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AMISH: A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
When thinking about travelling to the Uni-
ted States, most people aim for the big lea-
gues: New York, Los Angeles, San Francis-
co, Miami. But beyond the urban noise and
endless highways, there is another country
within the country—one where there is no
social media or internet, where carriages
are still pulled by horses, and where com-
munity is everything.
Welcome to the Amish world
In a country obsessed with the new, the
Amish have chosen to live without haste,
without screens, without noise. And in that
contrast lies their appeal. Visiting an Amish
community is not just alternative tourism—
it’s a window into a different rhythm of life, a
reminder that there are other ways of being
in the world.
Who are the Amish?
The Amish are an Anabaptist Christian
community with roots in Switzerland and
southern Germany. They migrated to North
America in the 18th century to escape reli-
gious persecution. Their history is marked
by a rejection of hierarchies, a commitment
20 -
Amish buggy towing a boat
to adult baptism, and separation from the secu-
lar world. Today, they are primarily found in Pen-
nsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and New
York.
Although all Amish share core principles—sim-
ple living, strong faith, nonviolence, and rejec-
tion of pride—there are significant differences
between communities. Each church district sets
its own rules, known as the Ordnung, which re-
gulate everything from technology use to the
types of buttons allowed on clothing.
Community over the individual
The cornerstone of Amish life is community. In
a world dominated by individualism, they have
chosen the opposite: to cooperate rather than
compete, to share rather than stand out.
A clear example: when a young couple gets ma-
rried, their family and neighbours come toge-
ther to build their new home. If someone falls
ill, everyone helps. If a barn needs to be rai-
sed, dozens organise to do it in a single day.
This spirit of cooperation even shapes how they
make decisions: collectively, by consensus,
and without imposition.