Rice Planting Day

Today was rice planting day at Wat Opot.  There is a small rice field next to the pagoda that Wat Opot plants and harvests each year to make use of the land and to keep the children connected to the people of the region.  Every person on campus who consumes rice had to help plant, so every resident from 2 year old Ratana (who mostly just splashed around) to me, Melinda, other volunteers, and Khmer staff got into the mud to work.  It was my first experience in the rice fields.  I had fun with the kids, but two hours was enough for me.  I can't imagine doing that full time.  We also only had one small field to plant whereas most planters have to do several large fields.  I definitely have a new found respect and appreciation for the people who work the rice fields.  It is tough work to say the least.

The rice plants come in bundles.  When you plant, you pull off just a small portion and stick it down in the mud.  The rice goes into rows, ideally about a foot apart.  The planting is done after the start of the rainy season after the fields flood.  The rice needs mud to grow in and the field must remain wet for the plants to stay alive.  Last year there was a drought and the fields dried up before they should have, leaving everyone in the region worried as to whether there would be enough rice this year.  As I understand, enough rain came later in the season to revitalize the fields to still yield a substantial crop. 

Ty Meng, Kimseck, Srey Mao, Davit

Kunthy and Phanya

Srey Nak

Channy

Brian showing the boys how to plant

Melinda helping Virak and Wey

I can't stress the importance of rice in Cambodia and all of Southeast Asia, and I guess Asia in general. Rice is served for every breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A meat or vegetable dish is eaten with it, but rice is the main food. When someone is going to eat a meal, they say they are going to "hope bai," or "eat rice." In the US we would have rice with our meal, here you eat rice and whatever comes with it.

Takeo province, where Wat Opot is located, is filled with neatly planted rice fields.  Ours certainly isn't as pretty, but we had a great time and tried our best!