The Amish Connection...

Part of my job (the REAL job – NOT the Yoga) entails doing ‘intake’ sheets and asking people questions. I have to make sure they are healthy at least on paper in order to be donors.

Today I talked to several brothers – all Amish who wanted to donate to their little brother.

First of all they did not have access to a phone. This is very problematic (how are we suppose to get them results?). Secondly they all only had an 8th grade education – OK fine (I am sure they HAD to leave school in order to work the farm, land, what-have-you – I am sure it’s totally and culturally acceptable in their case – I DON’T care about people education – but in some ways we have to be concerned that they are going to understand all the ramifications of being donors.

Lastly we have to ask donors if they are willing to be tested for HIV. To a man they did not have a clue as to what I was asking them...try explaining the test for AIDs to people who live in this manner...

I was both amazed, in some ways in awe of their simple life-style and yet bothered (not quite irritated) at the same time...

I ask myself how is it they get through things such as force interactions with an outside world that they barely understand. It’s something to ponder…truly – it’s fascinating. I wish in some ways I could go and spend time studying them – I actually could probably get some hands on experience socially through my work place – perhaps I should look at that – not to put them under the microscope – or to demean them – but to truly study their ‘culture’ (with respect)and to see first-hand how it feels to be so at odds with the 'modern' world.