Cuban TikToker Orlando Cruz is stealing laughs and empathy from hundreds of users after sharing what it’s like to live “in a field in South Dakota,” a place where, as he puts it, “there are more cows than people” and the cold seems to have a life of its own.
In a video that blends humor, nostalgia, and pure Caribbean survival, Cruz describes his mornings with a sincerity that many Cuban immigrants will instantly recognize.
"Imagine waking up and the first thing you see out the window is snow… and the second thing is also snow. And the third thing, what do you think it is? The coat, my friend, because I can't take it anymore."
The young man shares that winter in that part of the northern U.S. is relentless; it's so harsh that, he laughs, even the car seems to rebel. "You go out to warm up the car, and the car looks at you like, 'hey, I'm not starting today'."
But the weather is not the only challenge. The language plays its own game too. "Here, people talk so fast that you just find yourself like this... and all you can say is: 'I’m sorry'," Cruz notes, mimicking the confusion of many newcomers.
Even so, the Cuban affirms that life in South Dakota has its charm, noting the kindness of the locals. "The people here are so friendly that even the wind greets you," he comments, pointing out that the tranquility of the countryside has allowed him to adapt, though he never forgets that at any moment "one can freeze."
With his characteristic friendly tone, Cruz promises that if he manages to survive the winter, he will share the second part of his experience. “In the meantime, share the video with me, good sir, let’s see if we can grow the community,” he requests at the end.
His testimony reflects a truth shared by many Cubans in the United States: the cultural clash can be tough, the weather even worse, but humor and resilience remain infallible tools for moving forward, even amidst cows, snow, and an English that doesn't always forgive.
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