A TikTok video posted by user @irmalisherrera has touched the hearts of many, featuring her father, an elderly Cuban man nearing 80, enjoying a meal in Brazil while offering a poignant reflection on Cuba's situation. "Here we are, arriving, and life is such that you see things you never imagined at almost 80 years old. Look, folks... Cuba has sunk, they destroyed us, those communists are so abusive, they ruined everything," he expressed, as his daughter recorded him in a restaurant, visibly moved by his new chapter outside of Cuba.
The video, titled "My Dad, Five Months in Brazil," captures the man savoring sushi, a dish he seemingly had never tried before. The post has sparked thousands of comments from users who resonate with his feelings of nostalgia and disillusionment.
Numerous Cuban netizens praised the honesty of his words and lamented that a generation who worked their entire lives on the island is now compelled to emigrate for a better quality of life. "It's painful to hear, but there's so much truth in his words," one user commented on the social network, while others highlighted the contrast between the joy of family reunions and the sorrow over Cuba's current state.
This elderly man's experience underscores the growing migration trend of older Cubans joining their children or relatives abroad after decades of separation and hardship on the island.
The Impact of Cuban Migration on Families
Why are many elderly Cubans choosing to emigrate?
Many elderly Cubans are emigrating to join family members abroad for a better quality of life, due to the economic and social hardships in Cuba.
What emotions did the TikTok video evoke among viewers?
Viewers resonated with the elderly man's nostalgia and disillusionment, appreciating his candid words and feeling the contrast between family joy and the plight of Cuba.