Berlin has long been a magnet for outsiders, from provincial Prussians centuries ago to Brooklyn hipsters today. Strangers at first, these newcomers eventually make the city their own and reshape its social fabric.
This process continued even while Berlin was divided during the Cold War, but 20 years after reunification, the German capital has become an increasingly attractive destination for foreigners hoping to start a new life.
Julia Lipkins’ multimedia project for The Local lets these new Berliners tell their own stories.
Sahes Tascioglu
Eskisehir, Turkey
Click here for Sahes Tascioglu’s story.
How does an immigrant define home? After living in Germany for over 40 years, Sahes Tascioglu finds answers in a Turkish proverb. Trained as a social worker, she is now the owner of a popular bridal-wear store.
Although Tascioglu moved to Germany at age 14, she has chosen to remain a Turkish citizen because non-EU immigrants are prohibited from holding dual-citizenship in Germany. According to the Foreign Ministry, of the “approximately three million people of Turkish origin” currently residing in Germany, only 700,000 have decided to take German citizenship.
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