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Shipshewana visit showcases simple life of American Amish |
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Shipshewana visit showcases simple
life of American Amish
On Saturday June 20, 25 international students and two of their family members visited Shipshewana, Ind., the heart of Amish Country in the American Midwest, to experience the sights and sounds of Amish Country and learn about their way of life.
Shipshewana trip photo gallery
The group arrived in Shipshewana at 10 a.m. and were met by Esther Farmwald, a professional tour guide who planned this trip for Western Michigan University’s Haenicke Institute for Global Education International Programming Office.
Qian Yang, a graduate student in accounting from China, said she made many new friends on the trip and enjoyed learning about the Amish peoples’ simple life, in which the use of electricity and motors is frowned upon and most products and clothing are handmade.
“We started our visit with buggy rides,” said Maran Subramain, international programming intern and coordinator of the trip. “For most international students this was their first buggy-ride experience. The coach man was very friendly; he showed us around their village and shared some of his knowledge about Amish Country.”
The buggy-ride tours were followed by walking tours of Yoder Popcorn Co., Wana Cabinets and Furniture LLC., and shopping in the Dutch Country Red Barn Shops.
“One of the most memorable experiences for me and the other students was the chance to weave a rug at a traditional rug-making store owned by an Amish family,” said Subramain, a native of Malaysia. “We also had a special lunch, when all 30 of the students and staff on the trip were sitting at a long table in an Amish home and served traditional Amish foods, such as fried chicken, mashed potatoes, salad, bread with butter and coffee. The food was very delicious and we all enjoyed the large portions. Thinking about the food makes me to visit the place over and over again.”
After the meal, the group toured their Amish host’s beautiful neighborhood and the barnyard, where they met their horses. The day ended with a visit to a traditional Amish school and Davis Mercantile, a collection of Amish shopkeepers under one roof.
”Although there were no students in the school, the school teacher was there to greet us,” Subramain said. “He talked to us about the Amish people’s origins, their religious beliefs and social norms. We were encouraged to ask questions and shared opinions with the teacher. He addressed our questions very patiently and diligently. It was a very memorable day for all of us.” |
