A Cuban resident in Guyana shared an emotional message this week that has strongly resonated with those considering leaving the island: before departing, take advantage of every moment with your loved ones, because upon crossing the border, you will discover that you are alone.
Xiomi (@xiomaravazquez3261) posted the video on TikTok on July 18, lasting just 47 seconds, but its message resonated deeply: over 16,400 views, nearly 2,000 likes, and 347 comments in just a few days.
"If I had to give advice to anyone in Cuba who wants to migrate, it would be to hug their family a lot, show love, you know! Do everything you always wanted to do in your country and couldn’t. Be more family-oriented, more friendly, enjoy all the beautiful things that our country has to offer," the young woman said directly to the camera.
The reason for that advice was explained with a simplicity that strikes: "because you go out into the world and realize that you are alone."
With that phrase, she concluded her reflection with a warning that many emigrants recognize as their own: "Cuban, take advantage of Cuba as it will not come again. Blessings!"
The video connects with an experience that is repeated in the Cuban diaspora: the economic well-being sought when emigrating does not always compensate for the absence of family and loved ones left behind. TikTok has become a space for collective catharsis for the Cuban community abroad, where testimonies about loneliness, goodbyes, and nostalgia frequently go viral.
In the video description, Xiomi added: "And even if you have achieved your goal of moving forward, the nostalgia for Cuba and for your loved ones will always be present."
The message arrives at a time when Cuba is experiencing the largest exodus in its recent history. According to official data from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), in 2024, more than 250,000 Cubans emigrated, although independent estimates from demographer Juan Carlos Albizu-Campos raise that figure to over 545,000 people.
The population decrease has brought Cuba's inhabitants below 10 million for the first time in decades. In 2024, only 71,358 births were recorded—the lowest level in 65 years—compared to over 128,000 deaths.
The UN warned this July that Cuba could see its population drop to 5.6 million if the current migration trend continues unabated.
In that context, Xiomi's advice—"take advantage of Cuba while you can"—carries particular weight among those who have already crossed that border and bear the burden of distance.
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