Cuban actor Roberto San Martín recently shared a video on Instagram, revealing a lengthy queue outside a newly opened ALDI supermarket in his town. The sight instantly brought back memories of the traumas he carried when leaving Cuba.
"I visited the new market that opened today in my town and it brought back one of the traumas I brought from my country," the actor and content creator remarked while posting the video on the social media platform.
In the footage, San Martín humorously walks along the line of customers that wraps around the block, commenting, "Look at the line. This opens today at 9 in the morning. Look at the line." Despite the scene's comedic tone, as he notes they were even handing out donuts to those waiting, exclaiming, "Look, they give you donuts while you wait. This is amazing," there is a deeper, more serious context for any Cuban expatriate.
In Cuba, endless lines are a daily reality to access food, medicine, and basic goods from state-run stores, a result of chronic shortages, rationing, and the economic crisis exacerbated by the communist system. For those who have left the island, witnessing a long queue—even for the opening of a European discount supermarket—immediately triggers that painful memory.
San Martín's video echoes a recent trend where Cubans abroad react with astonishment or disbelief at the abundance of products in supermarkets in Mexico, the United States, Spain, or elsewhere. The structural scarcity imposed by the dictatorship makes every fully stocked shelf a stark reminder of the vast difference in living conditions inside and outside the island.
The featured ALDI is part of the German chain's aggressive global expansion, including in the United States.
Understanding Cuban Expat Experiences in Supermarkets
Why do long lines trigger trauma for Cuban expatriates?
For Cubans who have left the island, long lines are a reminder of the daily struggle to obtain basic necessities in Cuba, where chronic shortages and rationing are common under the communist regime.
How do Cubans abroad react to well-stocked supermarkets?
Cubans living outside the island often express surprise or disbelief at the variety and abundance of products in foreign supermarkets, a stark contrast to the limited availability they experienced in Cuba.