by Sokha, age 8 from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, asks Santa about Christmas gifs, the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, and Christmas in Buddhist Cambodia.
Dear Santa, my name is Sokha, and I am eight years old. I live in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where my ta says our city sits right where two big rivers meet, and the water traffic gets very busy every evening.
Dear Sokha, two rivers meeting right by your home sounds like a lovely spot for watching boats glide by, and I always enjoy that view on my way past.
Santa, I have three questions.
Can I get a Christmas gif? My friend sends them on our class chat but I do not know how to make one.
Of course you can, Sokha, plenty of cheerful little animated pictures exist for the holidays. I will admit the elves prefer paper cards, but I understand a good gif has its own kind of charm.
My teacher says Phnom Penh sits right where the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers meet. Is that true?
It is true, Sokha, those two great rivers join right at your city, one of the busiest and most beautiful river junctions on my whole route. I always follow the water to find my way to your rooftop.
My ta says most people in Cambodia are Buddhist, but Christmas lights are becoming more popular in the city anyway. Is that true?
It is true, Sokha. Buddhism is the main tradition for most families in Cambodia, so Christmas is not an old custom there, but city streets have started embracing the lights and cheer of the season anyway, simply because joy is worth sharing no matter which holiday brings it.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Sokha Chan
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
P.S. Can you send me a gif of your sleigh flying over the rivers?
I will ask the elves to whip one up, Sokha, though reindeer do not always cooperate with photography.
