A Cuban identified as Yaniris González posted a video on TikTok on Tuesday, in which she candidly responds to compatriots who have emigrated and constantly call her to complain about their lives abroad and announce their desire to return to Cuba.
González's message is not a critique of the desire to return, but rather a personal boundary: she accepts and respects the decision of anyone who wishes to go back to the island, but asks that they do not seek her out to validate that choice, because she feels fulfilled where she is.
"You want to return to Cuba, and I understand that perfectly, but what I don't understand is why you insist on calling me every day to tell me that you can't take it anymore, that you can't stand this country, that you're constantly working, that everything is expensive, that money is not enough, and that there is no way to get ahead here," she says in the video, which lasts a little over two minutes.
González lists the reasons why she values her life outside of Cuba: having a car, paying a comfortable rent, knowing that her children are doing well, that her son has a school bus and free breakfast and lunch at school, and not having to think every day about what to cook.
"The fact that I have something to get around for work, enough money to put gas in the car, money to buy food, and pay rent—this, for me, means I've succeeded," he states.
Her stance does not dismiss effort: she acknowledges that she works, but maintains that this work provides her with a comfortable life, without great luxuries, but with stability. "I am comfortable," she defines herself, and adds that she continues to move forward.
At the same time, he makes it clear that he does not judge those who choose to return. "If you want to go back to Cuba, I accept it and support you in whatever you need. If you are happy there, that's great. Everyone is a world unto themselves," he says. What he rejects is receiving daily calls seeking an approval he cannot provide: "To me, it's neither right nor wrong. It's your decision, and it deserves respect."
The video is part of a debate that has been circulating on TikTok for months, where Cuban emigrants —primarily in the United States— share testimonies about their desire or decision to return to the island, citing emotional exhaustion, high cost of living, and family reasons.
Among recent cases, a Cuban in Miami announced his return on August 14 due to stress and financial pressure, stating that he had been working since three in the morning and that his income was insufficient to cover the rent.
Other voices have warned that romanticizing the return can be a mistake. A content creator pointed out in May that before returning, one must ask whether the factors that led to emigration—economic, political, social—have truly changed on the island.
In the opposite direction, a Cuban woman who spent ten years in the U.S. argued in July that she came to the country but not to stay for a lifetime, while another asserted in June that in Cuba she can enjoy the same comforts without having to work all year just to cover payments.
That argument contrasts with the reality facing the island: food shortages, prolonged blackouts, and inflation estimated by independent sources at nearly 70% year-on-year—conditions that González's video, while not mentioning them directly, puts into perspective.
"Please don't call me anymore to tell me how bad things are and that no one is prospering here. Don't do it," González concludes, encapsulating the tone of his entire message: respect for others' decisions, but without yielding his own ground.
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