Written by Sammi Bjelland
A cup of coffee is just a drink most people use for a little boost of energy to get them going in the morning. However one professor here at Harding saw it as much more than that.
Dr. Pat Garner, a professor in the College of Communications, came up with the idea to take a group of students this summer to the birth place of coffee and follow its progression through Europe on a three-week trip called “A History of the World in One Cup.”
Garner got this idea after reading a book called “A History of the World in Six Glasses” by Tom Standage. The book describes how six different drinks influenced the way the world has grown and changed because of them, coffee being one of the drinks.
The trip will be spanning the regions of Ethiopia, Oman, Istanbul, and European cities such as Paris. Students are expected to experience a variety of cultures and traditions. They will be exploring the way that coffee has changed the lives of the people in these countries and see how this morning pick-me-up is more than just a drink.
While traveling, the students will be taking the time to study how coffee has changed history, religion, economics, commerce and a variety of other topics in one course. Students on the trip can receive as many as eight credit hours for the class, which will be taught by Garner and Dr. Jeffrey Hopper, dean of the Honors College.
When asked what students should look forward to, Hopper described an area in Ethiopia called the Simien Valley where the group would be camping and hiking with indigenous people. He described the area as “gorgeous” with elevations up to 12,000 feet.
As far as safety concerns go, neither of the men seems concerned.
“I feel more comfortable walking around these places than I do at Wal-Mart after 10 p.m. ,” said Hopper.
Beyond just beautiful scenery, the students will be experiencing the cultures that began the coffee phenomenon. They will be shown the effect it has had on the Muslim world in Oman to the Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia, along with some areas where these all collide.
Garner describes these places as where, “Orthodox, Islam and pagan worlds are butting up against each other.”
The cost of the trip will be about $8,500, not including spending money. This is a little more than most trips its length. The Experience London trip is about the same time span but costs nearly $2,000 less, according to the international programs page on the Harding website. Garner says the thematic content and the experiences the trip will deliver are different than what most overseas programs offer.
So far about six students have signed up for the trip, and the number is continuing to grow. Only 12 will be going total, including both Hopper and Garner.”I’m just excited to see places I’ve never been before,” said senior Communications major Noah Darnell.The group will have class on campus May 8 and 9, then depart on May 10 and return June 1 with an option for the students to have free travel in Europe after they finish in Paris.
