We see an Amish youth sowing fields as we pass by; he’s around 14 years old and in front of him is an old-fashioned two-wheeled plowing machine pulled by eight horses. We stop for and look at how he plows these fields with this system.
The Amish, as a Christian sect, first appeared in 1525 in Switzerland. They are now spread across 19 states in the US, though they are mostly concentrated in Pennsylvania. There are estimated to be around 1 million Amish throughout the US, though they are a community that prefers to stick close to one another.
The Amish first came to America after experiencing repression as a result of their chosen lifestyle in Europe in the 18th century. The younger generations who arrived in America around that time began to be called the “Pennsylvania Dutch” by those around them. After the initial Amish migrants arrived in America, the community began to spread out, heading for Ohio, other middle-western states and even Canada. To get an idea of the general avoidance of technology observed amongst the Amish, think about the fact that some of the most conservative members of the community do not use buttons on their clothing, preferring instead hooks and knots to close their outfits.
The clothing worn by the Amish generally resembles old European styles. Their religious ceremonies take place in their homes and the men are generally bearded. Interestingly, just as the Amish refuse to work in service for the state, they also do not vote or serve in the military. Members of the Old Order Amish, considered to be by far the most conservative group in this community, are estimated number around 80,000.
High levels of discipline
From time to time, the Amish encounter serious difficulties in their relations with the non-Amish communities that live around them. Most Amish families are opposed to regular schooling for their children, as they feel it represents a threat to their way of life. They see, for example, a normal high school education for a teenager as something that would make it difficult for the teenager to continue on in his or her Amish way of life. The court system in America has supported this position, ruling that as a group, the Amish have a right to their own religious ways and that they are not required to send their children to non-Amish schools.
Agriculture is a very important part of Amish life and they plow and take care of their fields just as they have throughout history. Their avoidance of technology is very present in this area, too, as you can see from the fact that their fields are almost never maintained with tractors. Their community standards generally prohibit the use of tractors and the Amish also do not use cars. The Amish tend to be wary of anything that might pull them toward worldliness. They do use mechanical tools, however, such as the metal plows we see being pulled by horses.
We see another Amish youth working as we continue down the road. He, too, is using a plow tool pulled by horses to work his field. He is 13 years old. Even though he has only been working on this field for about a week, it looks very well plowed. He will no doubt continue doing this work for his entire life. Younger members of the community, such as this teenager, start from a very young age to learn how to use these mechanical agricultural tools and later they will learn how to use even more complicated ones and thus continue the ways of their grandparents and great-grandparents. All this, despite the fact that the nation they live in, the US, offers some of the most advanced technology available in the world.
Women and female youth in this sect of Christianity wear head coverings similar to the Muslim headscarf. Even the little girls we see running next to their fathers, who are busy plowing fields, cover their heads. When we ask their mothers about this, they tell us that it is a part of their religion and traditions. After agriculture, animal husbandry is the second biggest source of income for the Amish community. We see lots and lots of cows eating grass in the wide fields of the community we are passing through.
The fact that there is no electricity used in Amish homes means that there are, of course, no electric appliances in use in these homes, either. In other words, no refrigerators, no washing machines, no dishwashers; the Amish abstain from all these conveniences. And, of course, no televisions. The absence of cars also means that the Amish rely on other means to travel, most noticeably, horse-drawn carriages. Just as most American families park their cars in front of their homes, the Amish park their horse-drawn carriages out front and put their horses in their stables.
Another interesting aspect of Amish life is that they do not use cemeteries. They bury their dead in the gardens and yards of their homes. Photographs are also forbidden in their brand of Christianity, which places a strong emphasis on modesty and shuns anything that may lead to vanity. When we ask if we can at least photograph some of the Amish children, the elders tell us: “We need to teach our children about all this while they are still young..”
The Amish bring their children up to continue this modest lifestyle and maintain the values that have guided their communities for so long now. The younger members of the community are taught to carry on the Amish ways and so they will, even if the rest of the world around them looks on in astonishment.
[TRAVEL TIPS]
Visa: The US requires visas for Turkish citizens. You can obtain a visa from the US embassy in Ankara or the US Consulate in İstanbul. The cost is $100. Citizens from nations like England, Canada, Australia and New Zealand can enter the US without visas and stay up to 90 days.
How to get there: Turkish Airlines (THY) has regular flights from İstanbul to both New York and Chicago. This is the best way to visit the US, especially if you don’t want to transfer, but simply fly directly.
Where to stay: You will never have a problem finding a hotel to fit your particular budget in America. Of course, tourist areas during the summer months can present a bit more of a problem and you will need reservations. Prices can range anywhere between $50 and $500 per night.
Cuisine: Turkish citizens accustomed to their own food might have some problems getting used to food in the US. But there are so many options available that, in the end, you will most likely find something that pleases you. There are large Turkish populations in areas like New York and New Jersey, so you could always go to one of the many Turkish restaurants here, if nothing else.
Best time to go: The northern states of America can be cold in the winter, so try to visit in the summer months. But remember, just as the northern states can freeze in the winter, the southern regions of America can swelter in the summertime.
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