A Cuban doctor who arrived in Spain eight months ago has had to temporarily set aside her degree and is now making a living as a waitress with a permanent contract.
The young woman, named Ismaray, shares on her YouTube channel "La Tribu Pérez" the details of a work aspect that, as she acknowledges, has surprised her in more than one way as a doctor with no experience in hospitality.
"I wish I could tell you that I am already working as a doctor here in Spain, but that's not the case," he admits honestly.
What has struck him the most since day one is not the job itself, but a rule he signed along with the contract: the prohibition against sitting during the workday. "Sitting is not allowed during working hours," he explains, detailing the physical consequences of adhering to this rule: "For the eight hours I'm at work, I have to be on my feet whether or not I have customers, and that has affected me a bit because when you're on your feet for eight hours, the pain in your feet is extreme."
Over time, her body has been adapting, although she admits that it remains the toughest part of the job.
Another rule that struck him was the prohibition on using mobile phones. "During working hours, it is strictly allowed only for work purposes or personal emergencies," it states verbatim. He adds a reflection that many Cubans will understand: "Cubans are used to always having their phones, and here you can't have them."
The contrast with her previous experience in Cuba is significant. Ismaray always worked in the state health sector, where flexibility and low demands were the norm: "In Cuba, if you need to step out for a moment to solve a problem, you can do so, but here in Spain, everything is very different."
Her schedule is split: from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm and from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm. But she lives an hour away from the establishment. "It's a bit cumbersome for me because I lose four hours on the commute," she laments.
Despite everything, the indefinite contract from day one opened a crucial door for him: access to rental housing, which has become increasingly difficult in Spain without formal employment backing.
The young woman arrived at the job interview without having ever worked in hospitality. The manager made it clear to her that this was not an obstacle: "We are not interested in your experience; we care that you are willing to learn and that you are quick." Today, she handles the grill and the coffee machine with ease.
Regarding the salary, he showed his payroll for the month of June: 1,432 euros. "It's always around the same salary every month," he explains. On top of that, tips are added, although they are modest: they are distributed every Saturday among the four workers at the establishment, and the most he has received is 17 euros.
Despite the difficulties, Ismaray keeps her eyes on her goal and ends her videos with a message for those going through similar situations: "If today you are still not where you want to be, don't despair. Fight for your dreams and keep moving forward."
In Cuba, the basic salary of a newly graduated doctor has been set at 7,045 Cuban pesos per month as of July, according to Resolution 17/2026 from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. With this amount (barely 7.6 dollars at this Saturday's informal exchange rate), it is impossible to cover the cost of food.
According to the National Institute of Statistics, more than 287,000 Cubans reside in Spain, of which over 95,000 arrived between 2022 and 2024.
Many health professionals from the Island work in other sectors while waiting for their degree recognition, a process that, despite having a legal maximum timeframe of six months, can extend for years.
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