Secret Santa at AUCA

December 12, 2014

At the American University of Central Asia, there is a certain holiday cheer in the air. Maybe it is because of the upcoming holidays, but it could be more likely that classes have ended, and there are only final exams between the students and their vacation (the professors and staff too).

And while Christmas may not be a popular holiday here in the Kyrgyz Republic, students are certainly embracing a tradition or two. With the recent General Education Concert featuring the choir and several individual acts and the Improvisation Club putting on a packed show, the AUCA community is in a visibly festive mood. One of the most interesting ways that our students are displaying their holiday spirit is through playing Secret Santa.

Secret Santa is a game played in many offices, universities, and among groups of friends in the United States. A group of people comes together, and they are assigned a random person to buy a present for, without that person knowing who is their Santa, hence Secret Santa.

There are several groups of students participating in this game, from the Business Administration department to the staff of New Star. We talked to three participants about Secret Santa, their own holiday celebrations, and more…

 So you are participating in the New Star Secret Santa game, right?

Yes, I got some presents already. I got some coffee in the morning, a Santa hat, some chocolate, and three big oranges.

What kind of coffee of it, what company?

CoffeeMania, just a latte! But my Santa knew I liked coffee, because he asked me.

So it wasn’t secret?

 No no it was. He created a Facebook page called Gera’s Santa but I didn’t know who it was, and he asked me what I liked.

It sounds like cheating! But anyways, you said you got a present everyday?

Well we started on Monday, so every day until the weekend we are supposed to give a present every day.

What do you usually write about for New Star?   

Usually its an interview of a professor or about professors. Then I run the ‘Boxes’ column. Where people write a lot of stuff, and ask us questions so I answer them. Some questions are really funny, but I try to answer in a smart way!

Can you give us an example of a question?

In this issue, one of the questions was, ‘Why do ICP girls love this professor?’

Which professor?

 Chris Rickleton!

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Veronik Bezumova, Junior from JMC department

               

So you are playing in the Secret Santa game, which group?

I’m in the room 104 group. It’s like a special group, well not so special. We are friends, and it is interesting to do this for each other because we know some details about everyone. There are about 20 people in the group.

What is room 104 by the way? I know there are always a lot of people in there.

Well it’s the office of our student coordinator and New Star, but for us it is something special. We sit there and talk about everyday life, and its like a second home for us. Its very warm, important because it is winter haha.

And this is the 1^st time you have ever played secret santa. What have you gotten so far?

Well I got a cake, a whole cake. Well really I like handmade presents. They don’t cost much, but it is something special because the person actually sat down and spent time.

So did you get a handmade present?

So I got this New Year’s tree thing that my Santa made, kind of like you make in kindergarten but it is so cute! I got a letter too, where he wished me all the best, a 3.0 gpa, and best wishes!

So you are a Santa too, what presents have you given?

Well I got him a barney? cake. I know that she likes these things. I also got a letter, but in Turkish because she speaks Turkish. I found someone who knew Turkish who helped me write the letter.

Well I am from Kazakhstan, every year we celebrate it because my family is Orthodox Christian. We celebrate Christmas on the 7^th of January.

So as an Orthodox family, how do you celebrate Christmas?

We prepare a lot of food, but not really anything very special! We also have a tradition when we go to our neighbors and knock on their door and sing some special songs.

Actually I don’t like Christmas after my parents told me that Santa Claus is not real! I was a little disappointed. But after this Secret Santa game, I think I will fall in love with this holiday again!

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 Julia Nee, third, junior of BA department

So you’ve gotten presents already?

Well some people will give presents everyday, some will only give at one itme. I haven’t yet decided what I will buy! We divided our group only yesterday.

So what kind of presents do you want from your Secret Santa? What is your perfect present?

I think that an interesting book, like classical literature or European literature. Frederic Beigbeder for example.

So you know who you are giving a present to?

I do, and I was matched with one of my friends. I know his wants or likes, so I think that it won’t be so hard for me to decide.

Are you making something or buying something?

 I want to make a game. I want to leave some little notes for him to find the gift, like a treasure hunt. But I don’t know what the gift will be yet!

 Have you celeberated Christmas outside of AUCA?

Well we celebrate New Year’s with family. But after midnight (12pm) we usually go outside with friends. I still have to decide what I want for new years presents! Usually I don’t tell, but in my family usually only I give presents. But my parents always give some money to us and tell us ‘go and buy whatever you want!’.

Have you gotten a present before that you really remember?

Well I can’t really remember! My family always says something like, ‘we will buy this now but this will be your New Year’s present!’ The same with my birthday present haha.

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