A Cuban resident in Brazil for almost four years published two reels on Instagram this week, where she dismantles the idealized image that many of her compatriots have of the South American country, and her message resonated strongly.
Dailen Brunet (@dailen_brunet_) issued a direct warning to those in Cuba dreaming of emigrating to Brazil without understanding the reality of daily life: "People lose their minds in Cuba over wanting to come here, and they think this is a paradise because the power doesn't go out and there is food."
In his testimony, Dailen acknowledges that Brazil offers what Cuba lacks—stable electricity, water, and food—but warns that this does not equate to an easy life: "There is food here, the power doesn't go out, but life here comes with pain."
Among the realities described is the impossibility of affording services that many take for granted in Cuba: haircuts, manicures, aesthetic treatments, or dental care. "If you have a cavity or lose a tooth, you have to wait four months for the doctor to see you," he notes.
In a second explanatory video, Dailen recounts that she arrived in Brazil deceived by promises of quick prosperity: she was told that by working, she and her husband would be able to "live, enjoy, pay rent, and buy a car." The reality was different. "My shoes wore out, and I couldn't buy myself... walking with a hole in the sole like I never had in Cuba," she recalls.
It warns particularly those over 40 years old: "If you're over 40, in two weeks you’ll feel like you've aged 80 years," referring to the physical and emotional toll of starting over in another country.
After four years of effort, Dailen acknowledges that the situation has improved: her husband works with his own motorcycle and earns between 4,500 and 5,000 reais a month. However, she insists that this outcome is neither immediate nor guaranteed for everyone: "The improvement, sir, is long-term. You might see it, but it depends on each person's circumstances."
His message is not meant to discourage emigration, but to correct expectations: "What I want is for people not to come here as I did and as a lot of people have done, completely misled. You have to fight here."
Dailen's testimony fits a recurring viral pattern among Cuban residents in Brazil warning about the real difficulties of emigrating to the South American country.
This flow of testimonies coincides with an unprecedented exodus. Cubans submitted 41,919 asylum applications in 2025, a considerable increase compared to the previous year and representing 55.4% of the national total, surpassing Venezuelans for the first time in a decade as the largest nationality seeking asylum in the country.
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