Imagine walking down a popular road full of green trees towering overhead, boda bodas, or motorcycles, parked on the side, and hundreds of different foods to choose from. There are fruits, vegetables, live chickens in cages waiting to be cooked for dinner, freshly caught fish from Lake Victoria, and meat being sold at markets and little shops. Like usual, it is warm out and there's a chance of rain later in the afternoon. Hundreds of people crowd the streets and there's lots of traffic. While most Americans have never experienced this before, Leticia Namanda, a freshman at Bridgewater State University doesn't have to imagine any of this. That is because she has lived it.

Namanda's home is located in Kireka, Uganda, and family is a very important part of her life. Namanda said, "I grew up with my grandparents, they are the most loving people. My aunt took care of us and looked out for us. I didn’t have my parents there but nothing felt incomplete, nothing felt missing thanks to them.” Every time she came home from school, she'd meet her grandfather at the market where he'd be buying something special to eat. Namanda's best memories are of when she came home from school. When describing her grandfather, she said, "he was such a loving man. Although he was a tough guy with his own children, he was very loving to his grandchildren. I went to boarding school so it was really nice to come home. We’d always had feasts and he was so outgoing. It was every Sunday he would buy a big meal for everyone. He invited all the people from the big church by our compound to join. Sunday's were always fun. You always tried to look nice on Sunday’s because we went to church." Namanda's grandmother and aunts own a shop that sells African clothing called kitengi, so she always had an outfit to wear.

Before moving to the United States, Namanda would be with her best friends every day at school. She said, "We would go take pictures, or go to dance parties. At school they had different events and we were always with each other. It's kind of like the way it is here [Bridgewater State University]. I am used to living with a lot of people in dormitories. Here it’s kind of nice, I only have two roommates. You didn’t have a lot of space there but me and my friends are tight. We grew up together. Over the holidays we’d try to meet up and hang out and go places."

The worst thing about being away from her family is missing the events that happen there. She said, “Being away from my family or big events at home, such as when my grandfather died and I wasn’t there to say goodbye. A week before he told me he was proud of me and that keeps me going. Even though I’m not there I know that I have to make him proud.”

Namanda moved to the United States in 2013, when she and her two siblings were adopted by her aunt and uncle. When she first moved here, the biggest difference was that there seemed to be less people around. There were always people out and about in Uganda, it was always busy. When asked what she likes most about moving she said, “I love the beach, and I love that I have family here, it would be hard if I didn’t have anyone here. I love the U.S. adventures, like different holidays, the change in seasons, the malls, school system, and I love the snow! The first time I saw snow my mom and dad called us around 12 at night. They were away, and told us and we all ran outside to experience the first snow. It was the most exciting thing to see."

She tries to keep her culture and where she came from alive. She said, “Sometimes I wear African clothes, African shoes, and we teach our little siblings cultural songs. Now at BSU I’m in a dance group that focuses on spreading culture. So far that’s something cultural, it makes me feel at home.” In the future she'd like to be able to live in both places. While the United States is now her home, Uganda will be her forever home, and she won't ever forget that. When she does return to Uganda, her plan is to bring sports to the children there. She'd like to build a stadium for kids to get off of the streets, stay safe, and just be able to play sports and learn. She stated, "it would encourage them to pursue their talents because I think people are talented but if they aren't pushed they don't have as many chances."

While Leticia does miss home now and then, she is always up for new things and new adventures. She said, "It was hard to call the US home but after living here for a couple years, I have a slogan for myself now. Home is where you find yourself. I know I’m an adventurous person and I know home will always be Uganda but I try to live in the moment and enjoy everything because life is short.”