A Cuban woman in Uruguay shared on TikTok some everyday practices she maintains in her daily life that, as she explained, are part of her mindset as a Cuban emigrant.
"We keep the trays in the oven so they don't take up space," says @la_cubana_en_uruguay in the video, while explaining how she organizes her kitchen. She also mentions the use of plastic bags: "We store the bags inside the same bag and we use them again because they are quite expensive."
In another excerpt, she emphasizes the importance she places on taking care of the home, even if it is a rented property: "We look after the house as if it were our own; in addition, we paint it and maintain it, and it is rented."
The young woman's statements have sparked comments from other users who identify with these customs, many of which are common among Cubans both on the island and abroad. In some cases, other users have mentioned that they also reuse bags or keep utensils to optimize space, as part of habits that continue even after years of emigration.
This type of content has become common on social media, where many Cubans share similar experiences. In previous months, a Cuban in the United States explained why she invests in improving her rented apartment, arguing that it is not a waste of money, but a form of personal well-being.
Other examples show how families newly arrived from Cuba recycle everything possible, or how newly arrived mothers continue to keep scraps of soap, bags, and containers as part of a “just in case” mentality that doesn't disappear with emigration.
Humorous content that addresses this reality has also gained popularity, such as the video in which a Cuban claims that “in the house of Cubans, a towel dies and a mop cloth is born”, or the parody that states “remove the word 'throw away' from your head”, both reflections of the ingenuity born from necessity.
The customs mentioned by the young woman in Uruguay are part of a shared identity that many emigrants recognize and that continues to manifest in various corners of the world where Cubans reside.
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