Is it true that the French don't bathe, eat cheese all the time, are unfriendly, and complain about everything? A Cuban woman living in France decided to test some of the most common stereotypes about the inhabitants of that country and share, from her own experience, which ones are true and which have nothing to do with reality.
It is about Gladys Vargas (@gladis._02), a Cuban émigré who presents herself on social media as "migrant mom" and shared a funny video on TikTok in which she reviews four of the most well-known myths about the French.
"The French don’t bathe, they are unfriendly, and they complain about everything. Living in France, I've discovered that some things are true and others are just pure tall tales," the young woman begins.
The first myth he decided to debunk was one of the most controversial: that the French do not bathe. And his answer was quite clear.
"Let's see, they do take showers. I have been close to many French people and they smell really good. What can change is the frequency of their showers or the time they take them. So for me, this is a myth," he affirmed.
However, when it was time to talk about cheese, the Cuban woman acknowledged that she had discovered something she previously thought only happened in movies.
According to what he shared, cheese plays a special role at the table in France, even during dinner. "Cheese is a must. And the smellier, the better," he humorously remarked.
Another stereotype she addressed was the supposed hostility of the French. In this case, Gladys acknowledged that her experience has been quite varied and that cultural differences can influence the perception of everyday interactions.
"There are people who are very polite and professional, but there are also others who are quite dry and discourteous. And if you come from a culture that is a bit more expressive, like the Latin culture, that treatment can be a bit jarring," he explained.
But the myth that amused her the most was that the French complain about everything, because, as she confessed, she herself has ended up adopting that habit.
"I've learned so much that I even complain when the transport is two minutes late. So, I'm becoming more and more French," she said with a laugh.
Gladys's experience highlights some of the cultural differences that Cubans who emigrate to France may encounter, especially when transitioning from a society as expressive as the Cuban one to another with different customs and ways of interacting.
Other Cuban women residing in that country have also shared their experiences on social media. This is the case of Deily Salazar Estévez, who recounted how she managed to succeed in Paris after arriving without speaking French and without knowing anyone.
The differences between the expectations and reality of living in Europe have also been addressed by Cubans residing in other countries. Recently, a Cuban living in Spain explained why earning money in euros does not necessarily mean living like a millionaire.
At the end of her video, Gladys invited her followers to share other myths about the French that they have discovered to be true or completely false after living in the country.
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