A Cuban living in the United States sparked a wave of reactions on social media by confessing that the thing he misses the least about the island is the hard, sour bread, often moldy, that marked his childhood in a poor neighborhood in Cuba.
“In fact, I don't miss anything about Cuba”, he began saying in his video posted on Instagram by the user cubanito_37_kc.
“I grew up in a very poor neighborhood, and I had to wait for bread to have breakfast, or save it for lunch. It often came sour, without oil, sometimes even with weevils,” he commented.
This Cuban went on to say that "if you were lucky, you could put a fried pastry inside, one of those that used to cost a peso back then; if you had the peso, great, and if not, you just added some brown sugar and that was it, kid."
However, everything changed when he arrived abroad. “That's why when I saw here that there was so much bread and such quality, I thought wow, do you think I'm not going to eat bread now? Man, that was a real struggle,” he shared in the video.
His testimony unleashed a flood of comments that reveal what weighs heavily on the nostalgia of those who emigrated.
"I don't miss anything from that country, except my parents", wrote a user, making it clear that for many, the feeling of disconnection comes not from the food, but from family.
Others mentioned iconic products from the scarcity era like "the soy yogurt from the kiosk", while some listed their daily struggles: "I don’t miss the lines, the buses, the power outages, the nosy neighbors...".
There were also those who expressed with rawness the trauma left by the country they left behind: “I don’t miss the misery, destruction, degradation, need, and abuse… I left just three years ago, that country is a disgrace.”
The memory of bread —hard, sour, scarce— becomes a metaphor for life in Cuba, characterized by waiting, precariousness, and resignation. For those who managed to emigrate, the abundance of bread in other countries is not just food, but also a form of revenge against years of deprivation.
And for those who remain on the island, it continues to be the daily reminder of an unsolvable problem that is the struggle for the basics.
Frequently Asked Questions about Daily Life and the Nostalgia of Emigrated Cubans
Why do Cuban emigrants often remember Cuban bread with displeasure?
Bread in Cuba is negatively remembered by many emigrants due to its poor quality, often hard, sour, and moldy. For them, bread becomes a metaphor for the shortages and daily difficulties they faced on the island. This contrast is heightened when living in countries where abundance and quality of bread are common, which reinforces the perception of the limitations experienced in Cuba.
How does food scarcity in Cuba affect the memories of those who emigrate?
Food scarcity in Cuba leaves a deep mark on the memories of those who emigrate, as the daily struggle to obtain basic food items is a common experience. Many emigrants recall with displeasure the long lines to get bread and other products, as well as the limitations on enjoying a varied and nutritious diet. This contrasts sharply with the abundance they find in other countries, reinforcing a sense of resignation and frustration about their life on the island.
What aspects of life in Cuba do emigrants not miss?
Cuban emigrants typically do not miss the precariousness and daily hardships they experienced on the island, such as power outages, food shortages, endless lines, and social control. While many feel nostalgia for their family and certain cultural aspects, the majority do not wish to relive the limited living conditions and the constant state of survival they faced in Cuba.
What does bread symbolize in the life of an emigrated Cuban?
Bread symbolizes the struggle and scarcity that many Cubans experienced on the island. For those who have emigrated, the abundance and quality of bread in other countries is not just a source of relief but a symbolic revenge against years of deprivation. It represents a significant change in their quality of life and serves as a constant reminder of the hardships they have overcome.
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