A Cuban content creator identified as @keki_mami touched thousands of followers by sharing on Instagram the moment of her first purchase in Brazil: one thousand reais—around 200 dollars—that filled her grocery cart, but also left her with a lump in her throat as she thought of those still in Cuba.
The young mother emigrated to Brazil with her young daughter at the beginning of August, motivated by the well-being of the child, and since then she has documented her adaptation process on social media.
"When I saw everything I could give for my home, I felt an immense happiness. But I also felt a lump in my throat. Because it was impossible not to think about Cuba," she recounted in the video, which garnered over 22,000 likes and 218 comments.
The comparison with the island was inevitable from the first product he added to the cart: "With 200 dollars, you can't make such a purchase for a month over there. And it's not just the price; many of these products aren't even available. And much less with this variety and this quality."
The creator described the joy of opening the refrigerator and seeing it full, of buying foods that once seemed like a luxury, and being able to share them with her daughter. But that happiness coexisted with pain: "It hurts me to think that while I am living this, there are thousands of Cubans who are still struggling to get the basics."
The moment of filling the cart turned into an exercise in involuntary memory: "As I was putting each item in the cart, I couldn't help but think about how much work, how much money, and how many trips I would have to make in Cuba to be able to have all this. And that's what hits me the hardest."
In a second reel about her first day in the new apartment, @keki_mami showcased the rental property priced at 1,900 reais per month — plus 1,900 as a security deposit — featuring two bedrooms and two bathrooms, delivered completely empty. With the help of her mother and brother, she began adding a refrigerator, a washing machine, a gas stove, and a bed with a mattress, all second-hand.
The testimony of @keki_mami is part of a recurring phenomenon among emigrated Cubans, also documented with other compatriots in Brazil: the emotional shock of finding abundance where there was once only scarcity.
Brazil has become the main migration destination for Cubans in Latin America. In 2025, there were over 41,900 asylum applications —an increase of 88.1% compared to 2024— according to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
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