Dynestee Fields, Andy Cole

“SWU students experience Greece,” proclaims the header of the brief article gracing Southern Wesleyan University’s website. Although the words do their subject justice, they are merely the opening act for the photograph that is posted below them. Thirteen individuals stand out against a mountainous backdrop that is peppered with alternating shades of green shrubbery, gray stones, a periwinkle sky, and what appears to be a beige mausoleum. Elation shines on the faces of the tourists as they contrast between sitting and standing for the snapshot. One of these faces belongs to a man wearing a purple shirt embellished with a white Clemson pawprint and a smile that shines with the intensity of someone who pursues travel and cultural immersion like hipster coffee drinkers pursue Starbucks. Although his demeanor is relaxed, and he appears to fit in with the people around him, he is no ordinary tourist. He is Dr. Ken Myers, chair of the Division of Humanities and a professor of history at the visiting university, and he has a plan.

“Wrong ideas about the past lead to wrong ideas about the present and the future,” Dr. Myers explains to us in front of his towering bookcase that is fully stocked with everything from science fiction novels to historical volumes. His statement is in response to the first question that has been asked. What is the drive behind his passion for history?

“Education arose out of the church. It began with a Judeo-Christian perspective,” he continues. However, a problem has arisen in the fact that many of America’s modern institutions have strayed from this view. Which, in turn, has led to an inaccurate understanding of the past. “Part of my calling has always been to restore that Judeo-Christian perspective towards an accurate understanding of the past, present, and the future.”

Another question enters the conversation. What does traveling to different places have to do with history as a whole? The answers come in rapid fire.

Only places that have contributed to Western Civilization are considered and chosen as trip sites.  European countries are targeted because they are where Western Civilization arose and developed. Much of how we think and act in the United States today derives from those European roots. In accordance with this practice, Dr. Myers has led trips to France and Greece twice and says that there are possibly trips to Germany, Austria, and the United Kingdom in the foreseeable future.

“Understanding those countries and their cultures helps us to understand the past. And if we understand the past, then we understand ourselves and where we might be headed.” The study abroad trips are a wonderful and important part of that mission. “It will completely put your study of history in prospective. You’ll see how it fits together. It will let you touch the past. Literally!” he exclaims with a chuckle.

How do you go about choosing these places? The first part of his answer is a reiteration from an earlier question. “They need to be important to the history of Western Civilization.” However, the second answer is rivaled by no other in its novelty. “I try to structure the trips where it is not one museum after another or an historical overload. But to have students to have memorable experiences.”

Although trips to the Louvre, the Colosseum, and the Firenze have all been on past itineraries, these are not the types of activities that Dr. Myers has in mind when he means “memorable experiences.” While gazing at the Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s David do qualify as extraordinary moments, biking through Italian villages and visiting French perfume factories are moments that are not so memorable for their historical significance as they are for their level of engagement with the surrounding cultures.  

Food can also play a major role in exploring the culture of each country. According to Dr. Myers, “Food is a reflection of the culture and the people…Some countries take food and cuisine more seriously, like the French and Italians.” Countries such as Greece and England, he remarks, do not place a lot of emphasis on their dishes. Back at the opposite end of the spectrum, France’s cuisine is so heavily emphasized that their guides report the ingredients of their fertilizer. In further regards to the French, Dr. Myers exclaims that “One of the most wonderful sights in the world to me is looking in the window of a French pastry shop. They really are that good!”

When asked about the planning behind the trips, Dr. Myers replies that he tries to have morning tours wrapped up by noon, with one o’clock being the latest ending time. This gives the students time to eat lunch and then to explore. “I do that on purpose because I want them to go in groups, never alone, out to mingle with the people; experience the culture. All that sort of thing.”

As for the preliminary planning, some elements might differ depending on the country that has been chosen. “When I’m planning a trip to a country I’ve never been to, I know something about some of the important locations just from history. But then I want to find out what others there might be that I don’t know about.” The process then transitions to looking at travel guides, conducting online research, compiling and then refining a list of important attractions, and then looking at a map to judge the distance between different attractions. 

When asked about when the trips are taken, Dr. Myers replies that he leads students on several trips. One of these trips could take place over the summer and last about fourteen days, but students may run into problems getting the time off from work and other activities. Spring trips are also an option. “I am having one in the Spring of 2020,” says Dr. Myers. Students are in the “school mode,” and there are not many that have troubles with travel during this time.

Growing up in the deep south, Dr. Myers was miles away from anything of interest. When asked about how he was inspired to travel, he replies that his only outlets to the world were his books, and a tv with three channels. He began reading about places. Dr. Myers says, “I was that nerdy kid that liked looking at maps….” His interest in maps and the places that he read about were appealing to him. With the travels, he now has checked off places on his map.

Many cultures have had an effect on his travels. When asked about this, Dr. Myers notes the different forms of culture. “The Greeks and Italians were the friendliest,” he says. They were always open to him and treated him well, along with all his students that were on the trip with him. “These countries love Americans and have great regard to hospitality,” he remarks. “France liked Americans, but they were more focused on manners. They would seem agitated but would never say much about the actions of individuals that went against what they wanted. They tend to be more bothered by things than we are,” he says. The French see Americans as too loud, especially when Americans are around landmarks that are interesting. The French have lived around these places all their lives, so in this culture, they do not understand too well why Americans “ooh” and “ahh” about certain places.

“Passion of history and its integration into travels involves knowing the story of how the United States came to be,” he says. Here, inside his office, he reiterates what it is that he is trying to accomplish. “I seek to establish a knowledge of where Western Civilization began, and I try to get students to understand where they come from, as well as see themselves as part of this history. It is very extensive. If you are of the United States, you are a part of Western Civilization,” says Dr. Myers. The story of Western Civilization is the story of the United States.

“Come and go with me!” Dr. Myers loves taking these trips, and he encourages students and others to partake on these trips because of the lessons that they can learn about Western Civilization. He has had alumni, retired professors, and others to be involved on these trips. Dr. Myers loves traveling, and he also loves how his students partake in the adventures that arise. He seeks to foster a better understanding of the past to tie it in with modern life.