Matryo-whaaaat?

Matryoshka dolls are the well known nesting dolls which fit inside each other and are very typically Russian. They follow a relationship of “object-within-similar-object” which is similar to the make-up of an onion. As Shrek would explain, “Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers.”

Embarking on this journey to Moscow, I hope to uncover some of these layers which exist within myself through travelling and immersing myself in a completely different life other than the one I’ve been comfortable nesting in for the last 22 years.

As a little girl, I remember the feelings of absolute curiosity and delight as you discover that within this bigger wooden doll, there is a medium sized doll and within that doll, another could be found. Each doll with their own character and design; you could line them up and play “spot the difference” between them and test to see if the different top halves could fit on another bottom half. The solid, tiniest doll right in the centre is the one that intrigued me most. She was protected by all the other dolls that encompassed her so she must have been special.

Unpacking the layers of this Matryoshka doll is probably going to be the most interesting experience of them all seeing as the little doll has not ventured too far out of those protected layers before. So minimising her belongings to 30kgs and leaving who and what she knows behind, she’s taking the leap with two amazing (and very lively) friends to one of the coldest places in the world where the alphabet looks like little scribbles and all she knows about the people is what she’s seen in James Bond movies...we will probably have many “Matryo...whaaaat?!” moments so watch this space, it should get very interesting.