The event took place in the Open Gardens Foundation, in a beautiful environment, perfect for the kind of learning the Summer School aspires to! Participants from all over the world gathered to discuss how we can apply dialogue not only in our work and our practices, but also in everyday life and communication. It may sound easy – after all we are social creatures – but being dialogical takes more than speaking and listening. Being in a dialogue (with others, with oneself, with the world) means being present and attuned.

A special ‘treat’ during this week was the presence of two people, who have made a difference in the field of dialogical practices: Professors Ivana Markova and Jaakko Seikkula. Apart from her experience as professional, Ivana Markova also shared her personal experience of the incidents that followed the Prague Spring and how dialogue is affected by the social and the ethical aspects in life. On the other hand, Jaakko Seikkula offered us the opportunity to witness how he uses Open Dialogue in practice, during two live consultations. I think I can speak for everyone participating, we were grateful to both for offering us their expertise, their time and a safe space to create dialogical experience.

The five days were intense. But that didn’t stop us from having some social life, outside the learning environment. After all, we had to put into practice what we have learned about dialogue! And Brno was an excellent place to start: a vibrant city with lots of choices, good beer and food and friendly people…

Finally, I cannot say anything but thank you to each and everyone who participated in one way or another, for all the conversations, the emotions, the beer and the wine, the barbecue, and the sharing. I can only hope that the dialogue will continue…