Benny the Irish polyglot
@bennylewis.com
National Geographic Traveler of the Year and international best-selling author of "Fluent in 3 Months". Speaks a bunch of languages. Nomadic for 22 years. 📍🇺🇸
After completing my all-contiguous-states adventure, I'm heading to #AustinTexas for the next 6 weeks to catch up with friends and practise my ASL with the sizeable Deaf community there!
October 6, 2025 at 8:31 PM
After completing my all-contiguous-states adventure, I'm heading to #AustinTexas for the next 6 weeks to catch up with friends and practise my ASL with the sizeable Deaf community there!
So glad to have ticked off a major bucket-list item of visiting every single contiguous American state!
It was a very long project, since every few years, I'd do another road trip to add around 6-10 more.
It's been a great adventure!
It was a very long project, since every few years, I'd do another road trip to add around 6-10 more.
It's been a great adventure!
October 6, 2025 at 5:55 PM
So glad to have ticked off a major bucket-list item of visiting every single contiguous American state!
It was a very long project, since every few years, I'd do another road trip to add around 6-10 more.
It's been a great adventure!
It was a very long project, since every few years, I'd do another road trip to add around 6-10 more.
It's been a great adventure!
Just moved to #MadisonWI for a month. Let's see what living in Midwest US is like for a Eurotrash like me 😋
September 1, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Just moved to #MadisonWI for a month. Let's see what living in Midwest US is like for a Eurotrash like me 😋
Back in the US 🇺🇸 for a few months. I'll be working on my ASL🤟 and doing what may be my last ever big road trip here, so I can have visited all 48 contiguous states!
July 12, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Back in the US 🇺🇸 for a few months. I'll be working on my ASL🤟 and doing what may be my last ever big road trip here, so I can have visited all 48 contiguous states!
"I'm 100% certain that that word is either 'elephant', or 'salary'... or 'marijuana'" - me when trying to recall Indonesian vocabulary
June 11, 2025 at 1:21 AM
"I'm 100% certain that that word is either 'elephant', or 'salary'... or 'marijuana'" - me when trying to recall Indonesian vocabulary
All notification sounds on my phone are often from whatever TV show I'm currently watching.
Right now it's Doctor Who, so the TARDIS landing, using a sonic screwdriver, dugga doo, bingle bongle dingle dangel, exterminate etc. are individual notifications for apps or specific people messaging me.
Right now it's Doctor Who, so the TARDIS landing, using a sonic screwdriver, dugga doo, bingle bongle dingle dangel, exterminate etc. are individual notifications for apps or specific people messaging me.
May 26, 2025 at 4:40 AM
All notification sounds on my phone are often from whatever TV show I'm currently watching.
Right now it's Doctor Who, so the TARDIS landing, using a sonic screwdriver, dugga doo, bingle bongle dingle dangel, exterminate etc. are individual notifications for apps or specific people messaging me.
Right now it's Doctor Who, so the TARDIS landing, using a sonic screwdriver, dugga doo, bingle bongle dingle dangel, exterminate etc. are individual notifications for apps or specific people messaging me.
Last year I was in the Amazon rainforest & next week I'll be in the Borneo rainforest
🌳🌧️🦧.
Rather than quick in-and-out trips, they're part of huge explorations of respective countries (all states of Brazil + 6 months through the Indonesian archipelago) while speaking to locals in their language.
🌳🌧️🦧.
Rather than quick in-and-out trips, they're part of huge explorations of respective countries (all states of Brazil + 6 months through the Indonesian archipelago) while speaking to locals in their language.
May 22, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Last year I was in the Amazon rainforest & next week I'll be in the Borneo rainforest
🌳🌧️🦧.
Rather than quick in-and-out trips, they're part of huge explorations of respective countries (all states of Brazil + 6 months through the Indonesian archipelago) while speaking to locals in their language.
🌳🌧️🦧.
