A young Cuban woman who has been living in Miami for 11 years sparked a debate on TikTok by sharing her reflection on the advantages and disadvantages between staying in the city or seeking new opportunities in other parts of the United States.
Dayanis, who has been living in Miami since 2013, shared a video in which she explores the pros and cons of residing in the City of the Sun, using as a starting point a conversation she overheard between two Cubans.
There was a Cuban who said to another, "You know that Miami is a shithole, this place is no good, people here struggle a lot to get ahead, but one has already gotten used to the little that one earns here and has stayed like this because anyway, no matter how bad things are, it's still better than Cuba," he began his comment.
In her extensive reflection, the young woman acknowledged that when she arrived in Miami, she stayed there because of the language and the Cuban community, but now she feels that she could have had a more comfortable life if she had decided to move.
One mistake I made was staying here in Miami. I feel like I could have had a more comfortable life if I had decided at that time, along with the father of my son, to leave Miami. It didn't happen," she added.
Despite the economic challenges, the young woman considers that Miami offers many advantages such as cultural familiarity and access to 'Cuban' products and services, something that is not always easy to find in other states. "Remember, one thing is this great city where you might have to have three jobs because everything is very expensive, it is in this great city that you decide to stay for the language, it is this great city that welcomes many of those who do not have the possibility of having an excellent command of English," she noted.
However, he also encouraged newcomers to consider moving if they believe that doing so will improve their quality of life: "If you have just arrived and have the possibility to move... move, don't stay here in Miami because Miami right now is bad for everyone to make progress."
Dayanis' post has sparked an avalanche of comments from other users who shared their own experiences of living in Miami or in other parts of the United States. Some agreed that moving to other states can offer better opportunities, while others defended their contentment in the city.
"I have been in Miami for 23 years and I am not going anywhere... my daughter was born here"; "I have achieved everything in Miami thanks to God"; "Miami is for people who are well-off, have their own properties, and have been here for years, it is not useful for newcomers"; "Since 2013, I arrived with many goals, with a willingness to sacrifice, and I am grateful to Miami for some great moments and also some bad ones. However, I have managed to improve year after year and found stability"; "They still have time to leave Miami, you cannot live in a city you do not like. This country is free. But do not criticize Miami anymore for your failures"; "I lived in another state for six years, I speak English and I am a certified IT professional in the USA. In my profession, I am earning more here in Miami than in the other state where I lived. You have to be prepared, there are opportunities here," some commented.
Others, on the other hand, supported the idea of moving or shared their success stories in other cities: "In 22 years in Florida, I couldn't buy a house even with a good income, but with four children and working for myself, I moved to Georgia and now own four houses and will never go back"; "I am Cuban, living in South Dakota. I used to live in Miami, it wasn't bad, but here I am close to financial freedom. You can learn English"; "I lived in New Jersey, then in Miami for 20 years and never had anything, and now in Tampa I have my own house"; "I lived in Miami for 20 years and it's like my second Cuba, but I am very happy where I live now outside of Miami"; "I don't speak English and I live in Kansas City, I work for a cleaning company, they pay me $20 per hour and the rent where I live is $670, which would be $2000 in Miami"; "I have been living in California for 11 years and not speaking English has not been a barrier. Where there's a will, there's a way"; "I lived in Miami since I arrived in 2016, a year and a half ago I moved with my husband and son to Austin, TX, and we have achieved what we didn't in the previous seven years. Whoever dares, let them do it," others added.
Dayanis concluded her message by encouraging to break with conformism and always try to seek to improve the quality of life, no matter the place: "you Cuban, you are daring, so do not settle; La Llave coffee is sold everywhere."
And what do you think?
What do you think?
COMMENTFiled under:
