We Lived 50 Hours with Amish People

Introduction to the Amish

Eric and his friend are driving around looking for an Amish family that would be willing to take them in and show them their lifestyle. They introduce the Amish community, a group of traditionalist Christian church fellowships with Swiss and German roots dating back over 300 years.

Meeting the Amish

• Eric meets an Amish man who is riding a horse and buggy.

• The group introduces themselves as filmmakers who want to document the lives of the Amish people.

• The Amish community chooses to live without technology, including no motor vehicles, preferring instead to use horses and buggies.

• There are no set rules regarding electricity usage among the Amish.

Filming Challenges

• Taking pictures is not allowed in their religion, but videos are allowed. However, past videos about them have caused misrepresentation.

• Most shows made about the Amish are from the perspective of people who have left the community or reality shows that portray them as trapped and unaware of the outside world.

• Eric hopes that they can be adopted by an Amish family that will show them the true experience of living like an Amish person.

Contrasting Lifestyles

• The contrast between New York City's fast-paced lifestyle and that of the simple life of an Amish person is stark.

Introduction

Eric introduces himself and explains that they are driving around to see if anyone needs help.

Meeting the Softball Players

• Eric meets a group of people playing softball and notices their horses parked nearby.

• Eric offers to drive one of the players home.

• The players invite Eric and his friend to check out their farm.

• The players show great sportsmanship, even when they lose.

Learning About Farm Life

• Eric asks about the players' lifestyle and how they spend their days on the farm.

• The players explain that every day is different and they just have to be ready for anything.

• Eric asks if the players are generally happy with their lives, and they express gratitude for what they have.

Getting to Know Each Other

• Eric talks about how he doesn't like it when people tell him how to live his life.

• The group discusses their favorite things to watch on YouTube.

• Eric borrows some work clothes from one of the players so he can help out on the farm.

Conclusion

• The group expresses excitement about spending more time together.

The Importance of Sportsmanship

In this section, John and Samuel discuss the importance of sportsmanship.

Sportsmanship

• John compliments Samuel on his excellent sportsmanship.

• They discuss the importance of forgiveness and not holding grudges in sports and life.

• John explains that he was taught to value forgiveness from a young age.

• They talk about how being thankful can lead to happiness.

Keep That Blue Bird in Your Heart

In this section, John and Samuel say goodbye to each other and reflect on their time together.

Saying Goodbye

• Samuel tells John to keep "that blue bird" in his heart as they part ways.

• John asks Samuel about his daily routine as an Amish man.

• They discuss the importance of living your own life and not letting others dictate it.

Reflecting on Their Time Together

• John expresses gratitude for the experience and asks if he can borrow some work clothes for tomorrow's activities.

• They both reflect on how inclusive and supportive the Amish community is towards those with special needs.

Farming Dreams Come True

In this section, John and Samuel talk about their interests outside of farming.

YouTube Interests

• John asks Samuel what he likes to watch on YouTube, and he responds with farming videos.

• John shares that he enjoys watching comedy videos on YouTube.

Farming Dreams

• John expresses his excitement about driving a horse and buggy.

• He also shares his dream of starting an Uber-like service with horse and buggy rides.

• They reflect on their time together and express gratitude for the experience.

Amish Experience

In this section, the note taker describes their experience with an Amish family and how they were impressed by their inclusivity and support for the special needs community.

Impressions of the Amish Community

• The note taker was struck by how inclusive and supportive the Amish community is towards the special needs community.

• The note taker expresses gratitude towards Samuel and his family for taking them in and giving them a glimpse into their way of life.

• The note taker thanks Samuel and his family for having him and wishes them well.

Lessons Learned from the Amish Community

• The note taker expresses interest in implementing some aspects of Amish culture into their own life.

• Despite initial assumptions that the Amish are stuck in the past, the note taker learned that they reject technology not because it's restrictive but because they are happier without it.

• The note taker reflects on how grateful they are for everything that Samuel's family provided during their stay.