Project Rice

Rosa, photographed Nov.26, 2007 outside the abandoned building she used to stay in, at 3:56pm

Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/200s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso200

She's 13 now; just had her birthday - when I first saw her I didn't recognize her with short hair (she told me her biological Mother cut it)

Just visiting her new squatters place with Auntie Josie via taxi cab was a chore, as the taxi was surrounded as soon as it pulled next to the walled squatters area (no foreigners go there, obviously)

I absolutely did not want to cause a commotion and draw any more attention to myself if it could be helped, so I was shepherded inside by Family, cousins & neighbors - and I quickly found her doorway, got a chair & sat down out of the sightline of mostly everyone outside; they knew I was there and a small crowd did come over, but I laid low while I talked to Rosa & Auntie Josie.

I hate the fact that she has to stay here now - it's foul, dirty, smells terrible, etc. but they have no other place to go now, and all 6 people sleep on the floor of the 6'x9' area, the floor of which is terribly tilted to one side, and its easy to slip & fall.

The old abandoned building she just moved out of seems like a 4-star condo compared to this place.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/60s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso1600

Edison & Rosa illuminated by a single bare lightbulb in their place, after we got back from the rice store where I got them 25kg. to get them through the next 2 weeks.