I Spent 48 Hours With the Amish—Here’s What I Learned About the Community and Its People.

Please close your eyes. Consider the Amish and Amish communities. Can you see a woman in a dress and cap, a man in suspender trousers and a wide-brimmed hat being loaded into a shiny black buggy pulled by a chocolate-colored horse? If you keep thinking about this, you might start to hear the clatter of horse hooves.

That’s what the Amish look like to us Brits (non-Amish) at first glance. But when I started digging deeper into the community of Shipshewana, Indiana and what it values, what I learned, at least, was eye-opening. My experience changed my perspective on the Amish people and gave me a new respect for them and their culture.

Amish is not a religion, it’s a way of life.

The Amish are Christians because they follow the basic tenets of Christianity. Their weekly and daily practices in church follow traditional Anabaptist theology. They came from Europe two centuries ago to escape religious persecution and have practiced their particular religious doctrine for over 800 years.

They left the Catholic religion and chose adult baptism instead of infant baptism. The same community and Christian tenants parted ways with the Mennonites in the 1600s because they felt they had become too “secular.”

The Amish may be ignorant, but they are certainly not stupid.

As Gen Xers, when someone was called ignorant, it meant they were dirty and rude. The true meaning of ignorance is “lack of knowledge or information,” so we who called out others were actually ignorant.

The Amish attend their own schools, but they only go through the 8th grade, instead of graduating in the 12th grade like most Americans. Their schooling focuses on basics such as math, reading, writing, and writing, but also includes Amish history, values, and vocational training. Therefore, we may know as more compliments those who have been educated for many years in schools and universities, but they are more prepared for life after leaving school . When was the last time we needed to memorize trigonometry or James Joyce to function in society?

They are not rude, but reserved and reserved.

As a gal who loves to habitually say “hello” to strangers, I’ve done the same with Amish men and women, and they always say “hello” and smile back. Simplicity and humility are a big part of this community, but that doesn’t make them backwards. Rather, his modest personality can be seen as a gentle personality filled with humility.

They are polyglots.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Seth Jones, owner of Carriage House in Indiana. Please let me know if you have any questions. I knew in advance that the Amish speak Pennsylvania Dutch since childhood, but learn English in school. In the church, most of the services are spoken and sung in German. So I asked him if he could understand the German he was hearing and singing. His answer was simple: “Yes.”

I can speak English and Spanish and understand a little French. I am also teaching myself the Korean compliments that express admiration and passion for Korea, so I would like to be able to speak and understand several languages.

Young people are not forced to become Amish – Rumspringa helps them decide if it’s right for them.

Rumspringa (German for “jumping”) is an Amish rite of passage when a young person turns 16 years old. During that time, they can do things non-Amish do, such as owning a cell phone and browsing the Internet. I asked Seth Jones again about the custom, and he told me that rumspringa is practiced until marriage and baptism.

Although Amish youth may enjoy Rum Springs for several years, 80 to 90 percent return to the church by getting baptized and professing their faith. Those who decide that non-Amish life is right for them are free to leave the community and are not excluded for not being baptized.

They celebrate major holidays just like we do.

I then asked how they celebrate the holidays, and yes, the Amish do enjoy them. They celebrate Christmas by singing songs, lighting candles, decorating their homes with greenery, and enjoying large amounts of high-calorie meals and gifts. On Easter, we celebrate Good Friday by praying, reading scripture, fasting, and even coloring Easter eggs. What about Independence Day? They participate in fireworks, parades, and picnics just like the rest of us.

In a nutshell

The Amish oppose war and fighting and fight for peace. This is also evident in the community.Even if he’s running down a back road shipshewana and its neighboring towns, I couldn’t help but notice the lack of noise and stress (apart from the livestock). In fact, I enjoyed walking some of the dirt roads and felt safer than walking alone in a big city.

The Amish and the British may appear to be polar opposites on the outside, but diving deep into their world will help you learn more about yourself, what you value, and how you can live without it. I was able to learn a lot about this. Personally, it would take an enormous amount of strength and willpower to give up everything and live a simpler life. That is something I will always respect in the Amish community.