The day began just like any other day. It seemed everyone has gotten used to getting up early in the morning and expecting a long, busy day. Culture day had me ecstatic to learn about the native lifestyle. The introduction of the history of the town Sutiaba was intriguing because we learned the legends of their many gods and what it’s name translates into.

After, we were brought into learning festivities. We were given one-on-one learning by welcoming people from the town. The first lesson given to us was the dance of folklore. The girls seemed excited as soon as they saw the long beautiful traditional skirts they had to put on for the baile. There was so much confusion with learning steps and turns; but later on, everyone pretty much caught on. Although there was trouble learning, the experience of doing so was overall fun. The conservative dancing then turned into something with more energy.

Salsa class brought people’s mood up. The mistakes made caused uncontrollable laughter.

The next lesson given to us was sawdust carpeting. We first viewed a tutorial in front of us of a man creating the national flower of nicaragua. The man later on gave us the technique to do the same as he did, but to combine our heritage into it as well.

Everyone found a way to fit something about ourselves into the finished work of art.

All in all, dipping our toes in the water of the Sutiaba people was a much needed step to understanding Nicaragua in a way that couldn’t be taught any other way.

Aasna and Sabrina ready to dance floclorico

final result of our masterpiece

working together

finished piece

process in the making

Salsa Class!