A young Cuban woman known as Fdez Mey shared a heartfelt video on TikTok on Wednesday, filmed right from the island, explaining her decision to move back to Cuba. Her reason is both simple and powerful: her family.
"They are the reason I came back to Cuba, because without them, I don't exist," she states at the start of the video on her TikTok account. She introduces viewers to her mother, her grandfather feeding milk to a baby, her grandmother frying claria steak over charcoal, and a cousin living next door.
The minute-and-38-second clip offers a glimpse into her everyday life on the island. "Today, I start by sharing my daily routine," Fdez Mey announces while giving a tour of her home and neighborhood from her fifth-floor apartment.
Despite the challenges, she doesn't hide the difficulties. At one point in the video, she admits to being without electricity all day: "I live on the fifth floor, but I have no power, which is the worst, but I'm okay." She concludes with a phrase that captures her resilient spirit: "It's not easy without electricity, but we move forward because I'm Cuban."
Her testimony comes just two days after Cuba experienced its third total blackout of the year, marking the eighth in two years, with a power generation deficit of over 2,200 MW against a demand of 3,100 MW. In Havana, power outages in 2026 average 15 hours daily, while in areas like Matanzas, they have lasted up to 87 consecutive hours.
The Growing Trend of Voluntary Returns
Fdez Mey's story is part of a growing trend gaining traction on social media in 2025 and 2026: the voluntary return of Cuban emigrants driven primarily by family bonds. In March 2026, the Cuban @yenyyenyyelreal returned from the United States after failing to reunite her two children in the U.S. In May, Malena Mendoza came back from Costa Rica because her five-year-old daughter missed her home and family.
While these returns are statistically minor compared to the massive exodus from the island, they spark significant debate among the Cuban diaspora, divided between admiration for the decision and warnings about the reality awaiting returnees.
Deep-Rooted Energy Crisis
The energy crisis mentioned by Fdez Mey in her video has deep-seated causes: aging thermoelectric plants, fuel shortages, and reduced imports. This is compounded by an economy in collapse, with an average salary equivalent to about $13 a month. The regime of Miguel Díaz-Canel has blamed the power outages on the U.S. oil embargo in effect since January 2026, although Cuba's electrical problems predate this and are the result of decades of underinvestment.
Despite all this, for Fdez Mey, the equation is clear: family outweighs electrical comfort.
Understanding Cuba's Energy and Migration Issues
What motivated Fdez Mey to return to Cuba?
Fdez Mey returned to Cuba primarily because of her family. She stated that without them, she wouldn't exist, highlighting the importance of familial connections over other challenges.
What challenges do returnees like Fdez Mey face in Cuba?
Returnees face significant challenges such as frequent power outages, economic hardships, and an overall collapsing infrastructure. Despite these issues, some prioritize family connections over these difficulties.
How does the Cuban government explain the power outages?
The Cuban government, led by Miguel Díaz-Canel, attributes the power outages to the U.S. oil embargo. However, the issues with the electrical system have deeper roots in decades of neglect and underinvestment.