Introducing "Mr. Bonnie"

At Oklahoma State University, faculty leading a study abroad course have the option to bring a “support companion.” They must pay for their airfare, any hotel differential, food, any activities they plan to join, and OSU’s approved travel insurance for the trip. For our course in Milan, we had three official faculty leaders each with their companion, our on the ground liaison and 23 students. 

Not only is it great to be able to share these experiences with someone you care about but also they really do provide valuable support. While a fun experience for everyone, these are work trips for the faculty. We are managing a large group made up of many first-time travelers, navigating a foreign city and teaching a university course along the way. 

It’s nice to decompress with your person and have someone to keep you company during the students’ free time. It’s also great to have a few extra chaperones, even if they are serving in an unofficial capacity. With a group of 23 students, we tended to keep one couple in front leading the way, a second couple midway to keep the group together, and the last couple at the back to ensure no one got separated. We were navigating busy streets, hopping metros and making train changes. We needed all hands on deck. 

This was John’s second time to join me on a study abroad, and he really found his groove and enjoyed his role. I describe his job as being open to chats and an occasional question and standing by being vaguely dad-shaped when needed. With 23 young women in a foreign country, it is surprisingly handy to simply have a couple large men stand with you. 

Around the second day, we were breaking up into groups and some of the students announced, “We’re going with Bonnie and… um… Mr. Bonnie.” We had a chuckle, I introduced John to the group, but the nickname stuck and honestly it seemed to be a term of endearment. Even students who knew him called him Mr. Bonnie and by the end of the day he was answering to it without even thinking.

It’s Tuesday, it must be Switzerland: Epic views and life-changing fondue in Lugano

While Milan is an amazing and beautiful city, and there are still lots of things we hope to see the next time we visit, it’s also a great hub. Throughout this visit we took three day trips. For our first, we hopped a train to Switzerland and spent the day in Lugano. 

The town of Lugano sits on a lake nestled in the mountainside of the Alps. We stepped out of the train station to some stunning views. We began the trek downhill to the Old Town, which was filled with boutiques and vintage luxury shops. After a quick orientation, we set the students loose for the morning and began our own stroll through the cobblestone streets. 

The timing was perfect for us to grab an hour-long ferry ride of the lake. If we thought the views from the hillside were awesome, the views from the center of the lake were stupendous. Snowcapped mountains stretched in every direction and adorable villages dotted the shores. It was just a commuter ferry, no tour or guide, but we were wowed. It was definitely a great way to spend the morning. 

Upon our return, we stopped at a nice cafe that touted a fondue menu on their sidewalk chalkboard. This was another great spur of the moment decision. It’s no exaggeration to say this fondue is in the running for one of the most delicious meals I’ve ever had. My co-faculty, Lori, and I split a fondue pot and by the end of the meal, we were only half joking as we planned our next study abroad to Switzerland so we could eat fondue this good for a solid week. 

We sent the husbands off to explore the casino while we did some window shopping. Lori was seriously tempted by some vintage handbags, and I was pulled in by some handmade pieces at the local boutiques. 

After a guided walking tour, the group began the trek back to the train station. Half took the funicular, and I took the brave cohort that decided to walk. It was much, much further than I had remembered from the way down. We turned a corner that I thought was nearly the end only to discover we were less than halfway. After 6-8 blocks of steep stairs, we reached the station a bit winded but proud of our efforts. Our guide was astounded by how quickly we made the walk. He said he’d planned an hour to get us back; we’d made it in less than 20 minutes. 

One thing that surprises and tickles me on these trips is how tired the students get in comparison to the faculty. This day was a perfect example as nearly every student passed out on the train ride back to Milan. 

To guide learning, I gave the student a few framing questions each morning. On this day, I asked: 

• Lugano blends Italian language and lifestyle with Swiss order and affluence. How could influencers use that duality to position Lugano as a distinct kind of luxury lifestyle, different from both Milan and classic Switzerland?
• Unlike Venice or Lake Como, Lugano’s luxury shows up in more subtle ways like the lakeside promenades, arcades on Via Nassa, parks like Parco Ciani, and café culture. As you walk, consider what small, everyday moments here could be framed as “quiet luxury” in influencer content?

