It was that day. That day on August 15, 1997 when I was exposed to the world. My first glimpse was in none other than the capital of Paraguay, Asuncion. It was because of that day that every time someone asked me where I was from, I enthusiastically answered “Paraguay,” knowing I would surprise them. On the one hand, most people don't even know what Paraguay is. Loving to educate, I was the first to explain it to many people I met. And if they knew that Paraguay is 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" while crumbs of corn kernels are clearly stuck to your face. Maybe it's because I don't look Paraguayan, I don't speak Spanish and I only lived there for a year. But I still hold a special place in my heart for this small country. Every time I visit, I am welcomed 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 Paraguay would be nothing to me without them. The following chapters are not simple “Paraguayan tales”. They are family tales, friends' tales, happiness tales, stories of beginnings, folk tales and, above all, life stories. One of my most recent trips to Paraguay was around 2009. This was back when no flights existed from Florida directly to Paraguay. The closest place to Paraguay you could land was in Sao Paolo, Brazil, one of Paraguay's larger neighboring countries. When my parents showed me our purchased tickets, I admit that I was in the middle of paper... I really like driving if it's not for work). In Asuncion, most of the big monuments 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 houses nine extremely old houses, including one dating back to the 18th century. You can now enter these homes and see historic letters, paintings, documents, statues and much more. The National Pantheon of Heroes is probably Paraguay's most popular and widely discussed tourist spot. During the two wars in which Paraguay participated, many soldiers died in combat. As such, these deceased soldiers are buried there in the Pantheon. The facade of the Pantheon adorns the Latin phrase “Fides et Patria” or “My faith and my country »..”