A Cuban woman in Albacete, Spain, shared a reflection on TikTok about the stark differences she observes between the abundance of food in her current environment and the scarcity faced by many families in Cuba.
In her testimony, @rosmerys02 shared that she often stops to think about "so much food, so many delicious things," while recalling that in Cuba "the people are starving with such simple things."
As an example, she mentioned the muffins she sells at her job: “Six muffins, 1.45 euros.” Her reflection, focused on the differences in prices and availability, highlights the challenges many Cuban families face in securing daily meals, especially amid power outages and food shortages.
"These are the advantages of being here in Spain; sometimes one feels so good, even if they don’t have a car, even if they have to pay an exorbitant rent, even if they don’t have brand-name clothes... I have so much because simply being in a place with so much food, with so many products, and having a roof over my head, having food and having clothes, no matter what they are," she added. "I feel more than blessed to be in this country," she concluded.
The video generated hundreds of comments and an intense exchange of opinions. Many agreed in pointing to the Cuban political system as responsible for the crisis and shortages, highlighting the contrast between life in Spain and the hardships on the island. There were also numerous messages of empathy towards the young woman and the Cubans living far from their homeland.
Among the comments, phrases such as "this is what communism brings," "such a great shame for Cuba," "God bless the Cuban people," or "the people are not to blame, but the leaders" can be read. Other users insisted that "the United States' blockade is responsible," or called for "the Cuban people to rise up against the socialist dictatorship."
The author responded with brief messages of gratitude, reaffirming her sorrow for the situation on the island and her appreciation for Spain: “That's right, a lot of hunger, and I feel blessed to be here.”
Days earlier, the same young woman had posted another video in which she expressed the sadness that comes from spending Christmas away from her family, a story featured in the article “When Christmas Comes and You Are Far from Home”, where she mentioned that she “doesn’t feel motivated” to celebrate during this season and confessed that “these days I cry, honestly.”
In that message, recorded while walking through the illuminated streets of Albacete, he described how the holidays are difficult for him without his family and reminisced about the losses he has experienced since emigrating: “I lost my dad, my grandfather while I was here, my uncle two months ago. All of those things weigh on you even though many don’t understand it.”
His most recent testimony broadens that perspective: alongside the nostalgia of distance, there is now a reflection on material inequality. In both cases, his voice reflects the feelings of many Cuban emigrants who, from different countries, share on social media the mix of gratitude, pain, and hope that defines their experience outside the island.
Filed under:
