Bolles Spanish Exchange students connected with alumnus George Lewis ’18 for a virtual conversation that offered clear guidance on making the most of their upcoming time abroad.

Lewis encouraged students to be intentional with their language immersion, beginning with simple habits such as limiting phone use. He suggested taking a photo, then setting the phone aside and saving posts for later in the evening to stay present during cultural experiences. He also recommended bringing a childhood book translated into Spanish to help maintain language skills during downtime. He shared that he brought the Spanish edition of “Harry Potter” on his second trip to Spain.

Lewis reflected on a formative moment in Mexico, where he witnessed Indigenous individuals being tried in a courtroom in Spanish, a language they did not speak. He described the experience as eye-opening and said it broadened his understanding of human rights and the impact of language access. He also spoke about his work with a tech company that sent him to Switzerland because of his German background. Although he did not speak Swiss German, he adapted quickly, crediting linguistic concepts he first learned in Spanish classes at Bolles, including his understanding of diphthongs.

The session concluded with students viewing photos from Lewis’ first trip to Spain with the Bolles Spanish Exchange in March 2017, bringing the conversation full circle. #BollesGlobal