For my history of Midwifery class I have to do a project, and I decided to interview an old Hutterite midwife. My preceptor, Ems and I went to the top of Montana to see her. It was so interesting. The women of the colony were all concerned about Emma getting an ear infection because she was outside without her ears covered up. It was a really warm day and for once the wind wasn't even blowing...I had her wrapped in a blanket, but they insisted that she wear a hat. Then every where I went, people were confused and wondered whose baby I had and why I had her (hutterites are very superstitious) People came flocking out of their houses to investigate if I was hutterite who had left the colony because I had on "outsider" clothes, but was holding a Hutte baby. A woman at the colony showed us all around their colony. She showed us where they ate. It was this huge long dining hall where all the colony eats all meals together with the men on one side and the women on the other in order of age. She showed us where they cooked. The women have a cook week once every ten weeks and boy oh boydo they have every advanced piece of kitchen machinery available. Huge ovens and fryers and skillets and pots for soup. It was incredible. Their bread mixer was as big as the room it was in. She showed us where each family had their individual fridges and freezers and all their storage for the food that they preserve each year. It was so cool.
I was so glad that I got that opportunity. It was nice to meet with them and get to know a little bit more about another culture. I thought it was very interesting how they strife for the benefit of the colony and share everything. I also thought it tragic that they don't promote education. 8th grade is all that is required for them. I met a few younger women who weren't married and didn't want to get married and wondered what they did. If you don't get married, then what would you do if you can't read and learn, or travel or anything. I would go insane I fear if my mind was limited.
Anywhoo...it was quite an adventure, and if you ever get the opportunity to go to a colony I highly recommend it...it was very insightful
2 comments:
When I was little you only ever saw them in old school buses and the men were outside while the women were inside. Now you see the men driving brand new 1 Ton Duallys and you see the women with no men around!?! Allot of things have changed but their education. You are so right! With Education comes power and I wonder if that’s one of their ways of retaining?
They let you keep the hat? What a fun piece of memorabilia from Montana!
Either I am really stupid or I missed that day is school. I have never in my life heard of the Hutterite. Should I have? Anywho, I love the hat she looks so cute in it. I am glad her ears are okay:) I am kind of jealous of the cooking only once every 10 weeks. Nice. I would hate not learning though.
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