Ainara Quesada, a popular Tiktoker, recently shared her thoughts on social media about what it feels like to have dual nationalities. Ainara, whose mother is Spanish and father is Cuban, opened up to her followers about what it means to belong to two different cultures and how this has influenced her identity.
"I have a graduation, and meanwhile, I'll tell you what it feels like to have two different nationalities," Ainara begins in her video. The young woman explains that she has always felt like she doesn't fully belong anywhere, a common feeling among those who grow up in a bicultural environment. "Honestly, you never feel like you belong anywhere, you're never enough for any side," she asserted.
Ainara also shares the challenges she has faced identifying as Basque in Spain and Cuban in Cuba. "When I interact here and say I'm Basque, I always have to prove how Basque I am, like it's some sort of exam, you know? And when I go to Cuba and tell them my father is Cuban and that I feel a special connection with Cuba, they always laugh at you, like if you've never been here, you're not Cuban," she says.
Her connection with Cuba deepened last year when, after 12 years without visiting the island, Ainara returned and experienced a sense of belonging she had never felt before. "And the connection I felt, it had never happened to me before. For the first time, I felt like I belonged somewhere," she confesses.
"But I'll always be a tourist, although everyone at home already knew that the girl turned out more Latina than anything else," she added with a laugh.
"If you ask me where I feel like I'm from, I will obviously always say I'm Basque because that's where I was raised, where I was born, where my other family is from, and I love it. But since I returned to Cuba, it's like I feel there's a part of my heart there," she remarked, closing her words that have delighted her followers on the network, and ended by thanking her parents for giving her "the privilege and the pleasure of belonging to two different places."
Ainara also shared the romantic story of her parents, who are now separated, but met in Cuba in 1995 when her Spanish mother traveled to the island for vacation.
In addition to sharing her personal story, Ainara has won over her followers with videos of her dancing with her Cuban grandmother.
Understanding the Bicultural Experience of Ainara Quesada
In this section, we answer some common questions about the bicultural experiences and challenges faced by individuals like Ainara Quesada, who belong to two different nationalities.
What challenges do people with dual nationalities face?
People with dual nationalities often struggle with a sense of not fully belonging to either culture. They may face identity issues and feel the need to prove their connection to both nationalities.
How can returning to a country of origin affect one's sense of identity?
Returning to a country of origin can deepen the sense of belonging and connection to that culture. It can provide a unique feeling of homecoming and reinforce cultural ties that might have felt distant.
How does Ainara Quesada balance her Spanish and Cuban identities?
Ainara balances her Spanish and Cuban identities by embracing both cultures. She acknowledges the influence of her Basque upbringing while also cherishing the deep connection she feels with Cuba.