Picnic with a Twist: Bring Your Bite, We'll Bring the Conversation

✍️Quote of the Day:
"Truly good conversations rarely happen by chance"
— Alain de Botton, The School of Life

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🔍 Event Description: This isn’t just a picnic — it’s a chance to practice emotional intelligence and experience rare, genuine connection

We all know the effort that goes into preparing a meal for others — the ingredients, the recipes, the plating. Yet the magic of a gathering rarely lies solely in the food itself. What transforms a meal into an unforgettable occasion is the conversation around the table.

We too often imagine that “good conversations” are things we stumble into by luck. In truth, knowing how to have a good conversation is a skill that can be learned — and this picnic is a perfect place to start practicing.

In our Picnic with a Conversation Menu, food becomes the backdrop, and conversation takes center stage. Over the course of the event, you’ll be able to choose from 20 Conversation Menus, each designed to gently open doors to topics you might not stumble upon on your own.

Each menu contains 12 questions around specific themes like love, ambition, travel, self-knowledge, money, and even the meaning of life. Far from small talk, these questions spark laughter, reflection, and the kind of shared understanding that builds friendships and deepens connection. You’ll leave with new perspectives, unexpected stories, and perhaps even new friends.

Questions, depending on the menu topic, migth include:

• What do you blame your parents for?
• What do you wish your partner could forgive you for?
• Have you ever sabotaged your own success?
• Who did you have a crush on during your school years?
• Describe your first memorable encounter with another culture.
• What should children learn about the adult world?
• In what ways is your family especially odd?
• Who have you had to eject from your social life – and why?
• How would you like to be remembered?
• What shaped your attitudes to money?

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🤔 Why Is This an Uncommon Experience?

This isn’t just a picnic — it’s a chance to practice emotional intelligence and experience rare, genuine connection. Unlike typical gatherings dominated by small talk, Conversation Menus:

• Encourage deeper connections – Questions inspire meaningful discussion and help people bond naturally.
• Add playful structure – By treating the interaction like a game, they add novelty and excitement.
• Reduce awkwardness – Questions remove the pressure of thinking of things to say, especially in a group of strangers.
• Spark creativity and laughter – Silly or imaginative questions encourage humor and storytelling.
• Create a memorable experience – Combining outdoor relaxation, food, and guided conversation makes this picnic unique and unforgettable.

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💬 What You’ll Experience:

• A relaxed picnic in an inspiring outdoor setting with fellow seekers
• Connecting with strangers through engaging dialogue
• Conversations that are meaningful, playful, and full of surprises
• The magic of turning strangers into lasting friendships

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✅ Practical Details:

• 📍 Location: Vondelpark (meet at the entrance of VondelTuin)
• 👗 Dress code: Comfortable, weather-appropriate, and ready to linger in conversation
• 🍴 Food: BYO (Bring your own)

⚠️ Note: In case of bad weather, the event will be cancelled

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💡 Tips: Want to Have Good Conversations?

If you want to know more, here you have some interesting videos from The School of Life:

• Why conversations are often so boring
• School of Life video inspiration

The School of Life, founded by Alain de Botton, is dedicated to helping people live more emotionally intelligent lives. It explores how we can better understand ourselves, others, and the world around us — and, crucially, how we can connect more deeply through conversation.

The School of Life highlights why ordinary talking often fails to satisfy. Most social interactions stay on the surface: schedules, errands, weather, or other “safe” topics. True connection requires moving beyond these patterns — listening carefully, inviting vulnerability, and asking questions that open up the heart and mind.

Small talk isn’t useless, though — it can be a gateway to intimacy. A chat about weather, traffic, or holiday plans can reveal someone’s moods, boundaries, and readiness for deeper discussion. Skilled conversationalists:

• Recognize “conversational crossroads” — moments where dialogue can deepen or drift
• Gently steer conversations toward insight and vulnerability
• Listen like an editor, focusing on what’s truly at stake
• Build connection through openness — sharing worries, losses, or embarrassments often resonates more than sharing only successes