It was that day. That day on August 15, 1997 when I was exposed to the world. My first look was none other than Paraguay's capital, Asuncion. It was because of that day that whenever someone asked me where I was from, I would eagerly reply, "Paraguay," knowing I would catch them by surprise. For one thing, most people don't even know what Paraguay is. Loving to educate, I was the first to explain this to many people I met. And if they knew that Paraguay was a small country in South America, I would receive a skeptical look. That kind of look you get when you eat "Chipa Guazu" that you weren't supposed to touch. Then someone asks you if you ate it and you say, “No, the dog ate it,” when you clearly have corn kernel crumbs stuck all over your face. It might be because I don't look Paraguayan, I don't speak Spanish and I only lived there for a year. But I still have a special place in my heart for this little town. For every time I visit, I am received by my welcoming family. Even though we share the complications of poor communication due to the language barrier, I still enjoy their company. This is why I dedicate this book to them, because without them Paraguay would be nothing to me. The following chapters are not just “Paraguayan tales”. They are family stories, stories of friends, stories of happiness, stories of beginnings, stories of folklore and, above all, stories of life. One of my most recent trips to Paraguay was around 2009. This was when there was no flight from Florida directly to Paraguay. The closest place to Paraguay you could land was Sao Paulo, Brazil, one of Paraguay's larger neighbors. When my parents showed me the purchased tickets, I must admit that I was calm... halfway... I like to drive too much if it's not for work). In Asuncion, most of the major landmarks are related to history and politics, so as ten year olds we had no interest in visiting them. However, I think they deserve an honorable mention. In the historic part of Asuncion is the Riviera Block. It contains nine very ancient houses, one of which dates back to the 18th century. Now you can enter these homes and see historic letters, paintings, documents, statues and more. The National Pantheon of Heroes is quite possibly the most popular tourist spot in Paraguay and the most talked about. During the two wars in which Paraguay was part, many soldiers died in battle. Therefore, those deceased soldiers are buried there, in the Pantheon. The façade of the Pantheon adorns the Latin phrase “Fides et Patria” or “My faith and my homeland”..”