Tag: #indiana

5 June 2018

It is so quaint to see the Amish amongst the “English” (that’s what the outsiders are called). Although they are a peaceful community, their way of life is not accepted by everyone. I have always been intrigued by them and here are some interesting facts I learned:

• their children only go to school to Year 8
• their right to keep their children out of mainstream schools for religious reasons was upheld by the USA supreme court as the children are schooled in their community
• they pay taxes but they do not claim pensions or social security as they see this as a form of insurance and they consider insurance gambling
• only adults are baptised so that they make a conscious decision to live by the laws of the Amish
• prior to being baptised, young people from the ages of between 16 – 21 go through a period of Rumspringa. At this time the elders turn a blind eye while the young experience everything from alcohol, drugs to sex and a lot of things I know most “English” don’t ever do. After they have “sowed their wild oats” normally around 21 they decide to either be baptised and remain in the Amish community or leave the community. Most remain.
• The Amish community is the fastest growing community in the USA with a population of over 313,000 which is 150 percent more than 25 years ago. Compared to other religions which have seen a large decrease over the same period.

There are many fascinating facts about this community and I don’t want to judge their ways. However, with the difficulties our society is having with guns and social media (to mention only 2 items) gives us something to think about. Although I am too rebellious to even consider and my smartphone, especially while travelling is my link to everything – my GPS, my booking accommodation, my checking up and annoying my kids, my banking, calendar and of course the social media.

Here is the closest I will get to being Amish. I fail here as well as they are not permitted to have their photo taken.

On a lighter note, I explored downtown Nappannee and they have quirky art scattered throughout town.

This is a scone in the USA. I keep forgetting I have to ask for a biscuit if I want a scone.

I move on from Goshen tomorrow. I have enjoyed it but I won’t miss the continual sound of freight trains sounding their air horns every half hour at least about 20 times. The first time I experienced this was in Memphis and I thought there was some crazy emergency. I have learned from my train trip in San Diego that the horn is sounded to alert people who may be on a grade crossing, of which there are lots in this country and especially this town. Give me Sydney airport with the planes any day.