A Cuban woman, identified on TikTok as @cynthia.cabrera.r, has shared her story of adapting after moving to Belgium a year ago. Her testimony has drawn attention for its sincerity and for illustrating what it means to start from scratch in a completely different country.
"What can I say? It was a great challenge to first leave Cuba and then arrive in Belgium, a completely different country. When I got here, I felt like an alien because I didn't understand anything," they began to say in their video.
Cynthia explained that the official language in her region is Dutch. This was a significant challenge, especially since the cultural diversity made it uncommon to hear someone speaking Spanish. “When I heard someone speaking Spanish, I would think, ‘How wonderful, someone who speaks Spanish!’”
In a later video, Cynthia is seen heading to her Dutch class, where she is in her second semester. Joking about the cold of the day, she reflected on how challenging it is to emigrate to a country where the language is completely different: “Whenever someone has to leave their country and start a new life, it’s always difficult, but learning another language adds even more complexity. Here, the language spoken is Dutch, and it is quite a complicated language.”
Despite the difficulties, he encourages other migrants not to give up. "Age doesn’t matter; there's no age limit for self-improvement. In the group I’m in, there are people of all ages, from 20 to 60 years old. I urge them to start studying, even if it’s just the basics, because I've realized that you need to speak the language for everything: for a job, paperwork, going to the doctor—everything."
Cynthia compared her experience to that of her daughter, who, at a younger age, has already mastered Dutch with ease. “It's incredible, my girl was speaking quite a bit of Dutch at just 9 months here, and today she speaks it perfectly. She helps me.”
The post generated an outpouring of supportive comments from other Cubans living in Belgium or in other European countries. One user said, "I am Cuban and have been living in Belgium for 23 years. It's not bad here, but the nostalgia can be overwhelming. Feel free to contact me without hesitation. Welcome." Another person added, "I also live in Belgium and I’m Cuban. The language is difficult, but with effort, you can succeed."
Some commented on the advantages of living in the country despite the challenges. “The important thing is that you are free and have the strength to move forward”; “Don’t worry, you will overcome the language barrier. What I still struggle with after 18 years is the weather and its gray days, but after winter, summer always comes”; “I have been living here for 24 years, and although it was very tough at first, I now appreciate the quality of life I was able to provide for my children.”
Others highlighted Belgium's multiculturalism and the use of several official languages. “Belgium is a country that speaks Dutch, French, and German. It's a very diverse place, but that diversity also makes it unique”; “Dutch is difficult, but once you learn it, life is different.”
With an encouraging tone, Cynthia concluded her video with words of support for those in a similar situation: “Although it’s difficult, stay strong. Don’t stop, keep moving forward. If you can still work, learning the language will make your life easier.”
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