A Burmese girl may also choose a religious life as a nun. A community of women varying in age from young to old live and work together in a nunnery.

Nuns prepare their own food, unlike monks. Monks only eat food other people have prepared for them.

As is the case for men, nuns may choose to stay in the religious life temporarily or permanently.

The nuns chanted for us when we visited them at this nunnery in Mandalay.

The youngest nun at this nunnery is eight years old.

The oldest nun at this site is 94 and she is the head nun, but we didn’t see her. When she passes on, this nun will take her place as head nun. She has a peaceful, dignified demeanor but also knows how to laugh.