Differences between Amish Community and Our Modern Society- Language, Clothing, Family Structure and Different Values.

              In the twenty-first century, we may think that all develop societies in the world have a similar life. Nowadays, anywhere in the world live people who are different from our modern society. Last year I had a wonderful experience when I met an Amish society. The Amish are a Christian religious group. Originally, they are from Germany, Europe. They came to America because they were persecuted in their countries. In USA, they found religious freedom. Many of them settled in Pennsylvania. The Amish people are one of the most interesting and rare communities that exist today. Their group is unique because they refuse to use modern technologies. Amish do not use cars, electricity, and they do not have a phone in their home. Thoese people want to live how their ancestors lived before them. In contrast, other non- Amish people cannot imagine their lives without fashion and helpful items like cell phones, computers, internet, electricity, cars. There are many differences between both societies such language, their clothing, family style and they have different values.

              The Amish are a Christian religious group. Originally, they are from Germany, Europe. They came to America because they were persecuted in their countries. In USA, they found religious freedom. Many of them settled in Pennsylvania.

          The first one different between Amish and American people is the language that they speak. The official Amish language is German. In conversations with each other and in their home they speak Pennsylvania Dutch. This is a mixed language from Dutch (German language) and English. Their church cervices and sermons are given in German. When children go to school, they speak and study in English.Therefore; people from the Amish group know to speak two languages.

                                             Typical Amish car.They don't use modern cars.

         In opposite of Amish country, in the U.S.A, the official language is English. Americans start to speak English when they are children. They speak the same language everywhere. It is not necessary for them to learn second language. If they want, they can study a foreign language like Spanish, French, Arabic and others.

          The second different is what kind of clothes they wear. The Amish are called “Plain People” because their clothes and lifestyles are very simple. The women and girls wear old-fashioned dresses. They are made from solid-colored fabrics with a long skirt and sleeves.  These dresses are covered with a cape and apron and are fastened with straight pins or snaps. Amish women do not wear jewelry. Men and boys wear dark-colored suits, straight-cut coats without lapels, trousers with suspenders, solid-colored shirts, black socks and shoes, and black or straw broad-brimmed hats. Their coats do not have buttons because military uniforms have large silver or gold buttons. Consequently, they hate war and they do not serve in the army. The Amish want to have a peaceful life.

           Traditional women clothes. The cloth's colors are dark because Amish women want to be simple nor  attractive.

Clothes for small and grow up children.

            Outside of the Amish world people using clothes to protect their bodies from cold or hot weather. Non- Amish society use clothes for fashion. They do not think about the meaning of the dress. Sometimes Americans and other nations put on clothes to attract the opposite gender or people around them. The jewelry is part of their dress style. If modern costumes, which we use do not have buttons we can be able to wear them. By the way how one person is dressed, we can recognize that he is a rich person or maybe he is a doctor, lawyer or a pilot. I want to add that Amish people always look very clean and trim. However, the people outside of this group can use washing machines, dryers and many other technologies to clean their clothes and sometimes they do not look so clean.

                                                                Amish kitchen.

        The third divergence is family structure. Amish families are big. They have many children. Amish think that the more children they have, the more blessed they are from God. They love their children, something more Amish family members support each other inside the family and they are very united. They always eat together, spend evening time together- singing songs, read fables, teach their children. Also, plain people go together to the church and celebrate together every holiday. According their traditions, young Amish generation takes care of their grandparents with whom they live in the same house. The father is the spiritual head of the whole family. That is why, he is responsible for leading them in all aspects. The wife can help with the family business .Her job is in the home- cooking, laundering, cleaning, child caring, keeping a garden.

                                            Amish farm where they live and keep their food.

Amish stove with which they warm their houses.Next to it is a gasoline lamp.They do not use electricity because they consider it for bad utility from the outside world.

             In contrast, in our modern society, children are treasured. To have children is expensive pleasure. For that reason, most parents limit the number of children. Usually, they have one or two kids. In modern society, children contribute little or none to the family income. Now a day families are small. Sometimes when children get to 18 years old, they start life separately from their parents and get a job. They are not so united but they celebrate the most important holidays together. The grandparents live in a different house.  

                            Amish boys are selling production to the visitors that their family raised up.

         For the Amish people the most important values are their family, their fields, plants and their house. Money is not their priority. The Amish think it is wrong to have more land or more money than they need to live. Simple and peaceful life, religious are the most important things for them.

                                          Amish small girl is driving a bicycle in her family's farm.

         Values for non- amish people are their job, to have a successful life. Success is measured by the accumulation of power, status, wealth and property. Somebody wants to be famous and to have more and more money because they want to reach a high lifestyle. The individual has rights above that of the general society and government. The American society is not so united like the Amish community.

 Typical doll that small Amish children use for playing.The doll doesn't have eyes or mouth because they should not have an ideal.

            In conclusion, I want to say that in the world there are many strange communities, but all the people in this big world are the same. Every human being has good heart and feelings. Everybody has problems and wants to life in a peaceful world. We just belong to the different group, we have different nationalities, religions and languages but we should not forget that we are the people with big and kind heart.