Why a Cuban Woman in the U.S. Chooses Neighborhoods with Fewer Cubans: "You Shed the Baggage You Brought"

"We're to blame ourselves." This blunt statement was made by Claudia Fernández, a Cuban residing in Miami, as she addressed what she perceives as one of the most significant challenges within the Cuban community in the city: the attitudes some individuals bring from the island, which, according to her, hinder their integration into a country that has welcomed them.

Having lived in the United States for over a decade, Fernández shared her encounters at Cuban-operated restaurants, stores, and pharmacies: “They look at you with disdain, as if you’re an alien, or they simply ignore you because they’re too busy gossiping. It’s unbearable.” For her, this behavior reflects a failure to adapt to the new environment.

In a video posted on TikTok under the username @claudia.yalorde, she clarified that her critique is not aimed at Cubans in general, but rather at what she terms "chusmería" and the bad habits some retain: “This isn't our country, even though we've made it ours. But we can't bring all that negativity and baggage from Cuba and try to impose it here.”

Claudia expressed her preference for living in neighborhoods with fewer Cubans, where she can enjoy a multicultural environment and distance herself from what she describes as negative attitudes: “When I was a child in Cuba, chusmería was normal. But after years here, I've detoxified. I no longer want to hear it or live it. I prefer a place where I can learn new things and behave according to the country I'm in.”

The creator insisted that this transformation is possible for anyone willing to change: “It's a process. You come to this country, educate yourself, and realize how wrong you were. We left Cuba to succeed, not to continue with the same old habits.” Although she acknowledged that all Cubans carry a bit of this "chusmería" in their blood, she emphasized that it shouldn’t permeate public spaces: “If we're among friends, it’s okay to joke, but it's not something we should bring outside or treat others as if it’s normal.”

As expected, the video sparked a flood of reactions on TikTok. Many users supported her view, sharing similar experiences: "That's why I left Miami, I can't stand the chusmería"; "In supermarkets, they treat you like they're doing you a favor"; "Most don't adapt, they keep acting as if they're in Cuba." Others agreed that the situation has worsened in recent years: "Miami hasn't been the same since 2021. Everything that has arrived is the underworld."

However, some defended "cubaneo" as an essential aspect of Cuban culture and not synonymous with bad manners. “Not all of us are like that; there are educated and respectful Cubans”; “Cubaneo isn’t chusmería; cubaneo is having coffee in the morning, it's saying 'asere' with affection”; “I’m Cuban and have been here for 26 years, and you’re absolutely right.”

The debate continued among those who believe the problem is exclusive to Miami and those who think it’s a broader issue. “A Cuban arriving in Europe changes, but in Miami, it’s Cuba with Coca-Cola”; “This isn't just about Cubans; it happens with any community that doesn't adapt.”

Claudia, for her part, has remained steadfast in her stance, expressing gratitude to her supporters and responding to criticism with a simple message: "Blessings."

Meanwhile, the discussion remains active on social media. What do you think?