"It's taken me a while to understand that family is not just by blood, you can grow into a family."

For 16-year-old Noelle, family is a complicated subject.

She was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and spent her earliest years in an orphanage in Kinshasha.

At that time, the country was still recovering after being ravaged by the second Congo war, and the subsequent disease and starvation. Noelle's mother had died with her baby girl in her arms.

At four, Noelle was adopted by an Australian family. She settled in well to her new home, but always felt she was missing a piece of her story.

She knew she had to reconnect with her culture, and her adopted mum, Jess, was determined to help.

Read Noelle's story in our online article, or tune in to the new series by Earshot, Promise Me.

Then, journey to Paris with Jonathan Green for a brand new season of Return Ticket, RN's armchair travel podcast.

Learn how to spot a perfect baguette and take a tour of the city's iconic boulangeries, as Jonathan explores the Parisian obsession with bread.

You can also read the online story to learn why you should never take a lunch break at your desk when in France.

And, since we've whet your appetite, join food writer Alice Zaslavsky on Life Matters for Tiny Tasters, a series exploring vital foodie factoids as part of the ABC's Your Move campaign.

In the first episode, hear Dr Norman Swan's guidance around eating during pregnancy.

Until next time
Anna Levy, deputy digital editor
 

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