A Cuban woman residing in Sarasota, Florida, has taken to TikTok to reveal the challenges she faces when sending packages of medicine to her family back in Cuba, highlighting the financial and logistical hurdles involved. "Cubans struggle even to send a small package to their family," noted TikTok user @atrevetebyrosy in her video, underscoring the convoluted and expensive process required to ship basic necessities to the island.
She elaborated on the rising costs, mentioning, "The price per pound has increased. I send medicine for four families. I had to work magic to send what they currently need, carefully placing items in separate bags to ensure no one covets what was sent to another." The Sarasota resident pointed out that the shipping cost per pound is $5. Her recent shipment included antibiotics, vitamins, aspirin, and baby products, always aiming to optimize the package's weight by discarding the cardboard packaging around the medicines.
"I throw away all the boxes to save on weight, which translates to saving money. Every bit counts," she remarked, emphasizing the critical need to make every pound count. "What might be normal to carry in its box to another country, for Cuba, where we need to send so many things, the weight of all the boxes means I can send an extra pound of medicine or food," she added.
Sending More Than Just the Essentials
In her account, she also touched on the sacrifices involved in sending gifts to her family. "I did something special for my uncle and aunt and sent them clothes, which cost me over $15," she said, pointing out how costs soar when shipping items beyond essential goods.
Her video resonated with many Cubans, who responded with empathy and shared experiences. Comments like "Oh my dear, how true all this is. It's painful," "I'm willing to pay the price without hesitation to send them what they need," and "I do the same thing," reflected the shared sentiment among Cubans in similar situations.