Interview Publication Date: 30 November 2013
Interviewee: Sandaougo
Interviewer: Escade

Our interviewee today, Sandaougo, is the Chair of the Assembly and maintains and manages the Assembly and its often heated debates and discussions. No bill or law can be brought to vote without the assembly discussing it and thus the CoA facilitates the legal framework of the South Pacific.

1. How did you learn about Nation States? What enticed you to join?

I can't remember how I learned about NationStates! It was a very long time ago. I first joined when I was in middle school (I'm now a graduating senior in college). I joined, left for a while, then joined with my main nation Glen-Rhodes and have been here ever since. So I'd say I officially joined NationStates five an a half years ago.
I suppose what enticed me was my interest in politics. I've always been a big political junkie. I remember being super excited when Nancy Pelosi became the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives. Anyways, I quickly moved away from the issue answering stuff and got involved in the World Assembly. That's where I really found my niche.

2. How long have you been in the South Pacific? What makes you stay? Where else have you been?

I'm a newcomer here! I've only been a member since April 2013. I was a member of the UCR world for a long time, first in a region known as Jordia, then in the Eastern Islands of Dharma. When EID was griefed, I looked to the GCRs, since they're kind of the default place where anybody can go. I started out in Osiris, since Earth asked me nicely to join. Unfortunately, that didn't work out. When I left Osiris, I was really looking for which GCR was open, friendly, and democratic. I saw those characteristics in TSP, so I decided to check it out. Turns out my first judgement was right!

A strange confluence of events brought many of us (myself, Kringalia, and others) to the South Pacific in April of this year in an almost magical way. B)

3. What do you like most about being a resident of TSP?

I like how I've been judged on my merits, rather than my history, and I think that goes for pretty much all residents here. We're a very open-armed community, and that can't be said about a lot of regions, especially GCRs.

I definitely do love how the South Pacific is such an open-minded place willing to give new and old nations the benefit of the doubt as well as just offering a stress free environment for them.

4. If you were delegate of TSP for a day what would you do?

Oh boy, this question can be tricky! I don't think there's much you can do as delegate in one day. If you do anything radical, it'll just be overturned tomorrow! I guess I would just utilize the mass TG functionality to try to get people involved in the forums.

5. As the Chair of the Assembly what do you do? If you were advertising the position, how would you describe it?

People have different ideas about what the Chair of the Assembly's purpose really is in TSP. Some people think it's an all-powerful position, perhaps the most influential in the government. But honestly, I see the Chair as an administrative and care-taker position. My job has been to facilitate debate and make sure the procedures of the Assembly run smoothly. If I were advertising the position, I would say that it's not a position you should run for if you're interested in power and influence. If you want to be political, run for Delegate or just exercise your rights as a citizen of the Assembly. If you're interested in administrative stuff and maintaining the prestige of the Assembly as an institution, then you should consider running!

*Knew that the CoA was secretly the true power behind the disruptions in the Force...err..the South Pacific *

6. Cake or pie? Why?

Pie, hands down. Cake is dense and often dry. Pie is sweet and comes in so many textures and flavors.

7. Favorite book, movie, or game?

How about all three? My favorite book is a classic: The Scarlet Letter. My favorite movie is The Fountain, directed by Darren Aronofsky. And my favorite game is a tie between Civilization and Skyrim.

*The Fountain is such a lovely meditation on life and what it really means and the soundtrack is nice too.*

8. What is the significance behind your nation's name?

Well, I'm known in TSP as Sandaoguo, so I'll go with that name! It's clunky Chinese, with a literal translation of "three island country." As you can guess, it's a country made up of three islands. I have a whole backstory of the country that's kind of a conglomeration of Chinese culture with the politics and history of a troubled Pacific island country. At the time I was writing a research paper on UN intervention in Timor-Leste (East Timor), so there are a lot of parallels between that and Sandaoguo's history.

I think that I know who to talk to about backstories for our map roleplay

9. What direction would you like TSP to grow towards in the next election term?

I think TSP has a lot of big decisions to make. I really do think that TSP has to comes to terms with its position in gameplay politics. I genuinely believe that the independence ideology is not sustainable. While it's only a small part in absolute terms of what TSP is doing and has to offer, relatively it's a very important part of how TSP fits into the broader game of NationStates.
Other than that, I think the new administration will make a lot of inroads on the activity front. The current administration has really been bogged down with fixing things where the Great Council left off. Now the region can really focus on creating innovative new activities to set us apart from other GCRs. Additionally, this election is going to bring in a lot of new blood to the highest rungs of power in TSP. While the current Cabinet has a lot of new faces, it's been constrained by tradition. I'm really looking forward to the possibility of TSP having a brand new delegate, whose first and only focus is TSP and who doesn't have all the history and baggage of our previous delegates. If new people win, it will be interesting to see where they help guide the region. I'm hoping for new frontiers.

Yes! I agree that it will be nice for TSP to get a fresh start and return to a focus on the region itself. I would love to know more about "fixing things where the Great Council left off."
Thank you and great applause for Sandaoguo for such a in-depth and intriguing interview. I also look forward to TSP reaching new frontiers