The People Who Became Home
By Sophie Bernstein ‘22, Keystone Foundation Fellow 2024-2026
The people I’ve come to know and love in India have broadened my perspective on the meaning of family. In Tamil, we refer to someone slightly older than us as “akka” (older sister) or “anna” (older brother) as a sign of respect and familiarity. Before I knew it, I, an only child, had gained countless brothers and sisters!
View of homes nearby Kotagiri. March 22, 2025
Members of Keystone dress up in all yellow for World Bee Day. May 20, 2025
The familial bonds I have experienced here in Tamil Nadu go beyond formalities. Over the last year, I have found myself welcomed into the care of many women who now feel like mothers to me. Upon my arrival at my home in Kotagiri, my landlords began calling me their daughter and treated me as such. When I’ve been sick, they ensured I never went hungry or felt alone. I’ve also grown close to another family that owns a kadai (small shop). I often stop by their home for tea, coffee, lunch, or simply to say hello, and they too have begun to call me daughter.
Parakeets made from chilis for Kotagiri's annual vegetable fair. May 3, 2025
Sophie and Caris at Keystone's celebration of International Women's Day. March 8, 2025
Close knit bonds have manifested in places I least expected, transcending language and age. One of my responsibilities at Keystone Foundation is to monitor a restoration plot at Panapara Tea Estate every three months. Tea is one of the prime crops of the Nilgiris, occupying over 54,000 hectares of land according to the Tea Board of India. The profuse planting and harvesting of tea monoculture have resulted in loss of native plant and animal biodiversity. Additionally, invasive species such as Lantana camara and Solanum mauritianum encroach on native plant species, out competing them for water, sunlight, and space to grow.
Our restoration work in Panapara consists of removal of invasive species, planting native species, the establishment of a native species nursery, nature education, and establishing an apiary with Apis cerana indica (Indian honeybees). Our monitoring team consists of two Tamil speakers, one Hindi speaker, and me, all different ages and backgrounds. Using a mix of English and Tamil, we now complete our quarterly monitoring sessions with ease. What began as a communication challenge has settled into a smooth reporting system, making our work both effective and enjoyable.
Sophie working in Panapara Tea Estate, one of Keystone's restoration sites. June 30, 2025
Keystone's newly accredited arboretum, home to 34 different species including some vulnerable and endangered plants. July 14, 2025
Even outside the Nilgiris, I have been taken in and made to feel at home. Over the past year, I have had the privilege of traveling across India, to Pondicherry, Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Madurai, Bangalore, Goa, and more. I spent Holi in Udaipur, singing and dancing the afternoon away among hundreds of strangers who playfully threw gulal (colored powder) and exchanged hugs with smiles. In Goa, a local man showed us his favorite spot along the estuary we were visiting, where we basked in the sun and sipped fresh coconut water. In Bangalore, my co-fellow Amelia and I fell in love with a restaurant, returning for ghee podi thatte idli four times in just three days! In places where I stayed with friends’ families, such as Chennai and Hyderabad, I was welcomed into their homes as one of their own. I was included in family meals, pujas, and shopping trips without hesitation. I am deeply grateful for the hospitality and kindness extended to me while I am far from my fellowship site. With these newfound connections across India, I no longer feel like a visitor in this country that once felt unfamiliar.
Sophie in Udaipur, celebrating Holi for the first time. March 14, 2025
Unlimited vegetarian Thali in Jodhpur, the best i've ever had! March 15, 2025
When I’m not traveling, I’m making connections through food. My Tamil friend has patiently shown me how to cook sambhar, a lentil-based vegetable stew, how to improve my dosa spreading technique, and I’ve finally learned how to cook with tamarind by making kuzhambu, a spicy and tart curry. I’ve also tried my hand at Indian seafood dishes such as nethili (anchovy) fry, fish curry, and prawn masala. On the weekends, I bake sweets that remind me of home such as brownies, pumpkin bread, and banana pudding that I share with the entire Keystone office who greet the treats with excitement and an openness to try something new.
Rangoli (traditional Indian decoration made with ground rice) for Pongal in Chennai. Jan 15, 2026
Kulfi (Indian ice cream) stuffed inside a mango in Delhi. March 11, 2025
Another part of my family in India is undoubtedly the Shansi Fellows. Caris, the other India fellow in my cohort has been an unwavering support for me, especially during our first months in India. I’ve enjoyed visiting them in Madurai and experiencing a different side of Tamil Nadu through their eyes. With my co-fellows Anokha and Amelia, our apartment has become a welcoming home for both me and the guests we host. From akkas and annas, to uncles and aunties, to friends who became family, the people in India have shown me that a sense of home is something that can be built together. Although my fellowship will come to an end in June, I know that I will continue to have a connection to India and the people here for the rest of my life.
Caris, Yana, Sophie, and Olive having fun in Madurai! January 11, 2026
Members of Keystone's Biodiversity and Conservation team: Vishnu, Sophie, Devavarshini, Vandana, and Shawn. June 28, 2025