beating the rice.

"Beating the rice" is usually done by physically beating the rice, thereby shaking the rice kernels off the stalks. However, this last Saturday at the Akha Youth Development Center we used a machine to do all the work for us. I seemed to be the only disappointed one to not be taking part in manually beating the rice. I suppose if I had to do this on a regular basis I wouldn't have been quite as disappointed. The rice we harvested will feed all the kids at our hostel for 8 months out of the year. Many of the AYDC kids parents or relatives came to help with the work.

Sumitra with her mom.

Joe, Rusty, and Dara

the magical rice machine.

a new friend who later decided he hated me.

Luka with his mother.

Collecting the harvested rice kernels into bags.

Our bounty. Four truck loads of rice.

lunch. fried banana flowers with pork. so delicious.

P Tim and Ae.