Most of you know your origin – your mum and your dad. I grew up with a single mum, not knowing the identity of my father. Therefor my childhood and early adulthood was plagued by questions of my own identity – my story.
I felt frustrated and sad not knowing the truth. Then when I almost made peace with never finding out my origin, my biological father stepped into my life. I was 26 – too old to need a father and not ready to forgive. Not only did I suddenly have a biological father but he also turned out to be Turkish. My world was turned upside down – I starred at myself in the mirror – Turkish, half Turkish? All of these years I thought of myself as German – completely German.
Now years later I quit my job to explore this other side of me – to go on a journey.
A journey to Turkey, where I will meet my second culture and my biological father for the first time. A journey to myself.
This was supposed to happen before covid, but during covid I got the idea – I want to cycle it! I want to cycle from Germany my old heritage, my old home, my old self to turkey to discover my new culture, my second half and meet my biological father.
The journey by bicycle will be beautiful and it will be challenging.
I will laugh and I will cry.
I will feel lonely and I will meet kind people.
I will find and loose myself.
This journey will be a symbol of my life – of the good moments and the bad moments. A symbol of all the struggles I have overcome and off my willpower, my friends so admire about myself.
With this journey I also want to create awareness around the struggle single mums (/parents) go through.
Single mums (/parents) often face so many pressures all alone, often with no support and no one to talk to.

Hi my name is Madeline, I’m German and have lived in Sydney, Australia the last eight years.

With this blog I invite you to follow me on my journey to my roots – to myself.