A viral TikTok video captures the touching moment when a 50-year-old Cuban, newly arrived in the Dominican Republic, enters a supermarket for the first time and is amazed by the abundance of products.
"After 50 years in Cuba, my dad is experiencing capitalism for the first time," wrote his daughter in the video description, which has already garnered thousands of views on the social media platform.
The images show the man walking through the aisles of a supermarket, incredulously observing the variety of meats, fruits, cheeses, and products available.
"Look at the grapes, Dad, look at the grapes. What do you think? You just arrived, take whatever you want, don't limit yourself," the excited young woman tells him as she shows him the filled shelves.
The father, clearly taken aback, can barely manage to say: "Speechless, wow," as he looks at the products that are scarce or practically impossible to find in Cuba.
The scene has moved thousands of users, who recognize in that moment the stark contrast between the scarcity experienced by the Cuban population and the usual abundance found in any market economy.
For more than six decades, Cubans have lived under a state-controlled system, where basic food items are distributed through ration books and prices in stores that accept foreign currency are unaffordable for most.
The video has become a symbol of the shortcomings left by Cuban socialism, but also of the hope of those who manage to escape and start a new life away from the control of the regime.
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