Cuban Daiana Díaz (@mihogaractivo) shared an emotional video on TikTok commemorating the second anniversary of her arrival in the United States, following a difficult migration journey with her young daughters. The post, tagged with the hashtag #Recuerdos, generated dozens of reactions filled with empathy, solidarity, and admiration.
"Exactly two years ago today, I arrived in this country, leaving behind my mom, my dad, my aunt, who is like a grandmother to me, people I love dearly, my culture, my roots," she says in the video. "It was a very tough time when I thought I wouldn’t make it. We all want to arrive, but we don't know the consequences of what might happen to us," she adds.
Díaz recounts crossing the Rio Bravo with the water up to her chest, accompanied by her two young daughters: “It truly is a great sacrifice, and all because one cannot live in my country.” Her goal was to reunite with her husband, who had arrived in the United States a month earlier. “But in the end, it turned out to be a happy ending, and today we can enjoy all the wonders of this country, and enjoy it together, which is the most important thing.”
In her reflection, she also expresses a strong criticism of the lack of opportunities in Cuba: “I am quite certain that my daughters would not have had a future like the one they can achieve in this country, studying and becoming good professionals, since in my country, even if you study, you won’t have the opportunity to practice your work properly.”
The video sparked a wave of emotional responses. One user wrote: “You made me remember those tough days fighting through a broken heart.” Another person commented: “You picked the best day; the Virgin took care of everyone.” A follower identified as maría.yisabel wrote: “I arrived 50 years ago, and I am grateful for this country that welcomed me, where my children were born and grew up to be good men.”
The post is accompanied by images of key moments in her history: the migration journey, the reunion with her husband, and current scenes enjoying time with family.
Daiana has documented other stages of her migration process, such as when she celebrated the purchase of her first truck and the start of a small family business with her husband, proudly recalling her beginnings as a cleaning worker: “I was just a simple housekeeping.”
In another of her testimonies, she compared her work experience in Florida and Missouri, stating that while in the former it was difficult to find a job, in the latter she managed to get employment from the very first day, and her husband was able to earn 230 dollars a day working for Uber.
He has also reflected on the difficulties of the early years as a migrant, and how not everyone has the same opportunities: “Not everyone is as fortunate. Sometimes we can't express opinions because each person's journey is different.”
In one of her most viral videos, she defended the solidarity and support of the Cuban community in the U.S., asserting that “the true Cuban knows what is happening in Cuba, because that is something you have to experience to understand.”
The most recent video once again stirred that collective feeling. “You are a warrior,” “The sacrifice is worth it,” “Many blessings for all you have achieved,” are phrases that are repeated over and over in the comments. One user shared: “I left everything behind, my mom and my kids, but God willing, I will see them again.” Another added: “That’s right, the sacrifices and risks we went through were many.”
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