A Small Package of Interesting

Paraguay is one of the two landlocked countries

in South America. It is bordered by Brazil, Bolivia, and

Argentina. The Rio Paraguay separates the country into

two parts, the east and west side. Most of the 5.9

million people live on the east side of Paraguay because

it has fertile soil and hills. The west side has a very small

population because of the Gran Chaco with its mostly

grassy plain. Another reason the west side is not very

populated is it has extremely hot summers and thorn

forests. Paraguayans speak the languages Spanish and

Guaran because most of the populations are

descendants of the Spanish or the indigenous group,

Guaran. In the cities, people speak both languages, but

in the countryside, most speak Guaran. Their major

exports are soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils,

and electricity. The Paraguayans currency is called

Guaran.

Orchestra

One thing that makes Paraguay special is the

recycled orchestra. Trash pickers in Cateura, Paraguay go

to landfills and pull out useful items. They look for anything

they could make into an instrument. For example, old

bottle caps can be made into keys on a clarinet. Violins are

modeled from oven trays. That is why it is called the

recycled orchestra. Favio Chavez is the brains behind

starting the music school. He thought it would lift the kids

lift out of the dump. At the music school, the older more

experienced ones teach the younger ones. They usually

practice outside, but if it rains, they have a classroom to go

too. Learn more by clicking on the QR code to the left.

US Saves Paraguay

Americans are Paraguays best friend. American

president Rutherford Hayes saved Paraguay from

almost losing half of their country. During the

Triple Alliance war against Uruguay, Brazil, and

Argentina, the US was given the Gran Chaco,

which is half of Paraguay. Paraguay and Argentina

sent ambassadors to the White House for Hayes

to make his important judgment. Rutherford

Hayes gave the Gran Chaco to Paraguay and they

were very thankful for that. In fact, they were so

thankful that the Paraguayan president renamed a

town in honor of Rutherford Hayes. There have

also been schools, a county and soccer teams

named after him.

Yum Yum

Paraguay has a legendary soup that was made

by accident. Let me tell you a little bit about the story

of Sopa Paraguaya. In the 19th century, there was a

Paraguayan dictator named Carlos Antonio Lopez. His

cook was cooking up a liquid dish for lunch, but the

cook added way too much corn flour and it came out

more like bread. The dictator tried the new dish and

loved it. Today this dish is known as the national dish of

Paraguay.