North American kids own the staple yellow bus. But outside the western world, children have alternative methods of getting to school.

A Mennonite child’s journey basically boils down to 3 options:

1. Walking

Mennonite communities are broken down into smaller villages. In general, each village has one major road with a school in the half way down. Although walking to school in the morning isn’t the greatest, it gives you a chance to hang out with your mates as you make your way home. Inevitably you’ll have chores when you get home so it’s one last hurrah for the day before it’s working time.

Photo copyright JORDI BUSQUÉ

2. Riding a bicycle

This is clearly the winner for the morning journey. It explains itself. However, the evenings aren’t so great. The thing to keep in mind is that a bicycle for children is seen as more of a luxury item in a Mennonite community so you can’t really ride home with your pals but rather face a speedy voyage to your imminent farm labour.

3. With the Milk Man

The title above sounds quaint and like quite a novelty. It’s also as fun as it sounds the first few times. Trust me. But the reality sets in especially if you live at the end of the village. You have to leave for school earlier every morning due to Mr. Milk Man stopping at every driveway to pick up the damn milk. It isn’t as slow as walking but the milk wagon essentially becomes your chariot of disappointment and shame.

The upside is the afternoon jaunts home with your buddies seeing as there is no Milk Man heading the other direction after school.

I’ve summed up the above message in a chart.