"Listen, if you think the toughest part about arriving in Spain is the cold, you're way off," says a young Cuban in a TikTok video where he discusses the challenges he has faced adapting to his new environment. Content creator @estibito_vlogs outlined the three hardest aspects of his transition since arriving: "The first challenge was understanding the Spanish when they spoke quickly. Honestly, it wasn't Spanish, it was Formula 1. I'd ask myself, 'Is he greeting me or scolding me?' By the time I figured it out, they were already onto another topic."
He continued by highlighting the second challenge: "The bureaucracy is something else, let me tell you. If you're not stressed out by the paperwork in Spain, it's because you've already given up. Appointments vanish in seconds, documents come with no instructions, and officials speak as if you're a lawyer. I've basically earned a master's degree in European paperwork at this point."
Finally, he noted, "The third, and my favorite, is learning to live without shouting. In Cuba, speaking loudly is normal. Here, if you say good morning with energy, people are startled. They looked at me like I was a thief. But gradually, you adapt: you learn to speak softly, to be patient with the bureaucracy, and to laugh when a Spaniard throws 20 phrases at you in five seconds, and you're still processing the first one."
His story sparked numerous reactions on social media. "Speak softly, the Spanish?" one user remarked, while another agreed that "Cuba inherited its bureaucracy from Spain." Others humorously commented, "Learning to talk without shouting? How do you do that? It's part of our nature."
These testimonies reflect a growing trend among Cuban emigrants sharing the stark contrasts with life on the island. In another video, @estibito_vlogs mentioned, "I was prepared for a lot, but these five things left me as cold as the Galician winter," highlighting the punctuality of public transport, urban cleanliness, and adherence to rules.
Similar stories have gone viral, such as the one of a Cuban woman filming her mother amazed by the urban cleanliness: "What cleanliness! Look how they're cleaning first thing in the morning," or a young man celebrating "living in a country where you can choose things," contrasting the freedom of choice in Spain with the state control in Cuba.
Other accounts, like "It left me speechless: Cuban shares five surprising things about Spain," reinforce the idea that for those coming from a reality marked by scarcity and bureaucracy, simple things such as road etiquette, quiet streets, or the ability to choose become transformative experiences.
Understanding Cultural Adaptation for Cubans in Spain
What are the major challenges for Cubans adapting to life in Spain?
Major challenges include understanding the fast-paced Spanish language, navigating complex bureaucracy, and adjusting to cultural norms such as speaking softly.
How do Cubans perceive the bureaucracy in Spain?
Cubans often find the bureaucracy in Spain overwhelming, with rapid appointment slots, unclear documentation, and officials who communicate in complex legal terms.
Why is adapting to speaking softly a challenge for Cubans?
In Cuba, speaking loudly is common and culturally accepted, whereas in Spain, it can be perceived as startling or inappropriate, requiring adjustment for newcomers.