A Cuban content creator humorously and candidly listed six traits that, according to her, reveal a fellow Cuban who has just arrived abroad. The video quickly gained traction among the Cuban diaspora.
Yunisleidy Villa shared the clip on her TikTok account on June 8, issuing a warning right from the start: "How to spot a newly arrived Cuban? It's obvious, super easy. Don't get offended; I've seen these things all my life too."
The first trait she highlights involves accessories: wearing just one pair of earrings is out of the question. "Two hoops? No, that's for beginners," Yunisleidy claims. Those newly arrived tend to wear three or four pairs simultaneously, operating under the belief that "the more bling and hoops, the more power."
The second characteristic follows a similar logic: no chain travels alone. "You can't miss the name chain, the one with the little Virgin, the one they bought in jelly, and another that no one knows where it came from," she describes.
Next is the emergency hairstyle: hair pulled up in less than ten seconds with a giant scrunchie "like the ones used in Cuba" or the classic "pinched dog clip, wherever it lands." For stepping out, Yunisleidy calls it "Caribbean elegance express."
The fourth identifier is perhaps the most recognizable to any Cuban: the "yellow folk," a folder or plastic bag where the birth certificate, immigration papers, "a recipe from 2017, three ID photos, and a paper no one knows what it's for, but just in case, you don't throw it away" coexist.
The purse ranks fifth. According to Yunisleidy, it always hides something unexpected: "a candy, a headache pill, a receipt from 2023, two coins, an old photo, or even a paper folded seventeen times."
The sixth and final trait is the attraction to sales: if something is on discount, it's bought, even if it's unnecessary. Many Cubans acknowledge this habit as a direct inheritance from decades of scarcity on the island.
This type of self-deprecating humor, known in Cuban culture as "choteo," has a long tradition on diaspora social media. Viral images of Cuban women washing their hair with a bucket, hoarding plastic bags, or squeezing out the last bit of toothpaste evoke a similar collective recognition.
Earlier this year, a newly arrived Cuban in Mexico went viral for her anxiety about an escalator, and in April, a video listed things that reveal a Cuban as Latina after years living away from the island.
Yunisleidy ended her video with a note that many commenters appreciated: "Just so you know, it's meant to make you laugh. I didn't mean to hit hard, nor should you think I'm attacking anyone."
Understanding the Traits of New Cuban Arrivals
What are some accessories that identify newly arrived Cubans?
Newly arrived Cubans often wear multiple pairs of earrings and several chains, reflecting a belief that more accessories equate to more power.
Why do newly arrived Cubans buy items on sale?
This behavior stems from a cultural habit developed during years of scarcity in Cuba, where buying discounted items is seen as a way to maximize resources.
What is "choteo" in Cuban culture?
"Choteo" is a form of self-deprecating humor in Cuban culture, often used to address and laugh at shared experiences and quirks within the community.