{"id":11775,"date":"2010-08-31T07:19:31","date_gmt":"2010-08-31T07:19:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/wordpress72\/?p=18196"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:36","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:36","slug":"the-ibeb-buddy-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2010\/08\/31\/the-ibeb-buddy-program\/","title":{"rendered":"The IBEB – Buddy Program"},"content":{"rendered":"

The international students of the IBEB program are fortunate to be provided with an extraordinary service. In cooperation with the EFR, the IBEB study provides a personal Buddy for every \u201cfreshman\u201d. The aim is to smoothen out the very first steps of the young students coming from abroad. EM Online has interviewed some Buddies and their prot\u00e9g\u00e9s about their impressions. <\/p>\n

To start with the entire Buddy program is on a voluntary basis. \u201cI heard that they are looking for volunteers, so I subscribed,\u201d says James, an IBEB student from Palestine. Beginning of July he was assigned to take care of Elad, who is from Israel. Halfway through July they got in contact via email and James would answer all the questions Elad would send him. \u201cJames is a very kind Buddy,\u201d says Elad, underlining the friendly relationship that has evolved over the weeks. Next to Elad James will also take care of a French and a German student during the coming weeks. \u201cThe program lasts as long as they want to. Whenever there are questions, I\u2019m there to help,\u201d James describes his position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\t\t\t \t\t\tMarije & Simone \t\t\t \t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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\t\t\t \t\t\tJames (l) & Elad \t\t\t \t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Two weeks waiting<\/b><\/p>\n

Simone from Italy was very glad to have a local contact in Rotterdam, whom he could ask questions. \u201cVia the university service center the information flows very slowly, you wait for two weeks for a response email,\u201d he says, pointing out the advantage of being in contact directly with a student. For his Buddy Marije, the EFR International Officer and person in charge oft he Buddy program, it seems to be a great success and definitely an interesting experience.<\/p>\n

Arrange a room<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cFirst we only had email contact, but now that he\u2019s in Rotterdam we exchanged numbers,\u201d she says and adds that in some cases new students don\u2019t even have a room when arriving. \u201cIn some cases I can arrange a room for them, if a friend is on exchange,\u201d she says, pointing out another advantage of the personal contact before and after the freshmen arrive.<\/p>\n

Excited<\/b><\/p>\n

Nick is a Dutch IBEB student who volunteered for the Buddy program. Originally three students were assigned to him. \u201cSo I wrote them to get in contact, but sadly only one replied\u201d, Nick says a bit disappointed. As the program is voluntary for both sides nobody has to respond to the Buddies. Nevertheless he tried hard using Facebook and sending them his cell phone number in case they had any questions anyway. \u201cThe Bulgarian student who responded seemed really excited about his arrival to Rotterdam, so we had email contact and I told him to call me once he arrives, which is going to be tomorrow.\u201d In Nick\u2019s opinion \u201cthere is a clear appreciation of the program by the new students, but the first contact seems difficult sometimes\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\t\t\t \t\t\tNick \t\t\t \t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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\t\t\t \t\t\tSuzanne \t\t\t \t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u2018She gave me good advice\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n

Having visited the Netherlands several times before, Susanne from Germany still thinks it\u2019s a big difference to finally move to a place. \u201cI had no idea how the public transportation system works and was really happy to have someone to turn to\u201d she says, referring to her Indian Buddy Kirthana. Due to her advice she is not sleeping between hundreds in the Sportshall, but shares a place at a student fraternity. \u201cI emailed her about the Eureka week and luckily listened to her advice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Incidentally, it is not only international IBEB students who are benefitting from the program. A new friend of Susanne is Dutch and asked for a Buddy as well. \u201cAlthough she\u2019s from the Netherlands she has never lived in a big city like Rotterdam and is really glad for the many tips and tricks of the experienced Buddies\u201d Susanne comments. CM<\/p>\n

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