Has anyone had any experience with Amish people?

Question

My boyfriend works at a coffee shop, and there's a little Amish pretzel stand nearby. He says they're really nice. I've never met any Amish people--have you guys? If so, how were they?

Answer 1

A friend of mine was ex-Amish. She had to take a lot of courses at community college to catch up, including computer and GED, because she left when she was 18. There is a time when teenagers are allowed to rebel and decide whether to stay or go; she decided to leave. Unfortunately, most Amish aren't educated past eighth grade, so she really needed some supportive friends for a while. That kind of thing can keep people trapped in the community.

I've gone into Amish country a few times. There are also some Amish in Florida, where I come from, believe it or not! They have so many rules, but they really bend them (I've seen buggies that were tricked out!), and they tend to rely on those of us who don't follow them for things like car rides.

They tend to be very friendly, but unpretentious, at least in my experience. My beloved is a woman who shaves her head; when she was looking at quilts, several ladies were very concerned about her health, and then when she told them it was by choice, one smiled and said, "That must feel good in this heat." We felt bad for her, with her really long hair under a bonnet, after that.

Once my brother thought he'd have some fun at the expense of their towns' names in Pennsylvania, and asked two Amish ladies, "How do you get from Blue Ball to Intercourse?" They didn't blink. The one snapped, "Grow up and buy a map," and then when they walked away, I heard the other say, "Englischer [non-Amish] boys always think that's so funny."

Answer 2

Most definitely. I lived in a small Michigan town and they were all over the place. We actually had a teenage Amish girl as a housekeeper for a little while. She was pretty quiet and always polite. We used to buy swiss cheese from an Amish family too and then they stopped making it on their farm, which was a bummer. Some of the elders don't speak my English. They speak a form of German called Pennsylvania Dutch.

go here for a FAQ on the Amish: http://www.holycrosslivonia.org/amish/amishfaq.htm

Answer 3

While on a visit to Michigan several years back, I was around them for the first time. My take on them was that they were very friendly, peaceful people. I was told that they didn't like there pix taken, but I asked some Amish at a store and they readily allowed me to take pix of them, their horse and buggy (honestly I was mainly interested in the horse).
I am very respectful of the Amish, never in my life have I seen such beautiful healthy animals.
Even they're livestock was the best I have ever seen.

Answer 4

We met some when we visited Springfield, IL for our 8th grade trip. They were nice and hospitable. And it was the best most fresh food I have ever ate. Go grab one of them pretzels & enjoy!

PS i saw one /amish girl wearing Nike's. I thought that was nuts!

Answer 5

They are a backwards religious cult that subjugates women, forces their children into living in a backwards community. Lately there have been numerous allegations of physical and sexual abuse of women and children. In fact there was a whole expose on the Amish on 60 minutes.

Answer 6

I have in Lancaster or somwhere in PA. They're nice, but they seem really boring. They make good food though since everything's made from scratch. It's kind of funny to see them in their little horse buggys on the road too! I can't possibly live like that!!

Answer 7

The Pony Express? Nah.

Answer 8

They're insanely nice, kind, and hardworking, however I don't agree with the slave-like treatment they force the women into.


But if it is their religion, and they choose to follow it, more power to them.


I couldn't live without my electricity.