by Aibek, age 9, writes to Santa from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and asks where does santa live?
Dear Santa,
My name is Aibek, and I am 9 years old. I live in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where his ata says the mountains behind their apartment turn completely white almost overnight every November.
Dear Aibek, that is exactly the sort of detail I like to hear about Bishkek. It tells me you are paying close attention to the world around you, which is a fine habit to keep. Please keep noticing things like that.
Santa, I have three questions. First, where does Santa live? My dad and I were arguing about it at breakfast.
The North Pole, of course, in a workshop that never quite shows up clearly on any map, which the elves insist is intentional so tourists do not track slush all over the toy floor.
Second, my grandpa was telling us about the Tian Shan mountain range, the enormous mountains that rise up just south of his city. Do you fly over that on your Christmas Eve route?
Every single year, without fail. The tian shan mountain range, the enormous mountains that rise up just south of his city is one of the sights the reindeer look forward to most, and I always tell the newer reindeer to watch closely as we pass over, because there are not many views in the whole wide world quite like it. Rudolph tends to slow down just a little right there, and I have learned not to rush him.
Third, is it true that in Kyrgyzstan? My family was talking about it and I want to know if it is real.
It certainly is true. In kyrgyzstan, new year celebrations carried over from the soviet era remain the biggest winter holiday, complete with a decorated fir tree. I think that is a wonderful thing for a family to talk about, because customs like that are exactly what make Kyrgyzstan feel like Kyrgyzstan, and they are precisely the sort of thing that keeps a community close together, especially in the winter months.
Thank you for your letter and your good questions, Aibek. Keep noticing the world around you, keep asking honest questions, and keep being kind to the people in Bishkek. That is the whole spirit of Christmas right there. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Aibek
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
P.S. Does Grandfather Frost ever visit Bishkek too, or is that only your job?
We split the map fairly evenly, and Grandfather Frost handles that part of the world beautifully. Consider it a very old and very friendly arrangement.
