A Cuban resident on the island has gone viral on TikTok after sharing a video in which she humorously and graphically shows what she does every time the electricity returns to her home amidst the constant blackouts affecting Cuba.
"I live in Cuba, and when the electricity comes on, my survival mode kicks in. I move faster than Usain Bolt in the 100 meters," says the young woman as she starts a race against time to make the most of every minute of light.
In the video, posted by user @yatmara.bernal, the creator explains that the first thing she does is boil a large pot of water on the induction stove, with the intention of using it for drinking. Although the water is treated by the aqueduct, she clarifies that she doesn't like the color it arrives in.
Without wasting time, she washes the rice and puts it to cook in the rice cooker, taking care to dissolve the salt in water to avoid any small stones. At the same time, she turns on the washing machine so it can fill with water, although she acknowledges that the pressure is so low that she needs to fill a basin to speed up the process.
The routine continues with the black beans, which she washes and soaks to soften, while preparing the sofrito with the few available ingredients: garlic, onion, oregano, and cilantro. She also peels some malangas that she will add to the beans and the meat, making use of the skins for the sancocho, "because everyone needs to eat, even the little pig," she comments.
In the video, the young woman explains why she almost always cooks black beans. She mentions that it's her daughter's favorite food and that since December 31, her refrigerator has been broken, so she practically lives "day by day," with no way to preserve food.
The scene, familiar to millions of Cubans, has sparked numerous reactions on social media. Many users relate to the frantic rush that begins every time the electricity returns, a reflection of how blackouts have shaped daily life on the island.
"This is how my meal turned out. What do you think, it looks good, right?" concludes the young woman before bidding farewell to her followers, leaving a clear impression of the resilience —and exhaustion— with which Cubans are facing the energy crisis.
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