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<your name here>'s Journal
William Maher's Journal
January 11, 2011
After lunch the group visited a nearby cave. I was ready to go, but a townsperson offhandedly warned that our vehicles wouldn't make it. I got out of the van and returned to Luisa's residence. I showered, changed into fresh clothes, and went for a walk. I bought a Coke and walked out to the edge of town. Before long, I was walking on a dirt road passing dogs licking their sores on the side of the street. The houses in this part of town had no fences, no wrought iron. Sometimes no door. I saw shirtless men watching TV as well as women and children going about their daily activities. These less fortunate folks did not have the pot bellies encountered in the area of town near Luisa's residence. This was particularly noticable with the young women. Truth be told, I am far less startled by the diseases of flesh and bone I see around the edge of town than the diseases of the mind that plague those who gate themselves in the more well-to-do areas.
The school had a soccer pitch and a basketball court. Kids were kicking the ball on both.
I saw a back yard fenced in by razor wire, one of a kind in Atima. Enclosed by the fence were beautiful white ducks in a small pond. They could not stop antagonizing each other with their screeching. Mayor Tito's face smiled at me from a bumper sticker. 2010-2014.