by Zarina, age 8 from Dushanbe, Tajikistan, asks Santa about his laugh, the Pamir and Alay mountains, and Tajikistan’s mountain communities.
Dear Santa, my name is Zarina, and I am eight years old. I live in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, where my bibi says tall mountains surround our whole city on almost every side.
Dear Zarina, a city surrounded by mountains on nearly every side deserves a very scenic flyover, your bibi picked a truly majestic hometown.
Santa, I have three questions.
Does Santa say ‘Ho Ho Ho’? My barodar tries to copy it but it always comes out a little squeaky.
I do enjoy a good hearty laugh, Zarina, though after so many years it has grown quite deep and jolly. Tell your barodar practice makes perfect, even squeaky laughs count for something.
My bibi says Dushanbe is surrounded by the Pamir and Alay mountain ranges. Is that true?
It is true, Zarina, those two mountain ranges rise dramatically around your city, some of the highest peaks in all of Central Asia. I always enjoy that towering, snowy landscape flying in to visit you.
My bibi says Tajikistan has a lot of different mountain communities that each keep their own traditions. Is that true?
It is true, Zarina, Tajikistan’s mountain communities have preserved unique traditions and languages for generations, each valley telling its own story. That kind of rich, varied heritage is really something worth celebrating.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Zarina Rahimova
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
P.S. Will you practice your laugh with my barodar this year?
Gladly, Zarina, a little extra practice never hurts.
