I am en route back to Australia after a couple of weeks trying to do some business in a foreign country.
Most of it went smoothly, and I noticed a noticeable improvement in my Spanish—at least, that's what some people told me.
Whether that's true or not, I noticed a big difference in my confidence level when speaking the local language. There was none of the trepidation linked to the 'what if I muck this up' feeling that was with me last time.
It was easier to have a go, and if I got lost in a conversation, I'd ask if they could repeat something or speak a little more slowly.
For me, that's a lot of progress since I discussed my intention to learn a language with an app (Duolingo) on this blog almost four years ago.
There's still a long way to go, but I hope more language progress is yet to come.
One of the interesting things about talking to people from another country is how open and welcoming they usually are.
On Sunday morning, I found myself in a part of the city where many tourists are warned to be cautious. It was certainly different, but I found warmth and good humour instead of hostility or danger.
People went out of their way to show me parts of the barrio they were most proud of. There was a sense that they were actually grateful that someone was taking an interest in their part of the world.
And a developing country is undoubtedly an eye-opener for someone from Australia.
Despite our mounting problems, we have it pretty good back home. That's what makes the current political policies so frustrating.
In Paraguay, the President rejected national bribes from the EU to preach the rainbow alphabet mafia agenda in schools. They sent the cash, but he sent it back. They sent it again, but he rejected it again.
Australia would be even better if we had a few politicians who were prepared to defend our culture and reject policies that undermine it.
Instead, our lot is repeating the mistakes made elsewhere; why proclaim the result will be different down under? It's as if they think the luck country's luck is holding.
Unfortunately, it's not, and if you want to see what's in store for our future if we continue on the current path, look at the UK.
After decades of Uniparty rule, the place is falling apart, economically and culturally.
Unless something changes pretty soon, they'll say the same about us.
Thought for the Day
"What 'multiculturalism' boils down to is that you can praise any culture in the world except Western culture - and you cannot blame any culture in the world except Western culture." Thomas Sowell
Cory Bernardi is the author of seven books and has been a member of the Australian rowing team, a publican, an investment portfolio manager and spent nearly 14 years as an Australian Senator.
