Please visit the  Amish in The City official website  to view the official photo of the 5 Amish as they arrive at the LA (Los Angeles) mansion in Amish dress. The first order of the day is for the City Dwellers, the teens from the world who will be their constant companions throughout the nine episodes, to take the Amish shopping for modern clothing.

On the following day the Amish wear their new clothes to a theme park, while their City Dweller roommates wear the Amish clothing. They immediately notice that others look at them differently, and it makes them feel uncomfortable and unapproachable.

This different dress is of clothing design straight out of the past. It effectively creates a wall of separation, as we see in the response by the City Dwellers.

Once they put on their fancy clothing, one might think the two Amish girls would appear timid and uncomfortable. Quite the opposite happens. The Amish girls prance around wearing skimpy bathing suits and seemingly flaunt their new freedom.  I’d expect this to happen, for I did much the same.  This outward representation that you “fit in” with your new world gives you quite a high.

Mose (one of the Amish boys) puts his life in danger as he overextends himself in a swim in the Pacific Ocean. He’s simply attempting to “fit in” with his new world.

In this episode Ruth (Amish) speaks up to Whitney (a female City Dweller), which erupts into a shouting match. Since the world of Amish (Old Order Mennonite as well) is one of non-confrontation and pacifism, Ruth's behavior seems quite out of character.

Further complicating Ruth's situation is she was raised in a highly patriarchal society that practices subjugation of women. Subjugation, in essence, means taking a back seat to others and keeping your mouth shut as to your ideas and needs. So I don’t get Ruth's verbal engagement with Whitney.

The Amish teens realize they are at a disadvantage because of lack of education. In this episode, Jonas (Amish) studies for his GED exam, which will give him the equivalent of a high school education. Amish limit education to the 8th grade, and the teens question this. Rather than appearing angry about it, however, they seem lost as to what might be the reason for it.

All five Amish in this television series are in Rumspringa, a time when an Amish turns sixteen and is turned loose and free to experience the ways of the world. It is when the Amish enters the world that he/she senses the need for education. In actuality, an 8th grade education is adequate if one remains an Amish.

Nick and Ariel (2 City Dwellers) cuddle in the bedroom overnight. However, the 5 Amish never mention that this smacks of bundling, which, undoubtedly, would be familiar to them.

Bundling is when an Amish boy and girl of dating age go to bed for the night. Supposedly, they are each wrapped in a separate sheet. Or supposedly a board is positioned down the middle of the bed so they can't come in contact with each other.

In Amish communities, things change very little from one generation to the next. Parents, undoubtedly, did the same thing, so they know what’s going on. If a pregnancy results, the bundling couple will have to get married. And to get married means you have to join the church.

In this episode the Amish and City Dwellers bicker. One would think that bickering flies against the peaceful nature we assign to Amish. But bickering took place within my Old Order Mennonite community as well, and I detail stories about this in my memoir.

When one joins the church, one promises to report transgressions of fellow members. So the entire community becomes little police. Transgressions can result in the severe punishment of shunning. I believe bickering also takes place because one is required to walk such a narrow road.

This episode has an international theme, and finds the group experiencing Mexican, Middle Eastern, and Chinese cultures. The 5 Amish are wide open to this mind-expanding experience. As a separatist religion/culture, children learn practically nothing about other religions and cultures.

There is a joke that goes around about how a group of people were standing off to themselves in heaven. When St. Peter was asked about this group, he said they were Mennonites - but said don't go up to them and let them know you are here - for they think they are the only ones in heaven.

Most people are stunned when I tell them there are more Old Order Mennonites than Amish in Lancaster, PA. So when I give my little talks, I identify pointers that one should look for to tell the difference. You should realize that each community is under the control of a bishop, then preacher, then deacon, and, therefore, it’s common to see small variations in dress. The following is generally true:

The absolute quickest way to tell the difference is with the men. Old Order Mennonite rules state their men must be clean-shaven. Amish rules state their men must wear a beard after marrying. When you see a beard, you are looking at Amish.

With the women, one quick way to tell is in the dress. If a girl or woman wears a calico print, she will be Mennonite. Amish girls and women will always be in solid color. Please see this website photograph in which I am in  Old Order Mennonite Dress (a calico). Then take a look at the two girls in the  Amish in The City official website.

I like to think of Amish and Old Order Mennonites as time travelers when they leave their religion for the world. In the first seven episodes, the Amish travel to present-day life. Now it's time for the City Dwellers to travel to the past. All prepare to visit Amish country in Ohio, where several of the Amish teens are from.

The Amish teens are downright elated about having the City Dwellers experience their life. But it never happens. Something very strange occurs in this episode. In essence, the gate to their community is closed to the City Dwellers.

The Amish teens don’t understand why their community has been so unreceptive to their new friends. And the City Dwellers express disorientation and bewilderment as to their Amish Country visit. But the separation necessary to maintain life in the past has been preserved by the Amish elders.

Mose has demonstrated exceptional musical abilities throughout the various episodes. He wants to pursue a musical career, prefers country life to the big city, so definitely plans to return to the country. He won’t rule out eventually returning to the Amish.

Jonas passes his GED with a near perfect score. He now visits a college and wants to attend, but won’t rule out eventually returning to Amish.

Ruth also visits a college and would like to go to nursing school. It depends upon her boyfriend, however. If he goes back to Amish, she will return with him. (She shows the submission she has learned growing up here.)

Miriam also visits a college. She will not return to the Amish just yet, wants to see more of the world first, but she might return eventually.

Randy was in construction work before becoming a star in Amish in the City. He plans to return to that work near an Amish community. He will return to the Amish if he meets a nice Amish girl.

I believe Mose and Jonas will leave Amish, and the other three (Miriam, Ruth, and Randy) will return. Mose and Jonas seem to have achieved a level of individual identity needed to make self decisions. Miriam, Ruth, and Randy show signs of allowing others to make decisions for them, so will return to Amish.