A Cuban content creator known as @cruzataglamorousblond published a video on TikTok yesterday in which she responds to those who assume her trips to Cuba are for tourism or pleasure, and explains that her only reason for returning to the island is to see, hug, and care for the woman who raised her since she was one year old: her grandmother, whom she calls "mom."
In the video just over a minute long, the young woman is direct from the very beginning: "When I go to Cuba, many think I'm going on vacation, to parties, or to enjoy myself, but my reality is very different. I work every day with a very clear purpose: to travel to see my mom, hug her, take care of her, and meet all her needs."
The creator explains that her grandmother raised her from the age of one and became her maternal figure: "From the time I was one, she was the one who raised me, who gave me love, protection, and everything she had, even when she had very little. She dedicated her entire life to me without asking for anything in return."
That bond, she says, is what drives her to keep traveling despite the obstacles: "I can’t let go of her hand, I can’t stop going to see her no matter the distance, the obstacles, or the circumstances, because she is a part of me."
The young woman describes her grandmother as the driving force behind all her daily efforts: "Every time I work, every time I strive to grow and move forward, she is on my mind. She is my engine, my inspiration, and one of the biggest reasons why I keep fighting every day."
The video generated a massive and emotional response in the community. One user wrote, “My grandmother passed away, enjoy her a lot,” while another encouraged, “Exactly, while you can, go see her.”
The debate over whether Cuban emigrants should travel to Cuba to visit their relatives is a recurring topic on social media. Some sectors of the exile community criticize these trips, arguing that they financially support the regime. Others point out that Cubans with active immigration processes in the United States—such as parole, asylum, or pending residency—risk their legal status if they return to the island, exacerbating the distress of those with elderly or ill relatives.
In light of those pressures, many emigrants have publicly defended their right to visit their loved ones.
This Cuban ended her video with a statement that encapsulates the feelings of thousands of families separated by emigration: "Time passes, life changes, but the love and gratitude towards those who gave you everything should never wait. As long as God allows me, I will continue to return to see her, care for her, and show my gratitude through actions for all the love that she planted in me."
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