A Cuban resident in Brazil known on TikTok as Soilen posted a video that went viral among the Cuban community by dismantling the idealized image that many have of the South American country as a migration destination.
In the two-minute video published on September 1, Soilen warns that those thinking of emigrating to Brazil believing that "this is ham"—because there are no power outages and food is available—will face a harsh shock with reality.
"Everyone in Cuba is crazy to come here, and people think it's paradise because the electricity doesn't go out and there’s food," he says in the video, but quickly adds, "There’s food here, the electricity doesn’t go out, but life here is filled with pain."
The creator details specific aspects that Cubans often overlook before emigrating: cosmetic services—nail salons, hairdressers, waxing—come at a cost that newcomers can hardly afford.
"If I don't do my nails myself, and if I don't add these highlights myself, and if I don't dye my hair myself, I can't go to any salon here because all of that costs money," she explains.
Medical attention is no exception. Soilen warns that to see a dentist, there may be waits of up to four months: "If you have a cavity or lose a tooth, you have to wait four months to see the doctor."
One of the most talked-about moments in the video is his warning to those who emigrate after the quarantine: "If you're over 40, you'll age 80 years in two weeks," alluding to the stress and accelerated aging caused by the migration shock.
Soilen clarifies that her intention is not to dissuade anyone. "I'm not saying don't come, but I want to clarify how things are here in Brazil," she wrote in the video description. Her message is that people should come prepared and not "totally misled": "People need to confront reality."
The preferred destination within the country is the south, particularly Curitiba, where many arrive with jobs already secured. The most common route goes through Guyana—due to the lower visa requirements—entering Brazilian territory via Roraima or Amapá.
The video of Soilen is not an isolated case. Other testimonies from Cuban women in Brazil have proliferated on social media, warning about the cost of living, the language barrier of Portuguese, and the initial precariousness of employment, generating debate among those who appreciate the honesty and those who reject messages they consider "negative."
"Here, even buying a blanket to keep warm is a struggle," Soilen concluded, encapsulating in one sentence the gap between the Cuba left behind and the Brazil that awaits upon arrival.
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