A young Cuban named Andrés, who has recently moved to Spain, starred in a viral Instagram video as he discovered, during a trip through European airports, everyday technologies that simply do not exist in Cuba.
The clip was published by the account Thaly & Andrés and has garnered nearly 300,000 views. It depicts a series of scenes that humorously and tenderly portray the significant technological gap that separates Cuba from the rest of the world.
Andrés' reaction upon seeing the technological gadgets is quite endearing. Some users claim he will make the phrase "Oh, how modern!" popular.
Everything begins at the airport when his companion —presumably Thaly— advises him to charge his phone before getting on the plane. Andrés, puzzled by the wireless charging, asks: "Does it plug in?"
The following scene shows him in front of a digital screen at a bus stop that provides real-time information about schedules and routes. Andrés confuses it with advertising, and his companion clarifies, "That's the time the bus is coming, buddy. Can't you see it?" to which he responds, "What modernity!"
In a fast food establishment, Andrés tries to order an ice cream directly from an employee, unaware that orders are made at a self-service touchscreen. "Andrés, you order that here. You can choose whatever you want, and pay with a card."
Cuba, meanwhile, seems to advance like a crab in terms of digital transformation.
In 2017, the Council of Ministers acknowledged the technological lag, but the situation has not changed in the country. Currently, more people live in extreme poverty, travel in horse-drawn carts, and cook food with firewood.
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