A young Cuban woman living in the U.S., who also spent time in Puerto Rico, asked her followers for their opinions after sharing her negative experiences upon returning to her birth country, which contrasted sharply with a visit to the so-called Isla del Encanto, where she felt warmly welcomed.
The TikToker, known as Aloha Yeni, explained that she left Cuba as a child and two of her children were born in Puerto Rico. However, she emphasized that she doesn't have undying loyalty to any country and her judgments are based on her personal experiences, not subjective feelings.
"My perspective is that I don't have undying loyalty to any country—not to Cuba, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. I live for my children and acknowledge the good things everywhere. Even though I'm Cuban, if I see something wrong, I call it out. It doesn't matter if my children are Puerto Rican; if something's wrong, I'll say it. The same goes for the United States," she clarified before detailing her experiences in the two islands she feels deeply connected to.
Aloha Yeni stated that returning to Cuba after 18 years was a starkly different experience—not because of material shortages, but due to the poor formal education and the overall treatment she received.
She recounted that it wasn't just that neighbors didn't greet her; their interactions were unnatural and seemed to have ulterior motives. Adding to this, she faced mistreatment at the airport and in every place she visited, except for one paladar in Marianao that she found delightful.
"People would only say good morning if I said it first, and they would always give me that look as if to say, 'Here's the one trying to act American.' They treated me like a foreigner, not like a Cuban. It doesn't make you want to go back, much less live in your country again if it were ever free," she concluded.
Her return to Puerto Rico, however, was a completely different experience.
"When I went to Puerto Rico, the feeling was entirely different. Despite what people say about violence and craziness, I didn't experience that anywhere I went, and I traveled all over Puerto Rico," she asserted.
"I'm sorry to say it, but people in Puerto Rico are much friendlier than people in Cuba because in Cuba, everyone is arrogant. Everyone is complex, and unless they know you or see you as a tourist from whom they can gain something, they treat you poorly," she compared.
Aloha Yeni said she posed this question because her family members are all Cubans who are passionate about Cuba, even though her experiences were negative.
In the comments section, many internet users agreed with her, although some blamed the deterioration and degeneration of Cuban society on the Castro regime, which prompted her to express her disagreement in another video.
"I'm a little tired of the perpetual excuse that Cubans say we have to blame everything on Fidel and communism. Stop confusing need with human nature," she asserted.
The TikToker cited other countries with poverty and even worse situations than Cuba, yet their residents are not as arrogant and pretentious as she found the Cubans living on the island to be. The debate is on—what do you think?
Comparing Life in Cuba and Puerto Rico: Key Questions Answered
Given the contrasting experiences Aloha Yeni had in Cuba and Puerto Rico, here are some frequently asked questions that delve deeper into her observations and the broader implications.
Why did Aloha Yeni leave Cuba originally?
Aloha Yeni left Cuba as a child, seeking better opportunities and living conditions abroad.
How did Aloha Yeni's experiences in Cuba and Puerto Rico differ?
In Puerto Rico, she felt warmly welcomed and did not experience the violence or chaos some claim. In contrast, her return to Cuba was marred by poor formal education, unwelcoming interactions, and mistreatment, making her feel like a foreigner in her own country.
What factors does Aloha Yeni believe contribute to the differences in treatment in Cuba?
Aloha Yeni attributes the differences to the arrogance and complex nature of the Cuban people, influenced by a society marked by ulterior motives and survival tactics under communism.