They settled in a neighborhood called Neukölln along with other groups of Arab migrants. What's really interesting about all of this for me is the topic of gentrification in Berlin. In the United States, gentrification occurs in neighborhoods that are predominantly black and brown, and the conversation often focuses on domestic populations rather than immigrants. In Berlin, gentrification occurs in neighborhoods that are home to migrants. Even more interesting is that the process of gentrification here begins with young middle class professionals, artists and creatives who move to the area searching for a more cultured experience. This attracts real estate developers who realize they can start charging higher rents, and gentrification begins.
Walking through the streets of Berlin, I now have a systemic understanding of the abundance of shops, markets and restaurants I've seen around the city and the places they're located. Furthermore, I even learned from my homestay family about how, in 2015, many German citizens, including my host family, volunteered at the Syrian refugee camps located in the old Tempelhofer Airport. It's changed my perspective on Berlin, and Germany as whole. While I used to think about it as an interntional travel destination, I now understand it as a central hub of protection for those fleeing persecution all around the world.
My learning has motivated me to delve even deeper into the stories and histories of the different groups of migrants present in the city. Each one of them has unique historical context of their movement to Berlin. As I continue my studies and life in Germany, I'm excited to learn more about the stories of those I interact with on a daily basis!
