A Cuban Woman's Journey: Leaving Home for a New Beginning

A Cuban woman residing in Albacete, Spain, shared her thoughts on TikTok about why she chose to leave Cuba. She spoke candidly about the challenges of trying to build a life on the island and her decision to seek a different future.

"People often ask why I left Cuba, and the answer isn't simple. Cuba is a tough place, though not everyone experiences the same reality, listen carefully, not everyone," she began, appearing in a video while cooking and recounting her story.

She explained that during her childhood, she didn't face significant material shortages thanks to her father's efforts. However, when she attempted to become independent, she realized how difficult it was to carve out a path on the island. "I consider myself privileged—I never went hungry, had food, clothes, toys, all thanks to my dad's hard work, and I thank God for that. But there comes a moment when you have to walk alone. When I tried to build something of my own, I began to feel the real weight of reality," she shared.

The passing of her father was a turning point. "Starting a business became a daily struggle. Then my dad passed away, and everything became even more challenging," she recounted. It was then she realized that emigrating wasn’t about fleeing, but about embracing the need for change. "That's when I understood that emigrating isn't always about running away, as some say. Sometimes it's about acknowledging that you want a different life. I didn't leave because I had nothing; I left because the future I dreamed of was no longer possible in Cuba."

With emotion, she emphasized that despite the distance, she still feels a deep connection to her homeland. "What I am sure of is that Cuba will always be my home, my memories, my dad. But I am also this new version of myself, learning, even from afar, step by step."

The video sparked numerous reactions from other Cubans, both inside and outside the island. Many expressed understanding and support, highlighting the difficulty of leaving family behind and starting anew in another country. Some critics repeated common judgments about those who emigrate, to which she calmly responded, "Say what you will."

In recent months, she has shared several reflections on the experience of emigrating, uprooting, and adapting to a new life. In a previous message, she spoke about the fears she faced before leaving Cuba, recalling how the European cold is exaggerated in Cuba, saying in a video, "They scare us with the cold, as if it's worse than everything we've endured, all that we've left behind." This story can be read in the note "Cuban in Spain Reveals One of the Fears of Emigrating: 'As if It Were Worse Than Everything We've Lived.'"

Weeks earlier, in another testimony, she shared her sadness about spending Christmas away from her family. "I don't feel motivated, I don't want to celebrate... with family being far away, I just don't find a reason," she confessed in a video while walking through the illuminated streets of Albacete, as recorded in "When Christmas Comes and You're Far from Home."

Her messages, which blend gratitude, nostalgia, and critique, have resonated with Cubans living abroad and those still on the island. Her simple and sincere way of discussing emigration reflects a reality shared by thousands of compatriots seeking a different future, while never losing sight of the fact that Cuba will always be home.