Rather than quick in-and-out trips, they're part of huge explorations of respective countries (all states of Brazil + 6 months through the Indonesian archipelago) while speaking to locals in their language.
This weekend say goodbye to 2 language learning tools:
1. Duolingo, since they are switching their language courses entirely to AI-generated slop. I already wasn't a fan of their app, but now I'll actively advise against using it. Language learning is too human an activity to replace with *pure* AI.
1. Duolingo, since they are switching their language courses entirely to AI-generated slop. I already wasn't a fan of their app, but now I'll actively advise against using it. Language learning is too human an activity to replace with *pure* AI.
May 2, 2025 at 9:56 AM
This weekend say goodbye to 2 language learning tools:
1. Duolingo, since they are switching their language courses entirely to AI-generated slop. I already wasn't a fan of their app, but now I'll actively advise against using it. Language learning is too human an activity to replace with *pure* AI.
1. Duolingo, since they are switching their language courses entirely to AI-generated slop. I already wasn't a fan of their app, but now I'll actively advise against using it. Language learning is too human an activity to replace with *pure* AI.
Starbucks; where I have a thousand names across the world. Here, in Indonesia, Benny➡️pen.
Mr. 🖋️ is actually a great name for a writer though 🤔
Mr. 🖋️ is actually a great name for a writer though 🤔
April 26, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Starbucks; where I have a thousand names across the world. Here, in Indonesia, Benny➡️pen.
Mr. 🖋️ is actually a great name for a writer though 🤔
Mr. 🖋️ is actually a great name for a writer though 🤔
If you think German's "hand shoe" for gloves was crazy, wait until you hear about Indonesian's "foot t-shirt" for socks!
🧤=✋👞
🧦=🦶👕
#languagelearning
🧤=✋👞
🧦=🦶👕
#languagelearning
April 16, 2025 at 2:49 AM
If you think German's "hand shoe" for gloves was crazy, wait until you hear about Indonesian's "foot t-shirt" for socks!
🧤=✋👞
🧦=🦶👕
#languagelearning
🧤=✋👞
🧦=🦶👕
#languagelearning
So far, I'm loving Java! Everyone is so friendly and very patient with my Indonesian!
Here is a quick sample of a bunch of places I've visited in Jakarta, Bandung and Yogyakarta.
One thing that's different to other places I've been is that I'm addressed as "Mister" a lot. Not "Mr. Lewis"😊
Here is a quick sample of a bunch of places I've visited in Jakarta, Bandung and Yogyakarta.
One thing that's different to other places I've been is that I'm addressed as "Mister" a lot. Not "Mr. Lewis"😊
April 5, 2025 at 2:56 AM
So far, I'm loving Java! Everyone is so friendly and very patient with my Indonesian!
Here is a quick sample of a bunch of places I've visited in Jakarta, Bandung and Yogyakarta.
One thing that's different to other places I've been is that I'm addressed as "Mister" a lot. Not "Mr. Lewis"😊
Here is a quick sample of a bunch of places I've visited in Jakarta, Bandung and Yogyakarta.
One thing that's different to other places I've been is that I'm addressed as "Mister" a lot. Not "Mr. Lewis"😊
Another way I'm using AI with my language learning; using AI generated images to help me with mnemonics. "Wortel" (carrot) is a hotel made of carrots in the middle of a war
March 6, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Another way I'm using AI with my language learning; using AI generated images to help me with mnemonics. "Wortel" (carrot) is a hotel made of carrots in the middle of a war
I got a couple of requests, so here's the example prompt I use with AI for mnemonics. After the first prompt, I simply write "Now X for Y" (X is target language word and Y is translation).
The result then gives me 3 word association examples, in languages I speak.
The result then gives me 3 word association examples, in languages I speak.
February 6, 2025 at 5:52 AM
I got a couple of requests, so here's the example prompt I use with AI for mnemonics. After the first prompt, I simply write "Now X for Y" (X is target language word and Y is translation).
