A Cuban who spent six months in Costa Rica decided to return to the island to be with his wife and daughter, and today he makes a living selling cigars informally on a street corner. His testimony, captured in a video published last Friday by content creator Covers Enoc on Instagram, summarizes in one sentence the paradox that many Cubans face: “Since you can't live anywhere like in Cuba, let's be clear about that.”
The man candidly acknowledges the shortcomings of the island, but he weighs them against what he left behind when he emigrated. "Life in Cuba is tough, things are scarce, but I have family and we're here with friends, telling stories and sharing," he explains.
When asked what day-to-day life means to him, his answer is straightforward: "Day-to-day life for me is more than just a challenge; it’s a necessity. But here we are, putting in the effort, toughing it out, as we say."
The interviewee himself defines the term for those who are unfamiliar with it: "For me, the word guapear means going out every day, looking for food for the house, lunch, food for the kids. And putting in the effort here, with a little cigarette in hand, without stealing from anyone."
Regarding whether he considers himself happy, the man clarifies: "No, the word happy doesn't fit, as it means a lot. But at the same time, yes, because I am happy with my children, my family." And to those who criticized him for returning, he responds with the same calmness: "Many people think it was wrong for me to come back, but I don't live for others; I live for myself."
Your case is not isolated. Throughout 2026, several Cubans have returned voluntarily from Costa Rica for emotional and family reasons, despite the crisis the island is experiencing. Among them is Maydalina Valdés Fernández, who returned in January 2026 stating that "loneliness was killing me," and Malena Mendoza, 23 years old, who returned with her five-year-old daughter in May after six months away.
However, these voluntary returns are contrary to the data. Cuban diaspore travel to the island has drastically decreased: in January and February 2026, only 23,002 emigrated Cubans traveled to Cuba, compared to 38,597 in the same period in 2025, a year-on-year decrease of 41.2%.
The Cuba to which these emigrants are returning is experiencing one of its most severe crises in decades, with power outages lasting up to 20-22 hours daily in some areas, fuel shortages, and over 1,700 flights canceled due to a lack of aviation fuel. In this context, informal work—such as selling cigarettes on the street—is one of the few survival strategies available for those returning without guaranteed formal employment.
"People don't worry me at all. What worries me is my family," concludes the protagonist of the video, which garnered over 56,000 views and nearly 500 comments in just a few days.
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