (from Czech Repulblic) and Andrés (from Chile), Priscila´s (from Brazil) energy and sense of humour, Ashveen´s (from Mauritius) Hindu dances and Vinash´s (from Malaysia) insistence in learning slang Spanish, but I will rather stop here.

On the whole, I believe I have been really lucky to have travelled to many countries and meet people from all over the world but this Conference brought me together with a group of persons of diverse cultural origin and yet with very similar background, interests, visions and projects as I had never met before, and has enriched my appreciation of cultural relations immensely. Not only I updated my knowledge on the international agenda and enjoyed a quintessential British experience at Oxford but I most of all met people from whom I learnt a lot that I will not forget, and some others I will definitively meet again.

I want to sincerely thank the ESU for this opportunity and warmly encourage other people to consider this invaluable programme offered by this organisation that so enthusiastically promotes cultural understanding through English.

Rosario Hubert

Brief summary on my ESU Tour
International Relations Summer Conference
Oriel College, Oxford

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Lucia.

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Brief summary of my experience in Oxford.

There are very few things that live in the memory as an experience of a life time. The ESU conference at Oriel College is certainly one of these, not only because it gave me the chance to visit England for the first time (something I always wanted to do, and that I am willing to repeat in the near future), but essentially because the conference itself, the program, the participants, the venue, and the scheduled activities made my stay in Oxford unforgettable.

Meeting people from 23 different countries, learning about their culture, and sharing our views on the problems that the world and our own countries are facing, leaving aside any political or ideological background, gave a brand new meaning to the word “understanding”, an understanding that was built among the participants on the basis of mutual respect, tolerance and a deep interest on each other, through the English language. Mrs. Valerie Mitchell said at the opening dinner that one of the purposes of the ESU and of the conference was to transform the English language into a channel of universal communication and dialogue among nations, to be used not only as the international language of trade and commerce, but primarily as the language of peace. Shortly after the conference began, I had the strong feeling that we were on the right path.

I find it really hard to say what I enjoyed most during the conference, because everything was just perfect. All the lectures were given by remarkable speakers, and many of them dealt with issues of global importance, such as terrorism, peace keeping, and human rights, which promoted interesting debates that in many cases continued even out of the lecture room.

Even though all the lectures were of great interest, there were two of them that had significant importance for me. The first one was the lecture given by Lord Watson on the Parliament and the Parties. To be honest, at first glance the topic of this lecture seemed rather informative on how the English political system worked, specially for those participants that, as myself, came from countries with an American-based political system. But I soon discovered that there were lots of valuable things that could explain many of the problems that my own country is going through from a political perspective.

Lord Watson's lecture was fascinating. He talked about the significance that tradition has for the English political system, and about the importance of the political culture of a country to sustain a democracy. I learned that tradition implies a deep respect on the political institutions of a country, which is not necessarily related to hundreds of years of history, but rather on the conviction that the institutions are above any political ideology, transcending governments and political parties, and that its is also a fundamental element to build a political culture strong enough to sustain permanently a democratic society. The political culture of democracy based on a deeply rooted tradition and confidence on political institutions, said Lord Watson, is the flame that nourishes a country's engine towards prosperity and development.

The second lecture that had great significance to me was the one given by Dr. Burdess on Corporate Social Responsibility. This topic is often discussed in many corporate forums in Argentina, particularly in the bi-national chambers of commerce, and many multinational companies with presence in Argentina are having a great deal of involvement on social issues, particularly after the crisis that exploded two years ago.

However, Dr. Burdess presented a whole new perspective to this matter, thinking on companies as a fundamental element of society, an element that plays a leading role in social development. Dr. Burdess said that companies must abandon the corporate assistanceship idea, and start thinking seriously on proper ways or alternatives through which companies could relate efficiently with the societies in which they live, and through which companies could achieve more for the society and for themselves. This implies the need to addressing real social problems narrowing the gap between the companies and society, and thus giving something back to the community. Even though globalization seems to put these ideas into a worldwide perspective for multinational corporations, supporting all kinds of different programs of social and human interest, the real challenge for these corporations is to increase significantly and efficiently their commitment at a local level.

I could continue writing many pages with comments on all the lectures of the program, but perhaps that will make me miss the point of this brief summary of my experience in Oxford . I like to think that the ESU conference was also an excellent excuse to meet interesting people and make good friends from countries all over the world, and that, perhaps, that is the most valuable asset that I brought back with me.

I would also like to dedicate a few words to praise the remarkable work and kindness of Helen Greene and Helen Sender, which made Oriel College feel like home, in spite of being thousands of miles away from our countries.

Buenos Aires , 4 th August, 2004

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