Proud to Be a Country Boy: Cuban in the U.S. Reminisces His Rural Childhood on TikTok

A Cuban living in Louisville, Kentucky, who goes by @blued_diamond on TikTok, has touched hearts with his recent video, where he proudly shares his rural roots and his deep affection for Taguayabón, the village in Cuba where he grew up. In the clip, filmed from his car, he expresses, "People ask me every day where I'm from... I'm a country boy, I'm from the countryside. I say that country folks have hearts too big for their chests."

With laughter, he reminisces about life in the countryside: "You'd sit under a tree waiting for the sun to set, playing dominoes, gossiping, or sipping a bit of coffee. If you haven't milked a cow, ridden a mare... if you weren't caught up in the fights over who didn't have a rooster! (...) I remember it all: climbing guava or plum trees, searching for anoncillo, or waiting for five in the afternoon to head to the river. That only happens in the countryside."

Although he moved to the city in his youth, his love for rural life remains strong: "My countryside is Taguayabón, and I have a pride in Taguayabón. Even though I went to live in Caibarién, my family, my friends, my pals are in the countryside." He also shared a childhood anecdote: "I studied with a boy, and we used to call each other birds, and we both ended up being seagulls."

The video stirred nostalgia among his followers, who eagerly shared their own rural roots and experiences. One user commented, "Your haircut looks great, I'm from Holguín, and what you say is very true. Today, despite the crisis, they continue to share the little they have." Another added, "Pipo, I'm from Camajuaní, I know many people from Taguayabón. Greetings!"

From different corners of Cuba, users continued to share: "I'm from Camagüey, Minas"; "I'm from Moa, Holguín... and the carts downhill, hahaha!"; "I'm from Placetas, Villa Clara, and now I live where you are, Kentucky"; "I'm from Guisa, a town near Bayamo, rode horses, slid down on palm leaves, and bathed in streams. I'll never forget my town or my people."

Others left heartfelt messages for the creator: "I adore your charisma, your simplicity, your naturalness. I can say it's not just in the videos, I saw you once in person, and you're wonderful. Blessings abound!"; "Exactly, what less could I expect"; "I'm also a country girl from Guaracabulla, everything you say is true."

Amidst all the memories, a user closed with emotion: "I'm from Sagua la Grande, Villa Clara, but there's quite a distance from the town to the countryside where I grew up..." With this video, @blued_diamond not only shared his pride in the countryside but also brought together Cubans from various places with their childhood stories and love for simple living. "I live in the United States now, but I love my countryside, I love Taguayabón above all else," the creator concluded, posing a question to his followers: "Tell me, which countryside are you from?"