A Cuban known on TikTok as Yeny shared the story of why she left Valencia, where she lived for six years, to move to the United States, and the response surprised many: it wasn't for money or safety, but for the love of her family.
In the video, published on her channel "living with Yeny", Yeny starts with a direct question: "Why did I come to the United States after living in Spain for six years". What follows is an honest and unfiltered testimony that struck a chord with the Cuban immigrant community.
Her experience in Spain is bittersweet. On one hand, she openly acknowledges that she loves Spanish culture: "Living in Valencia is very peaceful. It's a super quiet, super friendly city. A city that welcomes you from the moment you arrive." She fondly remembers watching her eldest daughter go to school alone, something she compares to the times in Cuba but "with a little more development."
But the labor market was her major shock. "The only thing that shocked me in Spain was the work. It was very difficult to find a job because they asked for a lot... whenever you were applying somewhere, they required at least a year of experience," she explained. She worked in hospitality, a sector she described bluntly: "Hospitality work is very poorly paid. It's paid very poorly." She also worked in cleaning and, in her own words, "in a thousand different things."
However, the ultimate reason for crossing the Atlantic was not work-related. "You always have a void," Yeny admitted, and that void had a name: her sister and her parents, all residing in the United States. The final trigger came with the birth of her second daughter. "I hadn't seen my dad in three years. Jana is born, and I feel even more nostalgia for him to meet Jana," she said with evident emotion.
The decision came almost spontaneously. "One day after returning from vacation in Cuba, the idea popped into my head: I'm going to apply for a visa to the United States and let God take care of the rest," he recounted. The consular interview was approved for the entire family, marking the beginning of a new chapter. "We're starting from scratch again, but we're excited, giving thanks to God all the time for having our family close," he said.
The video sparked a wave of identification in the comments. One user wrote: "I have lived in Spain for 29 years. Right in Valencia. What a coincidence. I moved here to the United States a year ago and believe me, I’m struggling. It’s becoming really difficult for me." Another user confessed: "Oh my God, I’m about to celebrate 7 years in Spain. It’s beautiful, very beautiful. But the work and social aspects are killing me."
Several followers also inquired about how to apply for a visa, and Yeny confirmed in the comments that she arrived with a tourist visa, promising an explanatory video about the process. Her story is particularly relevant in the current context, as the immigration restrictions for Cuba in the United States have tightened considerably, making it increasingly difficult to duplicate her path.
Yeny closed her video with a message that resonated with her followers: "The best place to live is where your heart desires. Where your soul is at peace, where you feel complete, that is your place. It's that simple."
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