Planting Rice at Rady's Home in Cambodia

Za Pepa, one of seven orphans living at Rady's home. Rady started bringing kids from his village into his home because no one else was taking care of them. Some of these young children were fending for themselves in the countryside, scavenging for food and even feeding younger siblings. Some were so small for their ages that they probably experienced malnutrition at some stage of their early development. All attend Rady's free English school down the road.


All of the kids at Rady's home were expected to help with the rice planting. Here's Za Pepa with bunches of rice to be transplanted.


Lida gathers up rice seedlings into bunches. Although scrawny, Lida could easily climb up into the coconut trees to toss down large fruits, a task that was too difficult for me.


Bunches of rice ready for transplanting...


The kids at work...




Rady's nephew knocks the mud off of the rice seedlings by swinging the bunch against his foot.


Before planting the rice paddy was plowed.


Over the week a crew of workers (and extended family) came to lend a hand with the rice planting.


Even some of the local students at Rady's school (like this girl in my class) came to help plant the rice. The workers and kids in the paddy seemed pleased that I was helping out and some thought it was hilarious. None of the other English teachers helped plant rice, but it was fun and pleasant work albeit a bit back-breaking. At first, I was embarrassingly slow compared to the girls, but after a day, I was able to learn the method better and plant more quickly.


Don't know why pajamas are so popular in Cambodia...


And despite having to work, these kids still found time to play...


Wrestling in the rice paddy and mud fights were pretty regular, especially among these two...




Though the girls also enjoyed throwing down in the muddy water...




And the kids swam in the murky water of the drainage ditch next to the road.






Rady's son


The front of Rady's home where he hosts volunteer English teachers for his school as well as periodic couchsurfers.