An 87-year-old Cuban grandmother has taken social media by storm after experiencing the wonder of a fully stocked supermarket in Spain for the first time. The woman, who recently arrived from Cuba, became the star of a series of TikTok videos shared by her grandson, user Rumi Bro. In these clips, she expresses her amazement at the array of pizzas, ice creams, and other foods available. "Are these pizzas the same? All different sizes?" she asks with laughter and wonder while her grandson shows her the various sizes and flavors in the supermarket's refrigerated section.
At another point, she spots a coconut ice cream and nostalgically remarks, "Is that coquito? You know it used to cost me 20 cents back in Guanabo." The most touching moment occurs when her grandson asks, "Why are you crying, Grandma?" Trying to mask her emotions, she replies, "No, it's just some dust in my eyes." Touched, the young man promises her, "Now you'll eat this every day."
A Long-Awaited Family Reunion
The video is part of a series where the creator (@rumi.bro) chronicles his reunion with his grandmother, whom he hadn't seen in nearly ten years. Previous posts documented her arrival in Spain and highlighted the deep bond between them, set against a backdrop of migration and family separation affecting countless Cubans.
Controversy Over Product Handling
Despite the video's emotional tone, one clip sparked controversy due to the way the grandson handled the pizzas. Many viewers criticized him for not returning them properly, with comments like "Don't throw food," "You could have put the pizzas back as they were," and "This isn't a market stall," emphasizing the importance of respecting store employees and products.
A Common Reaction Among Cuban Emigrants
The grandmother's emotional response to the supermarket's abundance isn't unique. Last November, another newly arrived Cuban woman tearfully remarked, "Too much food, my dear. People in Cuba are starving." Similarly, another Cuban was moved while making his first supermarket purchase in the United States, saying, "It breaks my heart thinking about the people in Cuba." These reactions have been captured in other viral reports, highlighting the emotional impact of access to abundance for emigrants who have lived under a system defined by scarcity.
Similarly, a young woman cried upon seeing a shelf full of bread in the U.S., and a Cuban father broke down while visiting a supermarket in Mexico. A Cuban mother's reaction also went viral in a Mexican pharmacy, amazed by the freedom to film and the immense variety of products available compared to Cuba's shortages.
A Tender but Silent Protest
While these videos are filled with tenderness, they also serve as a silent protest against the harsh reality in Cuba. For many Cubans, seeing foods that are unattainable in their homeland evokes a mix of nostalgia, gratitude, and pain. Such reactions have become symbols of the stark contrast between life on the island and the opportunities available beyond its borders. The grandmother's video not only touched the hearts of viewers but also serves as a poignant reminder of the emotional toll of migration and the impact of prolonged shortages on multiple generations.
Understanding the Emotional Impact of Migration on Cubans
Why did the Cuban grandmother become emotional in the supermarket?
The Cuban grandmother became emotional due to the overwhelming experience of seeing a wide variety of foods accessible in the supermarket, starkly contrasting her life in Cuba where such abundance is rare.
What controversy arose from the grandson's handling of products?
The controversy stemmed from the grandson's manner of handling pizzas in the supermarket, which some viewers criticized as disrespectful to the store employees and products.
How do these videos serve as a silent protest?
These videos act as a silent protest by highlighting the stark contrast between the abundance available abroad and the scarcity in Cuba, shedding light on the emotional and physical hardships faced by Cubans.