People from every corner of the globe are drawn to Asunción, where Paraguay’s laid-back capital has quietly become a melting pot of cultures, ideas, and ambition. Each Tuesday evening from 18:00 to 21:00, digital nomads, expats, and friendly locals come together at the ever-popular English networking event organised by The Asunción Times. Held in a different charming bar or restaurant across the city every week, these gatherings offer the perfect blend of Paraguayan warmth and international energy. In this People of Asunción series, we introduce the inspiring individuals who make this scene so uniquely alive. In #17, Mateusz Ignerski from Poland.
Meet Mateusz Ignerski
Coming all the way from beautiful Poznań, the fifth-largest city in Poland, Mateusz (47) kindly joins for an interview and told us about his life in Paraguay.
How long have you been in Paraguay?
“On my first trip to Paraguay in 2024, I stayed for eight months. I did not consider staying so long the first time I came here, but I was totally amazed. Alltogether, I have been In Asunción for 1 year and 3 months.”
What are you doing in Paraguay?
“I am an entrepreneur. I am working online and I am also a long term stocks investor, I have a small business in Poland and I am managing it from here. I was searching for a place to consider living for some time. Paraguay is popular among expats.”
What is your favorite place in Asunción, and why?
“There are a lot of nice places. JazzCube used to be my favorite, especially with the concerts they hosted, now it is called La Tarantella Lounge Bar. I really enjoy the tributes to the bands from the 80s and 90s, which is my favorite era of music. There is another place I like a lot downtown, called Rockero. They also have live shows.”
What is your favorite place outside of Asunción and, why?
“I have not traveled a lot. I have been to San Bernardino, but my favourite place is Iguazú. I have been there twice, it is a beautiful place and it has amazing nature. But Asunción is my place on earth.”
What do you love most about Paraguay?
“I like the people. The interactions. In Poland, we are quite famous for not smiling a lot. Here, that is different. I love the weather, even though I know a lot of people do not like the high temperatures, but for me, I prefer these high temperatures over winter in Poland. Also, I love food, especially meat. I am a fan.
The most important thing for me is that in Latin America, Paraguay was one of the safest countries in the region. And besides safety and quite an affordable cost of living, getting residency is easy.”
What do you miss from home?
“I miss my family and friends. And on special occasions like Easter or Christmas, I really miss Polish traditional food like pierogi. That is basically a Polish empanada.”
If you would move away tomorrow, what would you absolutely take with you from Paraguay?
“I would definitely take asado and the sunshine, we need more sun in Poland. What I miss the most when I am in Poland is the sun. The worst thing is that sometimes, there is no sun for weeks! Usually it is very cloudy and we have very short days. Luckily, that is very different in Asunción.”
Meet Mateusz
You can find Mateusz Ignerski on Instagram or, better yet, bump into him in person at one of The Asunción Times English Networking events – every Tuesday from 18:00 to 21:00, popping up in a different lively bar or restaurant across Asunción! Check our What’s On Guide to discover exactly where the next one is taking place.
Read previous episodes of People of Asunción
People Of Asunción #16, Rosa Ortiz From Paraguay: “Go Discover Cities Outside Asunción”.
People Of Asunción #15, Esteban González From The U.S.: “I Can Feel That Paraguay Is Growing”.
People Of Asuncion #14, Adam Venning From Canada: “I Just Feel At Home In Paraguay”.
People Of Asuncion #13, Lana Pedro From Brazil: “I Came To Paraguay And Found Many Opportunities”.
