Feast of Strangers: beyond small talk

Posted on 7 March, 2019

How do you meet new people, make new friends…really connect? Feast of Strangers goes beyond small talk, and it’s happening tomorrow Friday 8 March.

Imagine sitting down to dinner at a cosy restaurant but instead of finding delicious dishes on the menu, you discover the potential for genuine conversation and connection.

That’s the premise of Feast of Strangers‚ a community-building event being held at the National Library of Australia tomorrow night, Friday 8 March. Based on an original idea by Oxford scholar Theodore Zeldin, the event pairs two strangers together for sincere, rewarding exchanges that probe beyond small talk.

Gina Zheng, a member of the Canberra Global Shapers Hub, a World Economic Forum initiative, explains.

“Zeldin has written extensively on the human identity, our social existences and experiences to find inspiration and purpose. A few years ago, he decided to celebrate his birthday by inviting a group of strangers to his house to share a ‘meal’. This unique event concept has been rolled out across London, and in Australia!

“The idea of the event is to bring together people from all walks of the world to share in fruitful and thoughtful conversations that go beyond trivial everyday talk. We hope that people are pushed out of their comfort zones, are challenged in their perspectives, or even simply just meet new people and make new friends!”

So, how does this Feast work? Well, just imagine you are walking into a restaurant.

“Tables and chairs will be organised accordingly, with a ‘menu’ for each participant laid out and ready to go!” says Gina.

“The only catch is, the menu will feature thought-provoking questions and conversation starters, rather than food dishes.”

The event is free and there are two sessions, running at 7 pm and 8:30 pm. No food or drinks will be provided (it’s a feast for the mind!), however, people are welcome to bring their own food and beverages along. Hey, Enlighten and the Night Noodle Markets are right outside!

the essentials

What: Feast of Strangers
When: 7 pm and 8:30 pm
Where: National Library of Australia (bottom level)
Web: Find out more on Facebook.