I arrived in the Netherlands, the first week was all right—a new place, new opportunities. But soon, loneliness caught up with me. Back home, I had worked since I was 18 years old, life was moving fast. Here, it was the other way around, The days went slow, usually I start my day with a glimmer of hope that my name would pop up in the incoming letters list hanged on the AZC entrance, waiting to hear anything from the IND. Then the uncertainty took over as I heard the usual camp stories for people who lost count of the months they spent waiting for their names to pop up on the list. Days were dragging, they were long with a lot of questions but no answers. That is where Buddy to Buddy stepped in with a rope to grape the newcomers attention from the list, Their activities were trying to fill the void within people, focus on letting the visitors be more familiar and engaged socially, and even showing the newcomers a warm welcoming feeling as a compensation attempt for what they are missing in there old lives and a distraction from void they are stuck in for the time being.
Buddy to Buddy even extended their interaction with the newcomers to the level of welcoming them to join the team itself. The door was wide open for anyone to roll up their sleeves and plan their own activity or help out with the activities that were ongoing. Those initiatives helped me to do something other than stare at the incoming letter list. I started there as a normal participant, then in one incident I used my English to convey some small discussions which led me to have a bigger part in the activity committee within the organization. I knew that was not real work, but it meant a lot. In addition to my role, I was privileged to have 2 buddies during my time in Wageningen. For me, building this relationship was like opening a new window to see the Netherlands from. I got to understand the culture, see how Dutch people tackle life, and highlight our mutual and different traits. It was a valuable opportunity for me considering the hardship of initiating a relationship here in the west in comparison to where I come from.
One of the nicest memories that come to mind is a day out in the wild with Buddy to Buddy. We had gone on a honey farm tour, A bee farmer explained to us – in almost 3 languages – the cycle of the bees, their work, their dedication, and their collaboration within the community. Then, he dressed up in his protective gear and moved to the hives, scooping honey into our hands, feeling it happen from the hive to the extraction facility. There, the farmer shared with us his way of extracting honey and of course, everyone was enthusiastic about the honey-tasting party we had.
Then we sat down to eat—a true Syrian lunch, lovingly made. Sitting together, eating, chatting, and laughing, it was home, if only for a moment. The lovely weather, the fresh air, and the kindness of the people around me made the day unforgettable. At that point, I realized that Buddy to Buddy is more than a program. It’s a bridge between waiting and living, loneliness and community, foreign and homeland. And for all of that, I was and still am grateful.