While preparing for her daughters' school year from the comfort of her home in the United States, a Cuban mother reminisced about her own school days on the island, specifically recalling the sacrifices Cuban mothers made every September to handle the school preparations.
On TikTok, Yani (@yanimg30) touched the hearts of many with her latest video, where she reflected on the sacrifices and efforts her mother made in Cuba to prepare her for the start of classes. As she now prints her daughters' school schedules with ease, she can't help but remember how, in her childhood, Cuban mothers had to be resourceful amidst a severe shortage of supplies.
"I remembered my student days," Yani commented in her video, before recounting how her mother, like many others, used limited resources to prepare school supplies. She fondly described how they made badges out of nylon, covered notebooks with magazine pages, and even asked the baker for flour to use as glue. "Thread and needle to reinforce the Reading and Math books," she reminisced about those days when keeping books in good condition was a real challenge.
Among the comments on her video, many followers shared their memories of that time: "I told my six-year-old son about the situation when I was studying, and when I looked into his eyes, they were tearful, and he just said, 'Mom, what a sad story'"; "True, I used to cover with placards"; "Covering books was so stressful, and when we got books in good condition, it was such a joy"; "I think that's what gave us the strength we have today to move forward and not complain"; "My stickers were cutouts from the yellow pages (the ETECSA book)"; "To think we were born going through hardship. I always tell my daughters, you don't know how blessed you are"; "Indeed, sometimes we even had to cover books with newspapers and sew them to be able to use them"; "Toothpaste, flour mixture, or cigar glue was my school glue throughout primary school. In secondary school, I could have my own glue sticks for the first time. I'm 28 years old"; "OMG, don't remind me of that, what a struggle. I even collected colored glass pieces for practical work, and those notebook covers when the magazines ran out were terrible"; "It makes me sad to see so many resources here and remember how happy I felt with my little school things. Now I study and feel like a child again"; "I carried my books in a nylon bag for a long time, my parents couldn't afford a backpack, but they guaranteed my snacks, it was a tough time"; "What memories it brought me, it's a mix of nostalgia for those moments that won't return, even the smell of notebooks and books came to mind"; "Gasoline and polystyrene for glue," some commented.
A few days earlier, she had shared another video enjoying, like the child she once was, the comforts her daughters have for school. "When as a child you didn't have these backpacks and you live the dream as a mother," she wrote about the scene where she is 'modeling' with two Hello Kitty backpacks.
Memories of Cuban School Days
This section provides answers to some common questions about the challenges and experiences of Cuban school days, as shared by Yani and her followers.
What were some of the challenges Cuban mothers faced in preparing their children for school?
Cuban mothers had to be highly resourceful due to a severe shortage of supplies. They made badges out of nylon, covered notebooks with magazine pages, and even asked bakers for flour to use as glue. They often used thread and needle to reinforce textbooks.
How did Yani and her followers feel about these school preparations?
Many followers shared a sense of nostalgia and pride for the resourcefulness and effort put into these preparations. They also expressed a mix of sadness and gratitude for the hardships they endured, which they believe made them stronger and more resilient.
What impact did these experiences have on Yani and others who grew up in Cuba?
These experiences instilled a strong sense of resourcefulness and resilience. Many people, like Yani, now reflect on these memories with a mixture of nostalgia and pride, recognizing how these challenges shaped their ability to overcome difficulties in life.