The SG stands for Secretary General (of the UN, that is). And yes, I have to use acronyms because I’ve been ODing on a gazillion of them over the past three weeks, half of which I either forgot or don’t even know what they stand for yet, but nod enthusiatically at their mention in any conversation at UNHQ.  Speaking of conversations at the UN: I noticed they’re mostly pol sci textbook, manual-dictated vocabulary, peppered generously with said nebulous acronyms. Not that there is anything bad with that, but rather just an observation. But I digress.

Back to my new buddy, the SG. For the uninitiated (or people from other planets), the SG is the Big Kahuna at the UN, and I met him becuase he came down to our department to congratualate everyone on a job well done during the GA (that’s another acronym for you. Go look it up. Hint: see earlier posts on this awesome blog). I would’ve liked to tell you we conversed heartily, exchanged jokes and high-fived. But none of that happened. Still, I shook hands with the Secretary general of the United Nations and you didn’t. So there you go. (I know you probably expected something a bit more profound, maybe like a brief psychoanalysis of the guy as garnered from the vibes he induced in the room as he walked in, but I am not into that right now. Sorry)

One a side note, almost everyone here just seems so stiff. Not stiff as in unfriendly – I’ve actually me some really cool people here. Rather,  things are in an uber-formal sort of way that makes you think something is about to snap if these people do so much as lean back in their cubicle chairs. Maybe it is something about the work environment in a place like the UN (and understandably so). This morning on the subway I entertained thoughts of how cool would it be to chill things out – just a tad – at the UN. Maybe have the high level delegates discuss world affairs over ramen noodles and coke in a camp somewhere in Africa in the spirit of “keeping it real. The General Debate would be renamed the Big Awesome Jam Session, and the delegates would be required to attend in their pajamas and flip flops. Maybe then things start clearing up – if just a little bit- inside the minds of the powers that be, and world leaders become more flinty-eyed and focus on what really needs to be done. Maybe then change would start happening. No tectonic ideological shifts necessary or expected. Just a different outlook on things can sometimes make things happen.

Then a big dude with what seemed to be massive subwoofers attached to his ears tapped on my shoulder; I was blocking the subway door. I was back to the real world.

What do I know anyway? I am just an intern.