The result then gives me 3 word association examples, in languages I speak.
The result then gives me 3 word association examples, in languages I speak.
I slipped and sprained my ankle a week ago and am now finally feeling closer to normal again (attempting a dance class tomorrow).
If it had to happen, I'm so glad this happened during a sedentary study week!
If it had to happen, I'm so glad this happened during a sedentary study week!
February 5, 2025 at 2:40 PM
I slipped and sprained my ankle a week ago and am now finally feeling closer to normal again (attempting a dance class tomorrow).
If it had to happen, I'm so glad this happened during a sedentary study week!
If it had to happen, I'm so glad this happened during a sedentary study week!
𝘖, 𝘣𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘢 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘬𝘢𝘭𝘪!
(Oh, you speak fluent Indonesian!)
It seems like I'm going to be hearing that a lot. Indonesians are extraordinarily generous with their compliments, especially to someone who is definitely just barely beginning (10 days in, so far) 😂
(Oh, you speak fluent Indonesian!)
It seems like I'm going to be hearing that a lot. Indonesians are extraordinarily generous with their compliments, especially to someone who is definitely just barely beginning (10 days in, so far) 😂
January 28, 2025 at 7:51 AM
𝘖, 𝘣𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘢 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘬𝘢𝘭𝘪!
(Oh, you speak fluent Indonesian!)
It seems like I'm going to be hearing that a lot. Indonesians are extraordinarily generous with their compliments, especially to someone who is definitely just barely beginning (10 days in, so far) 😂
(Oh, you speak fluent Indonesian!)
It seems like I'm going to be hearing that a lot. Indonesians are extraordinarily generous with their compliments, especially to someone who is definitely just barely beginning (10 days in, so far) 😂
Learning Indonesian, and discovering that Timur is East, which means... Timor-Leste / East Timor, means "𝙀𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩" (even though the u changes to an o, it's still the word origin).
The Indonesian western part of the island is West-Timor (Timor Barat), or West-East.
The Indonesian western part of the island is West-Timor (Timor Barat), or West-East.
January 27, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Learning Indonesian, and discovering that Timur is East, which means... Timor-Leste / East Timor, means "𝙀𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩" (even though the u changes to an o, it's still the word origin).
The Indonesian western part of the island is West-Timor (Timor Barat), or West-East.
The Indonesian western part of the island is West-Timor (Timor Barat), or West-East.
A week or so into my stay in Bali, and I've settled in and gotten into my routine!
Eating healthy, exercising often, and studying Indonesian during the day most days.
It's just one of those places in the world I know I can buckle down and focus, while also living healthily!
Eating healthy, exercising often, and studying Indonesian during the day most days.
It's just one of those places in the world I know I can buckle down and focus, while also living healthily!
January 23, 2025 at 1:09 AM
A week or so into my stay in Bali, and I've settled in and gotten into my routine!
Eating healthy, exercising often, and studying Indonesian during the day most days.
It's just one of those places in the world I know I can buckle down and focus, while also living healthily!
Eating healthy, exercising often, and studying Indonesian during the day most days.
It's just one of those places in the world I know I can buckle down and focus, while also living healthily!
I'm the only one in this co-working space using books and paper instead of a laptop (studying Indonesian).
I've gone full circle and have become... an analogue nomad 😂
I've gone full circle and have become... an analogue nomad 😂
January 20, 2025 at 6:21 AM
I'm the only one in this co-working space using books and paper instead of a laptop (studying Indonesian).
I've gone full circle and have become... an analogue nomad 😂
I've gone full circle and have become... an analogue nomad 😂
Day 1 learning #bahasaindonesia - so pleasantly surprised by everything! This may well turn out to be the easiest language I've ever learned (after Esperanto).
I've booked sessions with teachers every day next week, so I'm cramming what I can to Monday then will speak every day for the next months.
