History Professor and World Traveler
By Amal Elkhoury | Observer Contributor
Martha Morris, an adjunct history professor at Mount Wachusett Community College and Berkshire Community College, is currently teaching three history courses across both institutions. She holds a bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Geography from the University of Washington and earned an MSc and an MPhil in Economic History from the London School of Economics (LSE). “LSE was my first choice for graduate school because I wanted to focus on the British industrial revolution and the earlier period of import substitution,” said Morris.
Her passion for history and civilizations shines through in her teaching and anecdotes from her travels across Canada, Egypt, Mexico, Bolivia, Peru, various European countries, Thailand, Vietnam, Turkey, Jordan, and beyond. Legend has it that she once impressed a Pharaoh with her extensive knowledge of ancient Egypt.
During her time in London, Morris supported herself by cooking and providing childcare for a professor’s family. She also started a tutoring business, allowing her to maintain independence while spending approximately six weeks each year traveling the globe. “I’ve got my scuba diving certification in Jordan,” Morris shared when asked about her accomplishments while living in London for 10 years. “I really didn’t want to do my open water in the River Thames, the polluted river, so I thought, ‘where would I like to do my open water…?’ I know: the Red Sea!”
Vietnam held a special place in Martha Morris’s adventurous heart, standing out as her favorite among the many countries she’d explored. Although she had no interest in seeing the Viacom installation from the war, Morris fondly recalled her experience canoeing on traditional Vietnamese boats. “There was a little old toothless lady guiding us, sitting in front with a pole… and every now and then she would turn around and just grin at us,” Morris reminisced. “Then we passed the military installation, and she just pointed at it on the hill. It was a great ride.”
Morris had plenty of stories to share about the sights she saw and the experiences that she had, particularly during her backpacking adventures in different areas. But backpacking was not always easy, especially on unfamiliar trails in different countries. She noticed a common trend in her travels was her getting lost. “I got lost a lot. I got lost in the Himalayas, I’ve been lost in the Alps, the Andes…I’ve been lost in the Brazilian forest, which would be the Amazonian forest.” She had many additions to add to her global collection of “Lost and Rediscovered” adventures!
The incredible adventurer found herself in wild chases more exhilarating than any history lesson! She shared a wild experience she had in Zimbabwe, where charging elephants sent her running for safety. “The elephants just started charging the hill. We didn’t know where we were, just knew to run. So, we ran like crazy,” she recalled. Another heart-pounding moment occurred during a Jeep safari when “the big matriarch… took one look at us and charged the Jeep. The driver put it in reverse and drove backward just as fast as he could go… the elephant came right up to the front of the Jeep and swerved off right before she was gonna ram us.”
Her advice for those who want to travel is to pick a place, and buy a backpacker’s guide or two. The flight is the most expensive part so shop around for deals. Keep valuables attached to yourself under your clothes, day and night. Don’t be afraid of street food, eat only what’s cooked, and don’t drink the water, stay sober at all times, and always be on the lookout for adventure, but most importantly: “just go with the flow.”
Morris is full of many stories from all the countries that she has visited. A conversation with her is like being taken on a journey through history and daring exploits. Just ask, and she is eager to tell riveting stories that span continents, each one a testament to her endless curiosity and boundless spirit of exploration.
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