For laughs?: Back to school Spain vs. Cuba

The Cuban YouTuber Geylis has once again captured the attention of her followers with a video that humorously and with a hint of sarcasm reflects the contrast between the return to classrooms in Spain and in Cuba.

In her sketch, which has already garnered over 2,600 likes and more than 100 comments in less than a day, Geylis recreated two very different scenarios.

On one hand, the Spanish mother, played by Geylis, seems to have everything under control: “Aitana, darling, I’ve already bought you the sneakers you asked for, the black Jordan ones you wanted for back to school.” The concern here seems to be more about what to do with the old Nike sneakers that “are taking up space in the closet” than about whether there will be uniforms available.

Between buying books and the upcoming getaway to Marbella, this mother seems to live in a world very different from what many know in Cuba.

The contrast hits hard when Geylis changes the setting to a Cuban house, where another mother (now with a scarf on her head) literally struggles to obtain uniforms and shoes for her daughter. “Mima, I’m not going to fight anymore, no way… Mayelin’s nephew gave me two doctor’s gowns, I’m going to take them to the seamstress to see if she can make at least two shirts out of them, and if not, I’ll make some adjustments myself,” says the desperate Cuban mother, resigned to do the impossible so her daughter can go to school. And instead of new Jordans, the sneakers for going out turn into the everyday shoes for school, while the ones that “Mirtha is going to send” are reserved for special occasions.

Geylis's followers quickly reacted, many identifying with the reality portrayed in the video. "That's Cuba, the ones going to school and the newcomers going out"; "It's what follows in Cuba, the struggle with everything"; "You are true to reality"; "Literally, that's how it is on our island"; "I love your videos, you always reflect the reality of Cuban mothers"; "The best way to show daily life in Cuba"; "What memories, but what a sad reality"; "You are very good, congratulations"; "Hahaha, the Jordans, what a difference"; "Childhood memories with your videos"; "Back to school in Cuba, a true odyssey"; "Literally, that's exactly what happens"; "I love the character of 'Mima'"; "Pure talent, Geylis"; "You make us laugh, but also think about how difficult it is there"; "You always make me remember my childhood with your videos," some of them commented.

This recreation of two scenarios so distanced not only geographically but also provoking laughter also leaves one thinking about the harsh realities facing many mothers in Cuba, who, unlike their counterparts in Spain, must struggle day by day with scarcity and limitations, a sad reminder in a humorous tone that the start of the school year can be a very different experience depending on which side of the Atlantic you find yourself.