A Cuban residing in Italy shared three interesting facts about her marriage to an Italian in a video posted this Monday on TikTok, which quickly generated reactions from her followers.
Jany (@janyoficiall) titled her video "What No One Tells You About Marrying an Italian" and in just over a minute and a half, she discussed three cultural clashes she has experienced in her relationship.
The first and most emphatic point relates to pasta. According to Jany, for Italians, "pasta is something completely sacred and you have to learn to cook it properly." The rule is clear: al dente, following the cooking time on the package. Cooking it soft— to the point of throwing it against the wall to see if it sticks— is, in her words, a reason for breaking up: "I caught you in the divorce; if you aren't married, forget it, you will never get married."
The second piece of information involves Hawaiian pizza. Jany confesses that it is her favorite pizza, but her husband reacted with disgust every time she ordered it in a restaurant. "He told me that what I was asking for was basically garbage," she recounts. Still, the Cuban woman did not back down: "I keep eating it because I want to."
The third point addresses religion. Although Italy is a country with a strong Catholic identity—about 78% of its population identifies as Catholic, according to data from the AP agency—Jany's husband is atheist. Given this difference, the couple made a joint decision regarding their daughter: "We agreed that when she grows up, she will choose the type of religion she wants; if she wants to belong to any religion, we will not interfere in that."
Jany also highlights the direct nature of Italians when it comes to sharing their opinions, especially about food, which initially surprised her but is something she now coexists with effortlessly.
The video is part of a growing trend on TikTok: Cuban women living in Italy who document their experiences of cultural adaptation in mixed couples. In May, another Cuban with an Italian partner went viral by sharing the misunderstandings created by affectionate Cuban expressions like "my love" or "my life," which were interpreted literally by her partner.
In March, a Cuban woman in Italy reported that some Italians use the immigration status of their partners as a means of control in mixed relationships.
The Cuban community in Italy is predominantly female: 69.3% are women, and marriage to Italian citizens has historically been one of the main pathways for entering the country.
"Yes, I see that most Italians are very Catholic, but well, I ended up with the one who is an atheist," Jany concluded with humor, summarizing the uniqueness of her story in one sentence.
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