A Cuban from Holguín, now living in El Salvador, is amazed by the quality of life in that country. He emphasizes that, regardless of your income, you never lack food, a stark contrast to the situation in Cuba.
Istvan Zaldívar Ricardo, originally from Mayarí in Holguín province, believes that moving to El Salvador was a wise decision due to the favorable conditions he found there. He shared his thoughts in a video posted on the Facebook page Nuestro El Salvador.
A Better Life in El Salvador
"There are many good things here," confessed Zaldívar, who at 57 years old fled Cuba in search of a better future. "With even a minimum wage, you can live. Whether you earn a lot or a little, you can eat well."
He explained that by working as a construction assistant, he can afford food, clothes, and other basic needs, a reality vastly different from what he left behind in Cuba.
In Cuba, he worked in a sugar mill, then in two security companies, and his last job was in security for a construction company. Zaldívar abandoned his home, family, and stable job in Cuba to start anew in El Salvador, working as a construction assistant.
In 2019, he was visited by a Salvadoran pastor friend in both March and November, and the idea of moving to El Salvador gradually took shape. "I went to spend some time, see if I liked the country, and if I could bring my family. That's how the idea emerged. They gathered the money and brought me here," he recounted.
In his new country, he has been pleasantly surprised by the culinary culture. Unlike the food scarcity in Cuba, in El Salvador, he has enjoyed dishes like the "pupusa," a type of tortilla made from rice or corn filled with cheese, beans, fried pork, among other ingredients.
The iguana and tilapia are two foods that have particularly impressed him. "I don't miss Cuban food because ever since my wife arrived, we've been eating what we used to back home," he noted. Jokingly, he added that he does miss a certain Cuban cookie "that if you bite into it, you leave your tooth behind."
"Here in El Salvador, we eat what we want because there's everything," he pointed out. "Not like in other places where you don't eat," he said, alluding to the grim reality in Cuba today.
Like many Cuban emigrants, Zaldívar mentioned that he managed to bring his wife out of Cuba last September: "And soon, we will bring at least two of our children."
He further explained that they are both doctors, as in Cuba, it's a profession that offers more opportunities to go on missions, where they can resolve issues that are impossible to solve back in Cuba.
Although not all Cuban emigrant stories are the same, they share the common experience of restarting life in another country being tough but preferable to staying in Cuba, with its constant human rights violations and deepening economic crisis.
In May, Cuban YouTuber Yoliska Navarro, known as Yoliene, shared with her followers what she has achieved after living in the United States for six months. "You all know how much I wished and fought to be here; it still seems unbelievable," she said in a video on her YouTube channel.
Yoliene revealed that in this short period, she has achieved simple yet unimaginable things in Cuba, such as becoming independent or owning a car. But most importantly, she has traveled and visited cities like Miami, New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle.
Also in May, a Cuban living in Spain shared a video reflecting on his feelings when visiting a supermarket for his weekly grocery shopping. The young man, in a Mercadona supermarket—a Spanish grocery chain—said in a TikTok video on the account robertalvablogs that for Cubans leaving the island for the first time, it's a "shock to see so much food and products" from different brands, something not seen in Cuba.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuban Emigrants in El Salvador
Given the compelling story of Istvan Zaldívar Ricardo, many readers might have questions about the life and experiences of Cuban emigrants in El Salvador. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
What motivated Istvan Zaldívar Ricardo to move to El Salvador?
Zaldívar was motivated by the better living conditions he found in El Salvador, where even a minimum wage allows for a decent quality of life, unlike in Cuba.
How has Istvan Zaldívar Ricardo adapted to the culinary culture in El Salvador?
He has adapted well and enjoys various local dishes, such as pupusas, and has been impressed by foods like iguana and tilapia.
Has Istvan Zaldívar Ricardo been able to bring his family to El Salvador?
Yes, he has successfully brought his wife to El Salvador and plans to bring at least two of their children soon.
What are some of the challenges Cuban emigrants face when starting over in a new country?
Starting over in a new country can be tough, but it's often seen as preferable to staying in Cuba, where there are constant human rights violations and a worsening economic crisis.