by Ronan, age 9 from Yaren, Nauru, asks Santa about Christmas ornament storage, being the world’s smallest island nation, and phosphate mining history.
Dear Santa, my name is Ronan, and I am nine years old. I live in Yaren, Nauru, where my nana says our whole country is so small that you could practically walk around the entire coastline in a single afternoon.
Dear Ronan, a country you can circle in an afternoon makes for one of the fastest, most efficient stops on my whole Pacific route, your nana lives somewhere wonderfully compact.
Santa, I have three questions.
Can I get Christmas ornament storage? My mum says our box from last year is falling apart.
Of course, Ronan, a sturdy new storage box will keep your ornaments safe and unbroken for many Christmases to come. A good container is a small investment that saves a lot of heartbreak come next December.
My teacher says Nauru is the smallest island nation in the entire world. Is that true?
It is true, Ronan, Nauru is the smallest island country anywhere on the planet, and one of the smallest countries overall. I always enjoy how quickly I can complete my rounds on an island so wonderfully compact.
My nana says our island used to depend a lot on mining a special mineral called phosphate. Is that true?
It is true, Ronan, phosphate mining shaped much of Nauru’s economy and history for many decades. Communities everywhere find their own ways to build a life from what the land provides, and that resourcefulness is worth admiring.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Ronan Detudamo
Yaren, Nauru
P.S. Can the new storage box be extra sturdy, just in case my little sister finds it?
I will make sure the elves reinforce it properly, Ronan, little sisters are a known hazard to ornament boxes everywhere.
