The Cuban content creator Katherine Guevara (@katyy_guevaraa) posted an emotional farewell on Instagram upon leaving Cuba, in which she summarized the clash of emotions experienced when leaving behind your country and family to embark on a new life.
"In my suitcase, I packed my dreams, and in my handbag, the words 'we are very proud of you and we know you will achieve everything you set out to do.' Today, the most fearful yet brave one took to the skies and made the decision of her life, asking God only for strength and health, as the rest is up to me," the young woman wrote, accompanied by a series of photographs taken at the airport and onboard the plane, including an image of her Cuban passport against the window as the runway faded away.
"Hold on world, here comes this Cuban made of rice with fried egg and bread with oil. With a tight heart and a jump in my stomach, but grateful for this opportunity. Here I go life, be kind to me," she added, like someone who knows they will give everything to move forward.
Days later, the young woman published a reel in which she humorously and in detail narrated each stage of the journey, from the immigration control to the reunion with her father.
"I completed my immigration paperwork with all my documents printed out like a responsible girl, and we went through the hallway of happiness, which had little happiness to it, to be honest, because I went through immigration shouting," she recounted.
During the flight, Katherine confessed that she had prayed nonstop for the plane not to crash, and she described with astonishment something as ordinary in other countries as a soda with ice: "They gave me these little cookies on the plane and a cola soda with ice, Grandma, with ice, these people really have power," referring to the constant blackouts in Cuba.
The itinerary included a stop in Panama of just one hour: "We arrived in Panama where I was only going to have a one-hour layover, so I had to run to catch that flight because that airport was huge," he said.
Upon landing at her final destination, the young woman was dazzled by the city lights seen from the air: "Look at this beautiful view. I was captivated by all these lights."
The reunion with her family had a comedic touch: Katherine searched for her father in the crowd without finding him, until she discovered that he was "wearing a hat and hiding."
Although the creator did not reveal her final destination, several followers recognized in the video images the airport in Montreal, Canada, as the arrival point.
The story of Katherine adds to a growing trend among Cuban emigrants who document their departures on social media. In recent months, other content creators like Lisa Garci in July and @keki_mami in August also published their farewells, which resonated with thousands of Cubans inside and outside the island.
The phenomenon reflects an exodus that shows no signs of stopping, with more and more Cubans leaving the island in the hope of finding a better future.
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