The Amish and their Communication Technology

The Amish tour experience was one of the highlights of my college life. The opportunity to go and speak with an Amish person probably would have never happened other wise. Before taking this trip, I have seen a couple of Amish families while taking a road trip last year. Therefore, I was familiar with the way they dressed and they drove. I knew very little about how they actually lived. Although I asked around, I was always curious to for more information and know my curiosity has been fulfilled.

For this assignment, I choose to experience the tour instead of the meal. I went with about 30 individuals on reading day, May 5, 2011. When we first arrived 3 dogs approached us. At first we were a little skeptical and was unsure rather we should get out or not, but we were brave souls, so we continued toward the house. After we all got settled in, the Amish woman, whom I do not remember the name, so we will refer to her as Mrs. Jane Doe, greeted us all and began to tell us about the Amish way of living.

During this conversation we learned that the Amish families had very few communication technologies in their homes. Mrs. Jane Doe had no computers, no typewriters, no cellphones or land line phones. She briefly explained to us that in order for people to get in touch with her were simply through messages. She then said that her family if in dire need of a telephone or if they were to have an emergency, had a mini shed out doors, near the farms, where they could go inside and use a phone. We weren’t allowed inside of the room but she explained that the phone was not “fancy” at all and it was merely for emergencies.

The only other communication technology I saw throughout the experience was a very old and simple radio. The radio was VERY small and it laid upon her dressing along with a few other keep sakes like a mini clock, a box that looked as if it was a gift and a mini wooden deer amongst others. The radio did NOT look as if it worked but I did not test it out, out of respect.

As for the Amish Family, communication technologies are almost extinct. If they needed to communicate with each other they used face to face communication. Below are some picture from my trip.