The Duomo welcomes us to Milan

We landed in Milan two days late and 46 miles from our original destination (a story for a later post). Somehow, we sped to the hotel just in time to drop our bags, smear on some sunscreen and run to catch my students as they embarked on the first major activity of the trip, a climb to the roof of the Duomo. 

If you are looking for pictures of Milan, chances are good that the Duomo will dominate the results. The Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary is the largest church in Italy and one of the largest in the world. It took about 600 years to complete and features 135 spires, more than 3,400 statues, 135 gargoyles and 700 figures.

What a welcome to Milan. The cathedral is nothing short of breathtaking. The view from the plaza is impressive, but the climb to the roof brings you face-to-face with the intricate architecture. 

A short elevator ride brought us halfway, then the series of staircases began. I quickly found an opening the students overlooked in a narrow passageway. No gates, ropes or signs indicated it was closed to the public and with that we found ourselves standing on the literal roof. Needless to say we were all immediately thrilled with the detour. 

We took our time climbing the stairs and exploring every nook and cranny we could fit ourselves into. From the roof, we had panoramic views of Milan. The day was so clear, we could see the Alps from our perch on top of the city. 

John and I have an inside joke that we have to visit the tallest structure in any city we visit, so that trip requirement was checked off quickly this time. The Duomo did not disappoint, and it was clear why this is a must-see stop for any trip to Milan. 

To guide learning, I gave the student a few framing questions each morning. On this day, I asked: 

• After walking the fashion district and standing on the Duomo terraces, how has your sense of where luxury influence comes from in Milan shifted? Do you see it more in specific brands, in the city’s overall atmosphere, or in the way visitors and locals express style in these spaces?
• If you were guiding an influencer through this same day, what three content moments would you insist they capture to tell a richer story about Milanese luxury?
• How does moving between commercial/luxury space (Quadrilatero della Moda) and sacred/historic space (the Duomo) affect your thinking about the line between cultural experience and branded experience in influencer communication?

More than a field trip, less than a semester abroad: Faculty-led study abroad, the Goldilocks of education travel

Rooftop stop on the Duomo.

When I was a college student, “study abroad” meant you spent one to two semesters living and taking courses in another country. It was a big, costly undertaking and honestly something that never seemed accessible to me. Today, Oklahoma State University (and many more I’m sure) have added another option that has opened global experiential learning to a wider audience. Enter the faculty-led study abroad course.

I recently returned from leading my second such class where two fellow professors and I took 23 students on a week-long spring break trip to Milan, Italy. The trip, of course, is the foundation of the course, which also includes both pre- and post-departure class meetings, presentations by the students, on-the-ground assignments throughout the week, and a final paper. Our students are earning three credit hours for “Influencer Communications in Luxury Spaces.”

Students enroll in the course, pay the associated tuition and fees, and purchase their own airfare. The fees are naturally higher than your average college course because they include the hotel, some meals and all the activities the faculty have planned around the learning objectives of the course.

These study abroad experiences have two big appeals for both students and their parents. First, I’ve found both the students and their parents feel much safer knowing students will be accompanied by professors who serve as instructors, guides and support throughout the week. For many of our students, this class is their first time leaving the country. Having access to faculty, especially ones you have a relationship with from prior courses, feels like a safety net (and it is).

The second draw is the financial support. Students can apply their existing financial aid, and OSU offers a number of scholarships designated specifically to study abroad. The Provost, College, OSU Global and our home department all have scholarships, and I’ve seen students awarded over $2,000 specifically toward their study abroad.

I’ve been incredibly lucky to have great student groups and wonderful faculty collaborators. So far, teaching these courses has been fun and enriching. I’m already making mental plans for the next learning adventure.

A quick street lecture before we begin our day's adventure.