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FAMILY According to Yael, the buddy system offers a great way to make friends at university. “You easily feel at home in such an international environment. Everybody is very open-minded, and you can talk to each other about anything. Our group has a great vibe. It really feels like a family.” The different families that make up the buddy system are all ‘parented’ by two or three buddies, who are senior Tilburg University students. The buddies refer to the members in their group as their ‘kids’. “Last year, I was a buddy”, says I*ESN board member Francis Bleeker, who is also present at tonight’s dinner party. “Some of the kids have gone back home while
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others have stayed in Tilburg, but most of us are still in touch. That’s really nice. I think the buddy system is a great way to encourage students to keep hanging out after TOP week. It creates a sense of community.” From Italy to India, the family dinner is sacred in households across the world. Cliche or not, good conversations and failed attempts at finding out how school was today binds us together. Luckily, I*ESN understands the power of the dinner table perfectly. And the power of the dance floor, too - after dinner, the group goes on a family trip to Carpe Noctem for a Latin night party.