A beautiful landscape of cultures, languages and traditions in Terwolde

On 26 May, the annual #WittenborgFamily Day took place in small and picturesque Terwolde. At the event, family members from all Wittenborg locations gathered for a festive evening with food, drinks and lots of fun. What was special on this family day was that all attendees were asked to bring their own dishes. The tables were filled with culinary delights with different flavours, ingredients and origins, highlighting the rich cultural diversity of the most international business school of the Netherlands. There was plenty of choice, including delicious curry, rice, lamb, burgers, salads, ice cream, tiramisu, prawns, spicy lamb skewers, fruit, pasta and more. "It's really nice to be able to taste so many different flavours and dishes from different cultures," says Sinem Dosdogru. 

The event not only celebrated the diverse backgrounds of the Wittenborg community, but also served as testament to the school's commitment to making all attendees feel welcome and valued within this community. The #WittenborgFamily Day reminded all attendees that, despite their unique experiences and journeys, they are all part of a close-knit community that celebrates unity in diversity. "Having been part of the Wittenborg Family for 18 years, I could write pages full of what is so special about it," says Sinem. "For me, the true essence of the Wittenborg Family lies in the genuine connections and support we give each other. More than just colleagues, we have become a family - a close-knit community that sticks together through thick and thin. In times of celebration, we encourage each other and in times of challenges, we offer each other a helping hand. I think it is this genuine care and respect for each other that makes our workplace feel like a second home. I have formed close friendships with many Wittenborg colleagues, even those who have gone beyond Wittenborg. Once you are part of the Wittenborg family, you stay part of the Wittenborg family!"

This sentiment was echoed by other attendees like Bonthula Krish, who also sees the value of such a close-knit community: "From time to time, it is necessary to meet outside the school building so that everyone can see each other again and have a wonderful time together where there are no worries about an exam, no lesson plans and no classes." Krish contributed to the culinary collection of different dishes by bringing an Indian curry called Chicken Lababdar: "I had made two different versions of the dish with the same curry but with different cuts so that everyone can choose what they like best." he says. 

Someone else who brought an interesting dish to the table was Eunice Cheung. She brought a Japanese dish: Stir-fried Wudong noodles. "That is one of my favourite dishes, so I would like to share it with my colleagues!" she says. Eunice was also very excited about the #WittenborgFamily Day and getting to know her colleagues in a non-work-related way: "Everyone contributed to the event by bringing food and culture from their own countries and sharing them with the group. I enjoyed it so much! My favourite part of the dinner was the Chinese lamb skewer made by Peter Birdsall! That is super authentic." 

Sinem enthused about the growth the Wittenborg family has experienced since she started working at WUAS 18 years ago. "The family was small; I think about 10 of us from that time are still working at Wittenborg," she explains. "Over dinner, I realised again how much the family has grown over the years. And the best part is, the family is not only made up of colleagues, but our partners, children and siblings (and even pets) have also become part of our Wittenborg Family, participating in events, celebrations and even contributing with their own perspectives and talents!" She loved that the Wittenborg Family consists of such a rich variety of different cultures: "Looking at the group of joyful people on that day, I saw a beautiful landscape of cultures, languages and traditions coming together to form a harmonious and vibrant community."

WUP 06/06/2023
by Niels Otterman
©WUAS Press