Sophia Abolfathi
Study Abroad in Berlin, Germany-
In Summer 2022, I studied photojournalism in Berlin, Germany for two weeks with Professor John Freeman of the UF College of Journalism and Communications. This was my first visit to Germany, and my first international entry stamp on a brand-new adult passport! I was motivated to participate in this program due both to my European heritage and interest in the history, culture, and society of the region, but also due to my passion for documentary media and hope to explore the art of photojournalism under an esteemed college professor.
The aim of the program was to create a compelling, visually distinct portfolio of images showcasing the “faces and places” of the city, and in addition, a photo essay featuring one particularly interesting Berliner. In this exercise, I learned to pay close attention to the world around me, looking for unique traditions, interesting individuals, and common themes throughout the experience. My ultimate portfolio focused on the gastronomic cultures of Berlin, from open-air food markets to adopted immigrant street food favorites.
Wherever I went, I noticed that Berliners certainly liked to eat – in fact, I found that Berliners were voracious and adventuring, but conscientious eaters. Middle Eastern and Mediterranean street food was an obvious favorite among city locals, but farmer’s markets and open-air style shopping were entirely common for everyday needs. I had great fun in exploring these culinary dives. Wherever food was, there was a palpable sense of community building and belonging – in this city, everyone gets a seat at the table.
My photograph of a woman selling her Turkish twist on stuffed baked potatoes at an open-air market, entitled "Seen on Sunday," received 2nd Place in the 2022 UFIC Global Photo Contest: Study Abroad & Service-Learning Students Category. It was on display in UF Grinter Gallery in Spring 2023.
In my development of this portfolio, I came across a particular vendor at a Wednesday farmer’s market selling salad greens. Jördis Dasilva was born and raised in Germany and having spent nearly a decade off-and-on living in Jamaica, ultimately developed a strong passion for organic, healthy eating. Jördis was completely fluent in English – funny, too! – and I was hopeless in German. The following day, I visited her BioKraüterei in Oranienburg, Germany and spent about an hour touring acres of greenhouses and crop rows. Her farm, a small and organic operation, was becoming increasingly encircled by corporate, monocultural farms. I completed my photo essay about her work and passion for preserving the small-farm model.
Tracking down Jördis after our initial meeting put several of my skills as a journalist and traveler to the test. With only a suggestion of an address in hand, I headed northwest on a train exiting the city of Berlin. After a half-hour, I arrived in what I thought was the correct town, only to aimlessly wander in circles of a quaint, residential neighborhood. I eventually established contact with Jördis and found myself back on the train, two stops further to the correct station. There, Jördis and I met and traveled to her farms. We conversed slowly in our languages, where I attempted to explain to her the purpose of my tagging-along. It wasn't until my return trip that I was confronted by a conductor for having an incorrect ticket the whole time! This was an experience that I returned to from thinking... how did I manage to do that?
In this abroad program, I navigated a brand-new European city on my own at 18-years-old without speaking the language; slept, ate, and toured like a Berliner for two weeks, capturing great images along the way; traveled to several cities outside of Berlin with other students by train; and learned what life was like outside of my home country. Reflecting several years later, I can say with confidence that traveling to Germany was one of the best decisions I ever made in college.
