Little Boxes

The 1962 song by Malvina Reynolds (and perhaps made famous by the TV show "Weeds") proclaims:

Little boxes on the hillside | Little boxes all the same | And they're all made out of ticky tacky | And they all look just the same. 

At first glance, Collins Crossing Apartments look like about 200 little boxes, nestled away in an almost-suburb, two miles from UNC Chapel Hill's campus. But just like anywhere else, the boxes are filled with lives and stories, not just from North Carolina but from all over the world. 

Carrboro, North Carolina, (located right next to Chapel Hill) is a beautiful mix of families, students, individuals young and old from all over, particularly Latin America. Collins Crossing is a microcosm of all the ways in which different people live their lives, and how they make them into their own from the tiny boxes they live in. 

This project, a work in progress, documents those lives. 


 

Collins Crossing on a rainy afternoon.

Collins Crossing on a rainy afternoon.

Collins Crossing apartments sits on the edge of Carrboro, near UNC Chapel Hill in North Carolina. It is home to a huge variety of occupants: grad students, undergrad students, young families, and hispanic immigrants. 

Collins Crossing apartments sits on the edge of Carrboro, near UNC Chapel Hill in North Carolina. It is home to a huge variety of occupants: grad students, undergrad students, young families, and hispanic immigrants. 

Inside the home of Caroline Lawless, who works at the front desk and handles leases and any other questions from tenants.

Inside the home of Caroline Lawless, who works at the front desk and handles leases and any other questions from tenants.

Caroline suffered from anorexia for 15 years. She was finally hospitalized for three months in 2013, and now considers herself in recovery.

Caroline suffered from anorexia for 15 years. She was finally hospitalized for three months in 2013, and now considers herself in recovery.

But she still looks at her body every morning, to make sure nothing has changed and that "the food I ate yesterday didn't make me fat".

But she still looks at her body every morning, to make sure nothing has changed and that "the food I ate yesterday didn't make me fat".

Caroline at home, eating dinner. 

Caroline at home, eating dinner. 

Her hospitalization really helped her with her relationship to food, and she is now able to eat a full three meals a day without too much trouble.

Her hospitalization really helped her with her relationship to food, and she is now able to eat a full three meals a day without too much trouble.

Caroline's cat Astrid has been a big part of her recovery. Here, she walks down the stairs in the A building to take Astrid to the vet.

Caroline's cat Astrid has been a big part of her recovery. Here, she walks down the stairs in the A building to take Astrid to the vet.

Caroline looks over cards and letters she received while in treatment for her anorexia. Her cat Astrid looks on. 

Caroline looks over cards and letters she received while in treatment for her anorexia. Her cat Astrid looks on. 

Hector Piña is from Honduras, but has lived in Florida for much of his life. He met his second wife, Kensy, in Honduras and brought here here, where they have since had three children. Hector is the main employee in charge of maintenence at the Coll

Hector Piña is from Honduras, but has lived in Florida for much of his life. He met his second wife, Kensy, in Honduras and brought here here, where they have since had three children. Hector is the main employee in charge of maintenence at the Collins apartments.

 

Hector has three children from his first marriage, who live in Florida. Lily, the second oldest, is visiting and stays in the younger girl's room. Hector says he often sleeps on the couch because the younger girls want to sleep with Kensy, his

Hector has three children from his first marriage, who live in Florida. Lily, the second oldest, is visiting and stays in the younger girl's room. Hector says he often sleeps on the couch because the younger girls want to sleep with Kensy, his wife. It is only a two bedroom apartment, and two beds is often not enough for the five of them.

Hector wishes his children spoke Spanish, but they all speak English to each other and to him. His wife understands English but will always respond in Spanish.

Hector wishes his children spoke Spanish, but they all speak English to each other and to him. His wife understands English but will always respond in Spanish.

It is clear Lily loves her half-sisters and is always happy to visit and be a part of the family. 

It is clear Lily loves her half-sisters and is always happy to visit and be a part of the family. 

Kensy and Nathalie sleep in with the door open and the radio on. "Nothing can wake that woman!" says Hector. 

Kensy and Nathalie sleep in with the door open and the radio on. "Nothing can wake that woman!" says Hector. 

Hector used to work for the same company in Florida, doing maintenence for a Florida property. He wants to go back, because he can't stand the cold during the winters here.

Hector used to work for the same company in Florida, doing maintenence for a Florida property. He wants to go back, because he can't stand the cold during the winters here.