The Buddy Guide
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What being a buddy really means Who is Buddy? Did you ever think about how it feels like being alone in a different country? Well it’s not only a unique life-changing experience
for
the
intern,
but
also
challenging
and
sometimes scary! In any case everybody needs someone to rely on, a FRIEND, a BUDDY, a person who is always ready to help by solving various problems. Also the buddies guide the intern through their entire induction process to their new environment.
They are always
friendly, happy, active and positively energetic.
What is the Buddy system? The buddy system is an effective way to ensure that the induction of the intern into his/her new environment is successful.
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What does the buddy system offer to an intern? (Importance of the role)
The buddy system gives the opportunity to the interns to get into a more comfortable environment interact easier and get accommodated faster be more easily integrated in the Local Committee and the Greek culture
Why should someone become a buddy? A person by being an intern’s buddy will develop his communication
skills
and
he/she
will
support
the
development of the others. Also the buddy will get better on events organizing and on crisis management. He/She has the opportunity to live for a while into an everyday cultural interaction, meet new friends, improve his/her language skills and enrich network. In addition, the buddy takes a part in AIESEC’s exchange purpose.
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What is a buddy up to? The buddy ensures that the intern has a good quality’s stay in Greece and he is fully satisfied. He/she helps the intern to cover his everyday needs, makes sure that the intern feels free to discuss any problems or difficulties he might be facing. The buddy shows to the intern the Greek culture, mentality, everyday life and tradition.
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Which are the buddy’s duties? What a buddy should do before intern’s arrival? 1. The buddy should be informed about intern’s contacts. 2. Send an e-mail to the intern to introduce himself as well as the whole LC (this e-mail should include the reception booklet). 3. The buddy should ask the intern to refill a wish-list including his expectations for the internship. 4. Also the buddy should learn the exact travel details, including dates and time of arrival and departure. 5. The buddy should prepare a reception box , (in which the intern will find anything he might need necessarily for the first days like city map, phone SIM-card, tickets for the buss, metro etc, magazine in English for tourists, printed reception booklet, information contacts: AIESEC, hospitals, red cross, police.)
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What a buddy should do during the intern’s stay? 1. organize a group of LC members to pick the intern up from the airport and welcome him. 2. has to make sure that the intern has settled down in the apartment and he is not facing any difficulties with his accommodation. 3. be aware of intern’s interests, habits and expectation due to the wish-list. 4. introduce to the intern the everyday life of his city including shops, university, the office of AIESEC, restaurants, internet cafes, library, post office , even hospitals and pharmacies for emergency situations. 5. arrange an expectation meeting based on the expectation-list that the intern refilled, in order not only to be sure that the reception’s activities are successful, but also the intern is pleased 6. The buddy will get the direction about the local reception activities and he has to be sure that the timelines are held. 7. Introduce him/her to other interns.
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8. Introduce him to the road route from accommodation to work. 9. Organize local reception activities every week (activities as cooking night, traditional Greek night, movie night , karaoke night, study tour, trips to other cities close by, board games night, bowling night, parties, and finally a farewell/goodbye party).
…Don’t you ever forget that a FRIEND is the best thing to HAVE and the best thing to BE…
Competencies and skills to develop 1. Multicultural sensitivity & awareness 2. Communication skills 3. Tolerance & understanding 4. Flexibility & adaptability 5. Conflict & crisis management 6. Innovation & creativity
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Application Process
If you want to live this experience and become a Buddy, click here and something amazing will appear ;)
You can be a perfect buddy! Put yourself into your intern’s shoes and you are ready to drive his life-changing, powerful, unique, unforgettable experience and be an integral part of it. You can make the difference, so take the chance!
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