A Cuban living in Germany recently captured his astonishment on video at a water park, observing how visitors left their sandals unattended without fear of theft—something unimaginable in Cuba.
The reel, shared on Instagram by @rubytelocuenta_cu, sparked a flood of comments from Cubans in the diaspora who immediately related to the situation.
Filmed at Tropical Islands, Europe’s largest indoor water park located in Krausnick, Brandenburg, about 60 kilometers south of Berlin, the video drew attention for its cultural commentary.
"This is what Germany is like, man. Everyone leaves their sandals scattered like it’s nothing. If this were Cuba, they'd be gone in a heartbeat," the creator humorously remarks, using Cuban slang to describe how quickly sandals would disappear back home.
The question posed to his followers—“Would they last more than 10 minutes in your country?”—triggered hundreds of humorous and even nostalgic responses.
The comments unveiled a common sentiment among emigrated Cubans: the ingrained habit of guarding personal belongings, a trait not easily shed even after years abroad.
"In Cuba, if you fall asleep, they’ll take them right off your feet," one user commented. Another summed up the experience, saying, "It's a trait that never leaves us."
The humor was infectious. "I go in with Nikes and come out with Guccis," joked one commenter. Another quipped, "Where we come from, you have to play soccer barefoot, holding your sandals."
Some users shared anecdotes that highlighted cultural differences. "Once, I left my laptop, camera, and keys at a concert in Bocholt, and someone contacted me on Instagram to return everything. Unbelievable, but I was also very lucky,” one recounted. Conversely, another story told of a friend's shoes being stolen at a party in Germany, adding laughter to the conversation.
The inevitable comparison to Cuba surfaced. "If this were Cuba, nothing would be left," a follower declared. "Many of these Germans, if they went to Playa Guanabo, it’d be a different story," added another. A more reflective comment closed the debate with a resonant thought: "A thief believes everyone steals. Leave Cuba."
This isn't the creator’s first viral video about the cultural clash between Cuba and Germany. In July, he shared a reel about his first time using the Berlin metro, and in March, he posted content contrasting things he has in Germany that were absent in Cuba.
Understanding the Cuban Perspective on Personal Belongings
Why do Cubans feel compelled to guard their belongings?
In Cuba, the scarcity of resources and economic challenges foster a culture where personal belongings are highly guarded due to the prevalence of theft.
How do cultural differences impact Cubans living abroad?
Cubans living abroad may struggle with adjusting to environments where personal security is less of a concern, often finding it hard to shake off the habit of guarding their possessions closely.