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There are many Amish families in the Thumb area and their population continues to grow. The first Amish families came from Ohio to Tuscola County.
When I talked with an Amish man I'll call "Jack", I asked about the Amish culture, such as why they all look similar.
 "We don't want to be any different than the other" he said. "If we did, that would be self-gratification and we are a very humble community with a strong religious background."
Amish children only attend school from grades 1 to 8, schooled in a one-room school house. In addition to speaking English, the students are very fluent in German. I also visited the Bender's who run a bakery. I asked Mr. Bender why the Amish don't drive cars and why women wear hats on their heads.
"If we all drove cars, that would make us no different from you" he said. "It would lead us to temptation and that is what we stay away from. Not that we want to stay away from people, but (we want) to worship our Lord the way we believe".
 "The bonnets on our women's heads are for religious reasons as well," Mr. Bender continues. "They are prayer covers. We have very strict guidelines and rules to follow all of which revolve around the Bible." I questioned how the Amish shield themselves from the radio or television as in when visiting a store. "You can't prevent a bird from flying over your head," Mr. Bender said, "but you can prevent a bird from building a nest on your head".While driving the Thumb area, be cautious of slow-moving horse-drawn buggies on main highways. Also, be on the lookout for Amish roadside bakery and fruit stands at various locations.
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