‘I came for a degree, ended up wanting to stay’: Zimbabwean student’s adorable love letter to India wins hearts

What if moving to another country for a degree leaves you wanting to stay forever?That seems to be what happened with Zimbabwean student Kalumba Mwale, whose post about his time in India has caught attention online. He described coming to India to study as a “mistake”, but anyone reading the rest of his post quickly realises that he wasn't complaining.Quite the opposite.For Mwale, what started as a decision to pursue an education turned into three years of food, travel, friendships and experiences that changed the way he looked at India.So, why did he call it a ‘mistake’?Mwale shared his experience on Instagram, explaining that India became much more than the place where he happened to study.“I came here for a degree… and ended up wanting to stay. India became much more than just the country where I studied,” he wrote.And then came his list of reasons.One of the first things he mentioned was food.Mwale said he had got used to how affordable eating out can be in India, to the point that he now looks at food prices back home differently.He also singled out UPI as something he didn't realise he'd miss so much.“UPI completely spoiled me. I can pay for chai, food, transport and almost anything with my phone,” he wrote.For someone used to paying for everyday things this way, going back to a different payment system can apparently feel like a step backwards.Biryani, butter chicken, dosa and momosThen there was the food.Mwale said he had become “addicted” to Indian food, naming biryani, butter chicken, dosa and momos among his favourites.And it wasn't just about eating.Travelling around India became another big part of his experience. Despite spending three years in the country, Mwale said he felt he had barely seen enough of it.“Even after three years, I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface of India,” he wrote.From one region to another, he found himself experiencing different food, languages, traditions and ways of life.India became more than a study destinationPerhaps the biggest change, however, came from the people he met.Mwale said studying in India introduced him to people from different parts of the country as well as students from countries he never expected to meet.“Studying in India exposed me to different Indian cultures, languages and people from countries I never expected to meet,” he wrote.That experience appears to have changed his idea of what home means too.“I came here as a Zimbabwean student. Somewhere along the way, India became a place I genuinely feel connected to,” Mwale said.So the “mistake” wasn't really a mistake.He later clarified that he was being sarcastic. In fact, he described these experiences as some of the best things that happened because he chose to study in India.He came for a degree.But according to him, he ended up with much more: friendships, memories, travel experiences and a connection to a country he hadn't expected to call home.‘India is like a second home’The post drew plenty of warm reactions online, with Indian users welcoming Mwale and relating to his experience.“It’s always heartwarming to hear someone born abroad say they love the country I was born in,” one person commented.Another told him, “I think India is like a second home for you now!” and even suggested that he learn to cook Indian food or make reels around it.“Whoever comes to India once becomes a part of India forever,” another comment read.A user added, “Welcome, brother. If you welcome the change, you can treat India like a second home.”For Mwale, perhaps that's the real story behind the word “mistake”. He arrived in India expecting an education. Three years later, he found himself wondering if he wanted to leave at all.Get the latest movie news, reviews, and celebrity updates. Download the TOI App.