The story of a Cuban who arrived in Kazakhstan and decided to put down roots there

When Isaac, a young Cuban singer, first heard the name Kazakhstan, he had to look it up on a map. He never imagined that this distant country, with a culture radically different from that of the island, would eventually become the place where he would put down roots, build a family, and live for over a decade.

Everything started in 2012, Isaac explains on his Youtube channel, when he received the opportunity to travel as part of a musical group. The journey was not easy because in Cuba, the so-called exit permit still existed, a government authorization that for decades was a mandatory requirement for citizens to be able to travel abroad.

Although Isaac had a visa and a contract, bureaucracy kept him grounded for weeks, watching his colleagues leave before him. He finally managed to depart and joined the project, without knowing a word of Russian or Kazakh, armed only with Latin songs and the desire to forge his path.

The initial contract lasted six months, but his story was just beginning. Isaac participated in a local singing competition, "The Voice of Kazakhstan", where he started to make a name for himself in the music scene. That experience allowed him to meet producers, artists, and forge friendships that helped him establish himself.

Over time, he learned enough of the language, understood the cultural differences, and discovered that he could adapt. "Kazakhstan is not for everyone,” he acknowledges, aware that many of his compatriots cannot handle the language barrier or the calm life of a society different from the noise of Cuba.

In his case, love also played a decisive role, as it was there he met Victoria, his wife, with whom he has shared the last few years.

Today, more than a decade later, Isaac has permanent residency in Kazakhstan. He has not applied for citizenship because the country does not allow dual citizenship and Cuba also does not accept formal renunciation.

Moreover, he assures that there are advantages to keeping his Cuban passport, such as the possibility of obtaining Spanish residency more quickly, which is another of his future plans.

His life is a constant contrast because on stage he sings and dances to Latin rhythms, but at home he prefers calm, away from bars and nightclubs. He enjoys movies, restaurants, or the mountains more. “That is my balance: music at work, tranquility in my personal life”, he states.

In this time, he has brought his mother and brother to visit, and he is grateful that Kazakhstan has allowed him to grow as an artist and as a human being.

He acknowledges that not all Cubans would be able to adapt to a place where even parties are often celebrated without music, only with tables filled with food and long conversations. But for him, who was never "much into dominoes or showbiz," that different rhythm became home.

“This country opened its doors to me and here I found my wife, the love of my life. Kazakhstan has given me so much”, summarizes Isaac, who still speaks with a Cuban accent but now feels part of that distant land that once welcomed him by chance and today is part of his identity.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Emigration of Cubans and Adaptation Abroad