But his list of seven reasons makes it clear that he meant the word quite differently.
An African student’s take on his time in India has caught attention online after he described studying in the country as a “mistake”.
Mwale said studying in India also introduced him to people from different parts of the country and the world. Kalumba Mwale, a Zimbabwean student, shared his experience of living and studying in India on Instagram. What began as a decision to pursue a degree turned into an experience that left him feeling deeply connected to the country. In the Instagram post, Mwale explained how his experience in India went far beyond getting a degree. “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. He also spoke about getting used to affordable meals and how UPI changed the way he made everyday payments. “I got used to how cheap eating out can be. I can pay for chai, food, transport and almost anything with my phone,” he added. Food was another major reason. “I came here as a Zimbabwean student. Take a look: Many users welcomed Mwale and described India as a second home for him, while sharing their thoughts on his experience. “Welcome, brother. If you welcome the change, you can treat India like a second home,” a user added. (Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)
Now I look at food prices back home differently,” he said. (Also Read: Gurgaon woman defends 9-to-5 jobs amid ‘quit corporate’ trend: ‘As long as it pays your bills, it’s fine’ ) “UPI completely spoiled me. Mwale said he had become “addicted” to Indian food, naming biryani, butter chicken, dosa and momos among his favourites. He also highlighted travelling across the country, saying that even after three years, he felt like he had “barely scratched the surface of India”. Most importantly, he said his time in India changed his understanding of what home means. Somewhere along the way, India became a place I genuinely feel connected to,” Mwale said. He clarified that calling his decision a “mistake” was sarcasm. “These are actually some of the best things that happened to me because I chose to study here,” he wrote, adding that he came for education but stayed for the experiences, friendships and memories. “It’s always heartwarming to hear someone born abroad say they love the country I was born in,” one person commented. “I think India is like a second home for you now!” another user wrote, while suggesting that Mwale could learn to cook Indian food or even make reels about it. (Also Read: Bengaluru woman searches for perfect time to avoid traffic, finds only one solution: WFH ) “Whoever comes to India once becomes a part of India forever,” another comment read.
“ Studying in India exposed me to different Indian cultures, languages and people from countries I never expected to meet,” he wrote.
