Andrew, Edgar and I did a little tour of Sahsa to get a better idea of what it is like and who lives there. Accompanied by a 10 year old kid as our guide, we went to houses and asked the residents about their lives and if they were aware of what the University of Nicaragua at Leon (UNAN Leon) is doing in Sahsa.
Andrew and our guide approaching a house.
Here is a picture of Andrew standing next to a tarp of beans. It's my understanding that the Misquito culture strongly emphasizes community. Many residents walk 2-3 hours to communal farms daily to harvest crops and bring food back to eat. Yes, they travel 2-3 hours each way, every day. They'll often do this for several weeks at a time until they've collected enough food to last a while. The residents we talked to don't harvest food to sell it; it is only used for personal consumption. Many of the families have no income whatsoever; their work is providing their own food.
Here is Andrew with our tour guide (the tall kid in the middle) and two of his friends. This is at the water purification well at the top of the big hill in Sahsa. If I remember correctly, it was built by Canadians in the early 1990s. This well is crucial for providing water to Sahsa. Unlike many places in Nicaragua, including Leon and Managua, the health center in Sahsa has water 24 hours a day thanks to this well.
This first picture is an "action shot" of the festivities outside of la Iglesia San Francisco. People are selling Eskimo ice cream, hot dog caliente, and little toys and trinkets. All of the people out and about creates a very happy, warm atmosphere.
The second picture is of some folks getting some chicha, which here in Nicaragua is a hot pink colored drink with a corn base. On this particular day, you can get some chicha for free from various people on the street or houses if you go and ask for it en el nombre de San Benito (in the name of San Benito). Usually, you either bring your own cup, or they'll serve it to you Nicaraguan style in a sandwich bag.
