Post-work questions

Question 1: What connections do you see between any of the sources we used this weekend and your experience on one of the trips outside the classroom?

Everything we discussed and saw in the classroom were very similar to what I experienced outside during the tours. Because the theory what we have learned in the classroom, be it through videos, pictures, newspaper or documentaries, were very equal to what I saw outside, like the excursions. I thought it was a very good idea that we talked about it in the classroom and got a lot of information in advance. Because then you could make a picture of Amish people in your head, what comes to you, what to expect and how to behave. For example, making close-up photos of Amish people are not allowed, that I did not know before.

Question 2: What did you expect this course to be like? How was the reality similar to or different from your expectations?

To be honest I thought it would be very boring and it would be like a normal class. But I am really surprised that it was such an experience and a lot of fun. The harmonie and the atmosphere in the class was very great and relaxed. I felt very welcoming and comfortable. We talked so much small talk and what I mostly loved was the deep talks and conversations in the classroom, because I had the feeling someone is listening, is there and is interested in you. I made new friends and I spent more time with my friend Yvi and we got more closer than before.
Also the excursions were so fun and great, I laughed so much and really enjoyed it.
Likewise, I have a lot of memorable pictures and I love to look at them, because it reminds me of the beautiful time.
Also I met such good, friendly, nice, warm and welcoming teachers. Everything was perfect. I felt very free and happy at these days that it broke my heart to left! I am so glad that I did that descison and took the class with my friend Yvi.

Question 3: How have your opinions or thoughts about the Amish in Lancaster changed?

Nothing changed, because I didn't know anything about the Amish people or Mennonite people until I signed up for the class, so that's why I can't rellay say anything how my thoughts or opinions changed. But I can say I learned a lot about them, their culture and their faith, and I really admire them. They are so friendly, nice and welcoming people, which we saw at the visit to an Amish Mennonite church.

Question 4: How did you benefit from this experience?

I learned a lot in this few days in Lancaster. Not only about the Amish people and their culture, but also I made new friends, wonderful and welcoming teachers with a big and warm heart and I could spent a lot of time with my friend Yvi. It was a life lesson for me and I benefit from it a lot! I will never forget this experience, this beautiful time, who I met and what I learned.

Question 5: What is one thing you would change about your experience this weekend, if you could? 

I would nothing change. Everything was perfect, the excursions and the lessons were a lot of fun and informative. We learned so much in this small amount of time.
But one thing that it would be great to change are the amount of homework after the classes. It was very hard to do it after it, because you felt very tired, wanted to go to sleep, but there is still work that is waiting for you. So you didn't really have energy to do it great and you didn't really pay attention to it, because you wanted that to be quickly over and could go to bed as soon as possible.

Question 6: What advice do you have for future participants in this course?

I would advice them, even if they know Amish people and their culture or not, to definitely attend, because you will not regret it. Don't think too much and don't think so negative how it will be! Go and do it! It was such an experience and I can only recommend it to anyone. You will learn and see so much and also maybe even making a lot of new friends.

Question 7: When you return to your normal daily life here or talk with friends and family at home, what will you say when others ask you who the Amish are?

I would tell them how Amish people are living, that they are speaking in Pennsylvanian Dutch and you can understand them as a german person. Also I would tell them that they are living without any electricity, for example they do not use cars to get from one place to another, rather they drive buggies. Likewise, their religion and their faith is an important part of life for them, they put God always first. Also there is a wide range of them, so not everybody who is dressed like an Amish is actually an Amish person.
Amish people are humans that are living with small things in life and that they have other ways of seeing things than we do in life.

Not everyone is on this picture, but I wanted to say thank you all for this beautiful and special time in Lancaster!

Thank you Ruth, Kristin, Jessica and Leah what you have done for us, I appreciate that! You are the best teachers who I met! 

Thank you all classmates/friends for this unforgettable time! 

Saturday’s reflection questions

Question 1: Which moment from today do you think you will particularly remember? Why?

For me the moment I will particularly remember was the conversation with an Amish man in the Central Market. He was selling jam at his stand and he was so sweet and so friendly. He talked with me in Pennsylvanian Dutch and I as a german person could understand him very well and also he could understand me. That was so fascinated and so cool, because since I know the history of Amish people I really wanted to know and was very curious, if an Amish person who is speaking in Pennsylvanian Dutch could understand me and if I could understand him. And really to have the chance to talk with him today was such an experience and I will never forget this moment.

Question 2: What sounds, smells, or sights come to mind when you think of today's trips?

When we were at the Amish village, we had the chance to see the farm and pet horses. A bird or something has pooping on my scarf, so that smelled very bad! My mom always told me, if a bird is pooping on you, you will be getting money and becoming rich, so in that moment I thought about my mom. But it was fun, but also very disgusting!
Likewise, the shops where we went today smelled also very bad. They had like an inherent odor, but it was very interesting to see their hand-made furnitures.

Question 3: What surprised you about today's experiences? Why?

What mostly surprised me today was to had the wonderful experience and chance to talk with an Amish person at the Central Market. He spoke in Pennsylvanian Dutch and who could understand me and also I could understand him. I will never forget that conversation with him.

Question 4: When did you feel most comfortable? When did you feel most uncomfortable?

I felt most comfortable at the bus tour. Our tour guide Wayne was so nice and gave us a lot of information about Amish people and their culture. It was very interesting to see everything like the buggies, the farms, their fields and their houses.
I felt most uncomfortable after the bird pooped on my scarf, that was not so fun and very disgusting. Also I felt uncomfortable at the Amish village where the girl gave us the house tour. She rattled everything down quickly and just made us feel like she doesn’t enjoy telling and really wanted that to be quickly over! It was very frustrating, disappointing, not fun and very boring.

Question 5: What do you imagine tomorrow's Amish Mennonite church service will be like?

To be honest I do not know what to expect, I just let myself be surprised and I am just curious. But I think we will hear a lot of music songs, explore the church and maybe also see the difference between Amish people and Mennonite people.

Question 6: What questions do you have?

Are the Mennonite people live the same lifestyle as the Amish people or not? What are the differences between them?

Friday’s homework assignment

Question 1: What did you learn today that surprised you? 

Today I learned a lot of new things about the Amish people and their culture, it was very interesting! But the most things that surprised me were that women cannot make many desicisons on their own, the men is making the rules of the home, which is very sad, because through that the interests of the women are repressed. Also that the Amish people or society give a lot of value to it, that they have to get married and get children. I think that is a big problem, because there should be no pressure on something like that, it come as it comes. Likewise, that the religion is very important in the Amish culture, for them God is always first, which is not bad, because that is their faith.

Question 2: Which source of information did you find most interesting? Why? 

For me the most interesting source of information was the movie. Because there were a lot of things that I didn‘t know about the Amish culture or people. The stories about the Amish members, who left their families, because they don‘t want to live like that anymore, were the most interesting for me. Because I admire them that they made this decision and want to live their own life and decide on their own life, because this is a very tough decision to make and to left their families.

Question 3: What do you hope to learn on tomorrow’s trips? 

I am so excited for tomorrow! I hope to learn more about their lifestyle and the way they are living, like about everything.