About

We are Kelly (left), a sociocultural anthropology student, and Sophia (right), an international education specialist. We are two Americans living in Berlin. We are lovers of all things immigration, integration, and culture related. We are great friends.

We believe that (im)migration is a good thing. It makes our communities richer, our values more inclusive, and our relationships stronger. Yet, not everyone agrees, and media or politics may tell a different story about the places we call home. In Berlin, there are narratives for and against multiculturalism. We are a positive part of this discourse; for we believe in difference. Read our Manifesto on cities, difference, and community to learn more.

This is our journey through Berlin as a vibrant center of migration, diversity, and cosmopolitanism, in whichever way they manifest: one story, analysis, and lens at a time. We hope you’ll join us!

In case you’re curious…

Kelly was formed in the beautiful Pacific Northwest of the United States, where she learned to appreciate both the joys of granola country and the city beat of her hometown of Portland, Oregon. After finishing her studies in Seattle in 2011, she packed an over-sized backpack and headed to Berlin. One year of visa tribulations and countless professional ventures later, she followed her love of cross- and intercultural story-telling to a Masters in sociocultural anthropology at the Freie Universität Berlin. She coordinates a peer-sponsorship program for immigrants in Berlin and works for a horribly esoteric project about modernity and ‘cultures of madness’. Her Master’s thesis is an ongoing project on immigrant integration practices versus policies in Berlin. Other than geeking out about ethnography, she just can’t get enough of the ‘foreign’ experience.

Sophia stems from an international home in one of the world’s most international cities: Washington, DC. A dual American-German citizen with Arab and Jewish roots, Sophia firmly believes in the power of education to foster intercultural understanding. While receiving her Master’s in International Education Policy from Harvard University, she designed a global awareness curriculum for Boston Public Schools. After several months working for the Migration Policy Institute post grad school, Sophia could no longer resist the pull from across the Atlantic and moved to Berlin in November 2011. She currently works for an international school network and spends her free time tutoring refugee youth, frequenting Turkish stands and the local Thai Park, and enjoying the dynamic collision of cultures in her chosen city.

Photo credit: Anna Meister