Cubana Reflects on 28 Years in Germany: Gained Freedom, Lost a Bit of Joy

The Cuban TikTok user Lola, known as @lolalaura205, shared a video on the platform where she reflects on the nostalgia, gains, and losses she has experienced after living in Germany for 28 years.

In the clip, which has sparked numerous reactions, Lola spoke about what it has meant for her to emigrate, not just because of the cultural differences but also the emotional contrasts between the two countries. "On August 29, it marked 28 years of living in Germany, and people ask me: what do you miss the most? I miss the sea because in Cuba I lived 100 meters from the coast, I miss my friends, I miss the home-cooked meals," she explained.

She also talked about what she has gained in these nearly three decades away from her homeland: "I've gained freedom. It's so wonderful to wake up in the morning and not do everything you want, but much of what you desire." However, she also acknowledged the challenges in her integration into German society, particularly in the social aspect. When asked what she has lost, she responded, "a bit of joy"; "because Germans don't even know how to have fun, and anyone who says otherwise is just a bootlicker," she added.

Lola also discussed the difficulty of forming close relationships with local people. "You might have one or two German friends, but there's no group of German friends, there just isn't." Additionally, she commented on the dynamics within the Cuban community in Germany: "When you find something, it's a group of Cuban friends that sometimes works well for a while, but then you get tired of the lies, the speculations because not all of us are the same."

The video has generated reactions from other users, many of whom identified with her experience. "I miss the smell of the sea, the super sweet fruits, the mango or mamey milkshake, chatting for hours with my siblings and cousins, playing dominoes, drinking rum, walking through the neighborhoods of Centro Habana"; "Oh my dear, how we miss our people, but well, we lose a bit of joy"; "I carry Cuba deep inside my heart"; "I understand because I've been in Germany for 30 years too... I'm happy but I miss my Cuba"; "This made me cry, here we are alone with God and our beliefs. I hardly smile anymore," some commented.

Other users shared their own life balances abroad: "I moved from Germany to Spain, and now I live with less, miss less, cry less, have less money, but live more!"; "I walk alone. My loved ones are thousands of miles away and the people here don't even like themselves, why would I want them as friends."

There were also those who highlighted the positive aspects of migration or shared different points of view and experiences: "Am I the only one who doesn't miss anything?"; "I don't miss anything and I've been living in Europe for 24 years"; "Good morning, sorry but here in Berlin, it's very enjoyable with the Germans, and I'm not a bootlicker, I speak from my experience here as long as you."

Despite the varied or shared experiences, this Cuban emigrant's video has resonated with those who, like her, have had to adapt to a new life abroad, facing both the challenges of nostalgia and cultural differences, as well as the undeniable benefits of their new land. Her reflections have sparked an interesting debate on what is gained and lost when emigrating and how, despite the challenges, many manage to find balance and fulfillment in their lives away from home.