Exploration. Growth. Confidence. Global. Friendship. These are my takeaways from the incredible trip to Uzbekistan for the Tashkent International Model United Nations Conference (TIMUN 2026).
Although the lack of sleep and the new environment required adaptation and resilience, it was a fun and special experience thanks to the Westminster International University of Tashkent (WIUT) Students and my DEN companions, who made every moment enjoyable.
Tashkent is a perfect blend of culture, modernisation and nature. I had not expected a capital city to feel so spacious, wide boulevard, tree-lines streets and parks that interrupts the urban rhythm. The feeling of being surrounded by greenery in a city that remains busy but peaceful, was genuinely relaxing. The WIUT Students were extraordinarily hospitable, going out of their way to make us feel at home and their generosity shaped much of what made this trip so memorable.
Together, we visited the city and travelled to Samarkand, where we explored UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the Silk Road, discovering the Uzbek culture and history that I had only read about before. Registan Square and the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis with their turquoise domes during sunset are images I will not forget.
Alongside the history, we enjoyed local food, wandered through markets and strolled through parks filled with artisanal pottery, paintings and local craft. One surprising aspect of Uzbekistan is the coexistence of the Islamic heritage with the Russian influence, all held together by a distinct and confident Uzbek identity. Albeit an unexpected combination on paper, it felt a natural identity to the people who inhabit it.
The final three days in Tashkent were marked by the TIMUN 2026 Conference. It was my first UN Model where I represented the United States at the UN Committee on Population and Development, discussing the impact of urbanisation on population health and well-being.
Arguing a position that I did not personally endorse in a room full of sharp and well-prepared delegates ready to challenge every word, pushed me to adapt in real time, hold my ground without losing sight of where consensus might be possible and to find common ground even where disagreement seemed prevalent. This experience considerably strengthened my public speaking and sharpened my debating and negotiating skills. Over those three days, I grew personally and built skills that I know will be directly relevant to my professional path. The progression was visible even for me: from cautious observer on day one to fully engaged and present delegate by day three.
Along the way, I reinforced existing friendships within the DEN team while also building new connections with Uzbek students and delegates from my committee, coming from all around the world, people I would not have met otherwise, whose perspectives broadened my own. I left Uzbekistan carrying incredible, long-lasting memories and the feeling of having watched myself grow in real-time.
Ariadna Rita Lemos De Oliveira