Cleveland, Ohio - 4th day- 01/15/2011 (English)

Today we would visit an interesting place located in the United States: Amish Country. Yuri would pick us up in front of Westlake High School at 9:00 a.m. So, we had more time to sleep.

When I got up, the sky was deeply blue. I took a shower and had breakfast. Mr. Baily, my host father, drove me to Westlake High School.

Yuri, as usual, got there on time. We didn't wait inside of the school, since it was Saturday and students don't come to class. We left Wetlake High School to meet Gina and pick her up to join our group. When we saw her, she was with another Brazilian who was studying in Cleveland. Her name was Danielle Muller Fabretti, and she would come with us to Amish Country.

Yuri steered us to our destiny. While we were in the van Gina asked what data and research we found about Amish Country. Literally, I've never thought that the United States had a community like this one. People from Amish Country are part of a Christian community, known for its simple living, plain dress and their resistance to the adoption of many modern conveniences. Their clothes can`t draw attention by its color or design. Furthermore, the Amish church membership begins with baptism, usually between the ages of sixteen and twenty- five years old. Baptism is a requirement for marriage, and once a person has affiliated with the church, she or he must marry within the faith.

There are rules which are strictly observed - the Ordnung - and must be followed by every member. These rules prohibit the use of power-line electricity, telephones and cars. They also may not buy insurance or accept government assistance, or even take part in the armed forces.The schooling provided to children is supported by the religious community in their own one-room schools. Sometimes, they hire drivers and vans for monthly grocery shopping. 

We got there to visit a woman who was a member of this group. By the time we were on our way to her house, we stopped to pick up our tour guide, Ms. Sharon Grover. When she got into the car, she explained more facts about Amish country, and my interest in learning about this community grew intensively. 

Ms. Sharon Grover talking about the Amish

As we were almost there, we saw many horses and buggies which they use to move around. Remember, they don't drive cars.

Buggy

When we arrived, the gentle woman came to host us. She invited us to come in her house and eat cookies and drink coffee. They were delicious! As we ate, she talked about her life and weddings among the Amish Church fellowships. I noticed that her house was simple, however it was extremely cozy. The family we visited also had a small trade where they sold their products. They make all the products by hand. Also, the family treated us very well until our departure.

This is me when I stepped out of the van

The family`s house

Winter in Amish Country

Food being sold in the family's trade

Clothes to be sold in the family's small trade

This is me in front of a buggy

We said our good-byes and thanked them for being nice to us. Our next stop was in a local restaurant to have lunch. We went back to Westlake to spend the rest of the afternoon with our host families.

The first thing I did when I arrived at home was to clean up my room and organize my belongings. In the evening, some friends of my host brother and his girlfriend came and talked to me. I talked about Brazil, my city, about my daily life. They showed an enormous interest in getting to know me and my city. I showed some pictures of Natal, the city where I live, and a magazine. They said that I lived in paradise. This is good, isn't it?

Campbell's friends and me in the Bailey's kitchen

I've always felt really good with my host family and also with Campbell`s friends. They didn't know a lot about Brazil, but it was a huge pleasure for me to see that they were extremely open to learn about my country. At night, I went out with my host mother. We went to two stores: the first one to buy candles for her work (she works giving support for seniors) and the second one, was to buy things for the house in a grocery store.

The first store my host mother took me

Part of the store where party ornaments are sold

Part of the store where party ornaments are sold

Plate  to be sold in the store

Ohio T-shirts, caps, flags and so on being sold

I found many things in these stores, however what most grabbed my attention were the electronic checkouts. They didn't have people working at the cash registers. My host mother told me it is common there.

My host mother inside of the supermarket

Mrs. Bailey was always gentle to me and the admiration I had for her grew day after day, like the admiration I had for the whole family. We went back home with what we bought. I would spend the whole day tomorrow with them.