The Cuban youtuber Rosy Wanderlust posted a video on TikTok that illustrates the harshness of daily life on the island during power outages. In the footage, several people can be seen connecting their phones to makeshift power strips in the middle of the street, while the creator recounts, with a tone of exhaustion, the routine faced by millions of Cubans.
"In Cuba, we do not have the right to be happy, to live without stress, or to live with dignity. Another day in which the millions of Cubans remaining on the island wake up without electricity, not knowing when it will return," says the young woman at the beginning of the video (@rosy.wanderlus).
The account continues with a description of the basic shortages faced by Cubans: "It is not enough that the average salary is insufficient to purchase food for the month; you also struggle to cook it, often having to resort to using fire directly, cooking in the sooty cauldron in your yard, if you have one. Water is also scarce, especially when you have no electricity to power the pump."
Wanderlust also expresses the collective disheartenment felt in her surroundings: “The streets feel gloomy, and the city takes on a funereal, discouraging aspect... Cuba is no longer a place where I feel comfortable, a place where I can plan my day, but rather one in which my day is planned for me, through charts and alert messages.”
The video, published in early December, has surpassed 45,000 "likes" and generated over 2,700 comments. The reactions display a mix of empathy, frustration, and political debate among users across Latin America.
Some messages expressed solidarity with the Cuban people: “Cuba hurts, it’s sad to see them living like this” or “God bless Cuba, they will soon be free.” Others wondered why Cubans do not protest against the regime: “Why don’t they take to the streets?” and “If the people united, everything would have already changed.”
Among the critical comments about the political system, references to communism and its consequences are predominant: "That's communism, poverty and hunger for the people and luxury for the rulers," "Socialism is a deadly plague," or "Socialism is the cancer of America."
There were also comparisons with other countries in the region. Many users wrote that "Mexico is going down that path with Morena," "Venezuela is already the same as Cuba," or "In Argentina, we were heading in that direction with Kirchnerism." Others warned that "El Salvador, Colombia, and Peru should watch closely what is happening in Cuba before supporting the left."
Amid the debate, several comments expressed resignation: “They have already gotten used to living like this, and that hurts more,” “It’s not adaptation, it’s resignation,” or “The people are afraid, and fear is the best weapon of a dictatorship.” Others, however, held onto hope for change: “Cuba will be free; everything comes to an end” and “With the help of God and the people, freedom will come.”
At the end of the video, Rosy Wanderlust leaves an open reflection for her followers: “Cuba is no longer a place where I feel comfortable... and it seems that Cubans have adapted because even if the country comes to a standstill, life goes on. What do you think about this situation?”
Her publication has become a mirror of the current Cuban reality, characterized by blackouts, shortages of water and food, and a deep social disillusionment. The voice of Rosy Wanderlust joins that of many other Cubans who share their experiences on social media, narrating life under scarcity and state control, and whose testimonies continue to gain strength amid widespread fatigue and hopelessness.
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