A Cuban woman living in Portugal has shattered the idealized view of migration by sharing a candid video on TikTok. In her post, she paints an unvarnished picture of what it truly means to arrive in a European nation and begin anew.
In mid-September, Dayana Alayon Marrero released a video titled "1 YEAR IN PORTUGAL: WHAT NO ONE TELLS YOU," lasting just over two minutes. In this video, she contrasts the glamorized portrayal often seen on social media with the actual experiences she faced during her initial year in the Iberian country.
"Often, on social media, we see the rosy side of migrating or the positive aspects it brings, but no one really tells you what's behind it," Dayana warns at the start of her video.
For her, the journey can be summed up with a single phrase: "Arriving in another country, especially as a Cuban, means starting pretty much from scratch."
This new beginning involves, as she describes, learning new customs, adapting to a different way of life, searching for employment, handling a foreign language, and understanding everyday systems that locals take for granted.
Although Dayana acknowledges having some advantages in her journey, she doesn't downplay the challenges: "I've had to learn to pick myself up, to move forward, to make mistakes, to bow my head and push on even when I'm in a tough spot."
The video, which garnered nearly 4,700 views and over 320 reactions, is the first in a series where she promises to share her experiences "unfiltered," revealing how she arrived in Portugal, why she left Cuba, and what her daily life is like there.
Dayana's testimony is part of a massive Cuban exodus. According to official figures from the ONEI, 245,264 individuals left the island in 2025, reducing the total population to 9,434,593. In 2024, the number was 251,221 emigrants, and since 2021, over a million have left.
Portugal may not be the primary destination for this wave, but it does receive some of these migrants. By the end of 2024, there were 2,638 Cubans with legal residency status in Portugal, as per the Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum (AIMA). This was in the context of Portugal reaching a historic high of nearly 1,544,000 foreign residents.
The "starting from scratch" experience that Dayana describes is echoed by other Cubans who have chosen Portugal as their destination. A Cuban in Porto shared in 2025 how he arrived on a tourist visa and had been in the country for over two and a half years when he discussed his work routine. Another Cuban, Mariana Masvidal, successfully opened her own clothing store in Porto, exemplifying migrant entrepreneurship.
Other accounts from Cubans in Portugal have also highlighted the struggles of starting anew and adapting to a new reality.
Dayana concludes her video with a message that encapsulates the mindset that has helped her endure: "When you have the determination to move forward, little by little, you find your path."
Insights into Cuban Migration to Portugal
What are some challenges Cubans face when migrating to Portugal?
Cubans migrating to Portugal often face challenges such as adapting to new customs, learning a different language, finding employment, and understanding local systems that are unfamiliar to them.
How many Cubans were living in Portugal by the end of 2024?
By the end of 2024, there were 2,638 Cubans with legal residency status in Portugal, according to the Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum (AIMA).
Why did Dayana Alayon Marrero decide to share her migration experience?
Dayana Alayon Marrero wanted to provide an unfiltered account of her migration experience to counter the idealized narratives often seen on social media and to share the real challenges she faced.