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A Cuban woman unintentionally became a social media sensation after on Facebook a photo of a "little bullet" of frozen water as her "first achievement of June unlocked," accompanied by the message: "the envious will say it's AI... but no, with perseverance, discipline, and patience, I managed to have a bottle of ice, don't give up."
The post garnered nearly 5,000 reactions and close to 800 comments, becoming a humorous yet painful reflection of the electrical crisis that Cuba is experiencing, where having cold water has turned into a privilege.
In response to the avalanche of skeptics who accused her of using an image generated by artificial intelligence or a stock photo, the author was insistent: the image is real, recent, and her own.
In a joking tone, he explained that he put the doorknob in the freezer "last June," ironically referring to how difficult it is to do so amid the blackouts plaguing the island.
When someone suggested that he protect the ice from crime, he responded humorously, "I've already taken my precautions, thanks, hehe."
In response to those who suggested that she had solar panels to maintain electricity, she was straightforward: "I wish I had one, but no."
The author herself was surprised by the response: "Not for sale, I just published my achievement and didn't think so many people would react this way; I was left astonished."
The comments ranged from disbelief and healthy envy to the dark humor that characterizes Cubans in the face of adversity.
"Friend, I have determination, discipline, and patience; what I don't have is power, I haven't been able to make one," wrote Noemi Elizabeth Hernández Fabres.
"Hice? What's that?" Sandra Ro asked sarcastically, while Paula Severino declared, "You’re a millionaire," and Olga Lidia Trejo added, "You have an achievement; that’s pure gold."
Yoandra Montaña Jorge asked incredulously, "But how did you manage it with just two or three hours of electricity? Where do you live? In Reparto Plaza?"
Jimmy Romero Gómez joked about the paranoia of state control: “Now the DSE, the DTI, the CDR, and the UPC will investigate you to see where you got it from.”
The backdrop of such bitter laughter is the serious situation of the Cuban electrical system. As of June 3, the Electric Union reported a mere availability of 1,020 MW against a demand of 2,570 MW, with a projected deficit of nearly 1,900 MW during peak hours.
In some areas of Havana, power outages exceed 20 to 22 hours daily, and the electrical company in Holguín confirmed that its residents would have only three hours of electricity per day.
With such limited electricity, refrigerators are unable to cool, let alone freeze, turning a simple block of ice into a coveted item.
Bårbara Battle summed it up perfectly: "My fridge doesn't even have time to cool down. Congratulations."
Yunier Cisnero concluded with a question that many ask: "My love, what circuit are you from? Because that's a mission impossible in mine."
It was Ainez Romero who captured the general sentiment with a phrase that says it all: "The Cuban is the only one who laughs at his misfortune, and what a misfortune it is that we are experiencing."
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