The Cuban content creator Lizandra González (@lizandra__glez), based in Dubai, shared a moment of vulnerability that resonated deeply with Cuban emigrants.
The young woman posted a reel in which she shares how she arrived at a job interview, saw the room filled with candidates who spoke English fluently, and before saying a word, decided to leave, thus losing the opportunity to apply for the position.
The video posted on his Instagram account was recorded just as he left the venue and shows him being sincere and sad. "For me, an interview feels like you get summoned every day. I know it's not the same in every country, but in Cuba, that's how it was," he explained. However, what he truly found different was that there were about 20 people waiting and chatting in English without any difficulty.
"Everyone spoke fluent English, and I felt insecure, so I just withdrew because I had come with three memorized paragraphs," Lizandra admitted candidly.
The calculation he made at that moment was quick and devastating: "What are the chances they'll catch me? Well, a 6% chance. So I just went down, took a taxi, and that was it, a wasted trip and money spent."
In the comments, she clarified that it wasn't just the language that paralyzed her: "What really intimidated me to some extent was seeing so many people for a single vacancy." The pressure of the competition, combined with the fear of her limited language skills, proved to be overwhelming.
What followed was a chain of empathetic reactions. "Only those who go through that moment know how it feels," wrote a follower. Another shared her own experience: "I left almost crying from an interview where everything ended up well and I was selected." There was also someone who took a more assertive stance: "I’m one of those who will tell you that you should have stayed."
Lizandra often shares on her profile optimistic videos about life in Dubai, offering practical advice for those considering emigrating to that city. This time, however, she had to showcase the other side: the real insecurity that accompanies someone trying to make their way in a demanding job market without mastering the language.
In a second video published later, the creator showcased her current workplace: a restaurant in the Dubai Mall where she works as a host.
He offered a perspective that adds nuance to the previous episode: "You don't need to have very advanced English to work in customer service. Just practicing basic phrases every day is enough to get started here."
The language barrier is one of the main obstacles faced by Cuban emigrants when looking for work, whether in Dubai, France, or the United States.
The question this episode raises is the same one that divides Lizandra's followers: if you were in that room, surrounded by competitors who mastered the language, would you stay and give it a try or would you leave before entering?
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