I've booked sessions with teachers every day next week, so I'm cramming what I can to Monday then will speak every day for the next months.
January 16, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Day 1 learning #bahasaindonesia - so pleasantly surprised by everything! This may well turn out to be the easiest language I've ever learned (after Esperanto).
I've booked sessions with teachers every day next week, so I'm cramming what I can to Monday then will speak every day for the next months.
I've booked sessions with teachers every day next week, so I'm cramming what I can to Monday then will speak every day for the next months.
Hello from Indonesia 🇮🇩; my home for the most of the first half of 2025!
I'm in Canggu/Bali first, which is very busy but has lots of creature comforts.
This is so that I can buckle down and do two things exclusively for the next 2 months; study Indonesian and write a large chunk of my next book!
I'm in Canggu/Bali first, which is very busy but has lots of creature comforts.
This is so that I can buckle down and do two things exclusively for the next 2 months; study Indonesian and write a large chunk of my next book!
January 15, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Hello from Indonesia 🇮🇩; my home for the most of the first half of 2025!
I'm in Canggu/Bali first, which is very busy but has lots of creature comforts.
This is so that I can buckle down and do two things exclusively for the next 2 months; study Indonesian and write a large chunk of my next book!
I'm in Canggu/Bali first, which is very busy but has lots of creature comforts.
This is so that I can buckle down and do two things exclusively for the next 2 months; study Indonesian and write a large chunk of my next book!
Story of my life
January 15, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Story of my life
I've never drunk alcohol throughout my entire life, so technically yes, I am participating in dry January
January 13, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I've never drunk alcohol throughout my entire life, so technically yes, I am participating in dry January
My first days of 2025 were in Luxembourg, my 48th country visited!
Amazingly, all public transport throughout the entire country (not just the city); all buses, trains, trams etc. are completely 100% free! I've definitely never seen that before!!
Amazingly, all public transport throughout the entire country (not just the city); all buses, trains, trams etc. are completely 100% free! I've definitely never seen that before!!
January 10, 2025 at 3:48 PM
My first days of 2025 were in Luxembourg, my 48th country visited!
Amazingly, all public transport throughout the entire country (not just the city); all buses, trains, trams etc. are completely 100% free! I've definitely never seen that before!!
Amazingly, all public transport throughout the entire country (not just the city); all buses, trains, trams etc. are completely 100% free! I've definitely never seen that before!!
I've had the worst cough since I arrived in Bangkok. It didn't feel like the virus kind of cough, so I looked into it and I've found the culprit. Red-level air quality alert here.
My small-town lungs weren't built for a place like this because of its #airpollution
My small-town lungs weren't built for a place like this because of its #airpollution
January 7, 2025 at 11:54 PM
I've had the worst cough since I arrived in Bangkok. It didn't feel like the virus kind of cough, so I looked into it and I've found the culprit. Red-level air quality alert here.
My small-town lungs weren't built for a place like this because of its #airpollution
My small-town lungs weren't built for a place like this because of its #airpollution
I'm jetlagged & just arrived in Thailand without basic Thai refreshed, so I spoke English in the hotel restaurant at breakfast and asked for honey🍯.
The waiter confusedly blushed and I'm pretty sure he thought I was calling HIM honey and flirting. Nice miscommunication to kick the year off! 😆
The waiter confusedly blushed and I'm pretty sure he thought I was calling HIM honey and flirting. Nice miscommunication to kick the year off! 😆
January 7, 2025 at 1:40 AM
I'm jetlagged & just arrived in Thailand without basic Thai refreshed, so I spoke English in the hotel restaurant at breakfast and asked for honey🍯.
The waiter confusedly blushed and I'm pretty sure he thought I was calling HIM honey and flirting. Nice miscommunication to kick the year off! 😆
The waiter confusedly blushed and I'm pretty sure he thought I was calling HIM honey and flirting. Nice miscommunication to kick the year off! 😆