Knee-deep in Fun

08.17.25

My group and I making rice bundles in the Karen Village, Thailand

Hello, I'm back! It's been a while since

I last posted. Over the summer, I traveled to Thailand with Moondance, an adventure–travel company. It was spectacular. We spent days in nature, interacted with animals, and enjoyed life-changing activities like scuba diving, rock climbing, and hiking. I also took a family trip to Wyoming, where I hiked in the Tetons—another remarkable experience.

Spending so much time outdoors changed my emotional state. One unforgettable day was in Chiang Mai. We spent the morning finishing a community service project and were exhausted afterward. After resting and eating, the locals taught us how to plant rice. We gathered in the mud, watched them extract rice stalks, bundled them up, and wrapped them carefully.

Soon, we were told we were ready for “the big fields.” The locals gave us mud boots to protect our legs in the knee-deep mud. What we thought would be a lesson on rice preparation turned into a full-blown mud fight. Uncle Chai, our 80-year-old guide, threw a mix of mud and manure over us. That first throw ignited a wild mud battle—everyone ended up completely covered. We were a mess, and smelled worse, but we’d do it all over again. Why is this?

THE MUD FIGHT!

Of course, getting messy is fun. But even before the mud fight, working in the rice fields lifted our moods. A study by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business found that Chinese students from rice–farming regions south of the Yangtze River grew up in tightly connected, interdependent communities and displayed more collectivism than students from wheat–farming regions north of the river. In other words, working in rice fields fosters community bonds and emotional awareness. For us, the repetitive, hands-on work encouraged focus, mindfulness, and calm—connecting us deeply with nature.

You do not have to grow rice to feel that tranquility. Simply caring for plants can slow you down, help you stay present, and deepen your connection to nature.

Though the mud fight did not bring peace in the way farming did, it left us feeling carefree. I thought playing in mud was just fun, but it also has psychological benefits. Michelle Rupiper explains how messy play fosters growth and learning in “Mud, Marvelous Mud!” Moreover, mud contains the bacteria Mycobacterium vaccae, which can reduce vulnerability to depression and boost serotonin. The Edward Street Child Services blog highlights this benefit as well.

The “hygiene hypothesis” also suggests that overly clean environments limit exposure to helpful germs, increasing susceptibility to allergies and asthma, as explained by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

In short, I treasured every memory from that trip, but that day in the mud will always remind me of pure joy. So, go outside and play in some mud. You’ll feel better. Trust me.