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Why This Expat Started a Spanish School in Paraguay
America Was Not Working For Me
At 26 years old, I was surviving in the USA, but not thriving. The 9-5 job I worked at was about to shut down, my own music software startup was profiting $1,200/month, and I was ready to move on from living with 3 roommates in Philadelphia.
I decided to move to Latin America, where my plan was to live cheaper until my software startup's profit grew to a sustainable level. I chose Latin America over East Asia because I already knew some Spanish, and reasoned that it would be great if I integrated with the culture of the place I would live in. South America is generally cheaper than the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico. I chose Perú because of my friends' recommendation; neutral Spanish accent, affordable, and safe.
Living in Perú Was a Problem
Lima, Perú was too much fun. Every day and night there were opportunities for adventure and entertainment. My dollar stretched far, but I wasn't focused on my business at all. I spent all of my time studying spanish and socializing. When my visa ran out, I decided to go to Paraguay to get some work done, because I heard there was less entertainment there.
Paraguay Was Lonely
As expected, Paraguay was calm and a good place to focus. But I didn't have a life. I woke up each day in the suburban-feeling neighborhood of Villa Morra in Asunción, and was relaxed. But after a few days, I grew unsettled because I didn't have a regular social routine.
I Tried 3 Spanish Schools in Asunción, Paraguay
In order to improve my Spanish, and more importantly, develop a daily routine in Paraguay, I tried 3 schools. First I tried IDIPAR. The owner was very kind, but since the classes were private, it didn't unlock a true social routine for me. It didn't give me access to new friends.
Then I tried Hispana. This time it was group classes, and I made a friend from France. However, I only had class two hours a day and there were no extracurricular activities, so I still didn't have a social life given to me.
Finally, I tried Pangea. I was very impressed with their young founder, and appreciated that they had group activities once or twice per month. However, my classes were private, and I still didn't have a regular social routine. I realized there was a hole in the market.
Why I Started Fluido Spanish School in Asunción
I talked to a few other expats, and they also expressed that it was hard to feel at home and have a life in Asunción. At the same time, I could feel the increasing immigration of expats to Asunción. I realized that the problem I had, of not having a life in Paraguay, was a large and growing problem. I wanted to build a business around solving it. I'm building Fludio Spanish School to give expats a life, and help them feel at home in Paraguay.
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