"In Cuba right now, there are blackouts lasting 13, 18, and even more than 20 hours, with barely three hours of electricity in between. And the mosquitoes, brother, they are relentless. There are bugs I've never seen before, and they all bite." This is how a Cuban resident in the United States summarized his recent experience after visiting the island to be with his family. In his message, he warned those planning to travel to be prepared: "Buy a generator, bring 20 liters of insect repellent. Don’t say you weren’t warned about the situation. I’m telling you: it’s really bad."
The man described the conditions in Cuba as extremely complicated, even for those with money. "I always managed to get by through informal means, with money from abroad, but now even that isn’t enough. It’s complicated even with cash. If you go, go for your family, enjoy being with them, but don’t complain or say you didn’t know how bad everything is." While he emphasized that being with loved ones makes it worthwhile, he also cautioned: "You’ll have wonderful days with your family, but you will also have to swallow some bitter truths that you might not want to face."
The creator of the video, who identifies as i.am.ivey on TikTok, wanted to make it clear that he is not against traveling to Cuba, but that doing so requires being prepared to deal with endless blackouts and shortages. "It's tough, really tough. I enjoyed my time with family, but don't pretend you didn’t know."
His video sparked a flurry of reactions. Many users agreed that, although the situation is tough, family comes first. "I was there for 15 days, 4 of them without electricity and without water, but I was happy with my family," one person said. "When you're with family, the blackout doesn't matter," another asserted. Meanwhile, someone joked, "You forgot to mention they should bring boxes of Lexatin; I'm going to Cuba and leaving the stress on the plane."
Others recalled the difficulties they faced on the Island: "I just returned from Cuba four days ago; the only downside is the power outages. There is food, but it's incredibly expensive"; "I went with a generator and a rechargeable fan, and I had no problems, but it's true that the bugs are relentless." There were also those who disagreed: "Why do you talk so much? Just let us experience it ourselves"; "Cuba has never been great, but you go to be with your loved ones."
Despite the criticism, i.am.ivey's message resonated with many Cubans. While some prefer to avoid the journey, others insist that nothing will keep them from being with their family, even if it means facing mosquitoes, heat, blackouts, and bitter hardships.
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