It is rare to speak to an Amish person on camera, but recently 9News' Tanya O'Rourke got the opportunity.
We drove to Holmes County, Ohio, which is arguably a world apart from Cincinnati even though it's merely 3.5 hours away.
Holmes County is home to the largest percentage of Amish in the country.
On an early Saturday morning in Amish country, Miriam Shetler walks to work at the Miller Haus Bed and Breakfast where the 21st Century is alive and well.
"Being at home, there's not. It's not much of a change, actually. I'm used to it," said Shetler. She is like most 17-year-old girls. "I'm the only girl in the family and I love playing volleyball."
But she's not, she's Amish.
9News asked Shetler if she went to school.
"Mmmhmm. Just until 8th grade. And then we're graduated," said Shetler.
Being Amish means no electricity in her home. Horse and buggies are the major mode of transportation and baling hay requires a team of horses.
Shetler realizes her lifestyle is unlike most.
"People from other states, some that have never seen the Amish are just like, "how can they live without electricity? without cars?'. But, we're used to it and ... I like it," said Shetler. "I wouldn't change if I had the chance to."
We asked, "Will you be Amish for the rest of your life?"
"Planning on it," Shetler replied with a smile.
Down the road, we met nine-year-old Anna May.
She seemed curious about our camera and invited us into her make-shift hen house which only had light from the windows.
May gathered eggs and said she usually likes the white ones best.
We asked May, "What's your favorite thing to do?"
"Well, I like to ride ponies," she replied.
The Amish in Walnut Creek in Holmes County know they are being watched by visitors – the English they call us – curious about, well, everything about them.
"Does it ever bother you that people stare at you and whisper?," we asked.
"Sometimes, yeah," Shetler replied.
"There's like, some people who've never seen Amish before, they just watch where you're going. It's kind of irritating sometimes. But you just gotta think, 'Well, we're different from what they are, they're gonna stare no matter what.' It's not that big of a deal, but sometimes, it bothers me," said Shetler.
Lee Ann Miller grew up in Walnut Creek and owns Miller Haus B & B. She's not Amish. She's what the Amish call the rest of the world -- "English."
"A lot of times, people would like to think they're completely different than you and I, but they're really not," she said.
"I mean, they're dressed differently and they don't have electric – and their way of life, like their everyday [life] is different than ours – but they are people just like we are," said Miller.
The beautiful land, dotted with farms, calls to city folk to visit and see the country, and the Amish.
They don't mind being seen, even talked to.
Miriam Shetler just hopes people have that chance, to learn a little understanding and acceptance of her way of life.
There's etiquette when it comes to the Amish.
Adults do not want their faces photographed. Children can be photographed, but you should show respect and ask them first.
