A Cuban resident in the United States announced yesterday on Instagram that she is returning to Cuba, tired of paying bills, waking up early, and working nonstop. The video, posted by the account @beautybyjuani, garnered over 53,000 views, 1,203 likes, and 432 comments in just a few hours.
In the clip, the woman leaves no doubt about her reasons: "Yes, I’m going to Cuba. I can’t stand the pressure in this country anymore. I can’t bear paying more bills, getting up early, working so much, all the time,” she declares in front of the camera.
The user, who specializes in lip micropigmentation, eyeliner, and microblading, reflects nostalgically on what awaits her on the island: "Now I want to sleep in the morning, I want to relax, I want to chat on every corner with all my friends. In short, I’m going to Cuba."
But it was his farewell phrase that ignited social media. "I thank this country for everything I have learned, everything I have experienced, and I take a little piece in my heart with me. Thank you, United States of America. Goodbye, goodbye, and goodbye. You are a great country, but not for me, because now I am going to dedicate myself to living off the story," he stated.
The expression "living off the tale" carries a very specific cultural weight among Cubans: it means to survive without working, through excuses or deceit. Moreover, it is the name of the most popular humor program on Cuban television, which has been aired since 2009 and features the character Pánfilo, played by Luis Silva, who satirizes those who get by without working amidst the socialist crisis. Using that phrase as a rationale for the return added a layer of irony that Cuban users did not overlook.
Mockery, memes, and skeptical comments quickly followed. The Cuban community on social media recalled that the island is undergoing a severe economic crisis with frequent blackouts, shortages of food and medicine, and a widespread deterioration of essential services, conditions that make it difficult to envision the idyllic rest described by the user.
The video by @beautybyjuani falls within a recurring trend on TikTok and Instagram: emigrated Cubans documenting their returns to the island. However, most of this content showcases emotional reunions with family members, such as the heart-wrenching return of a Cuban that moved people on social media. This user's case stands out for its carefree tone and explicit rejection of the lifestyle in the United States as the sole motivation for her return.
The migratory context adds another dimension to the debate. More than 500,000 Cubans live in uncertain migratory situations in the U.S. following the elimination of humanitarian parole and the CBP One program, and in 2025 at least 3,757 Cubans were deported. Voluntary returns due to "exhaustion" remain a minority phenomenon, but they are increasingly visible and discussed within the diaspora.
The video’s own author opened the door to a narrative of her return: "I will let you know when I will be sending photos from Cuba," she promised before saying goodbye. Other Cubans who have shared their real experiences in Cuba in 2026 have presented a very different picture than the one imagined by the user.
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