Mary Díaz, a Cuban influencer known as @mary.diaz._2 on TikTok, has captivated audiences with her humorous take on the cultural contrasts she has encountered while living in Tenerife. From being invited to enjoy local specialties like wrinkled potatoes with mojo sauce and instinctively asking, "Where's the rice and beans?" to her disbelief at having electricity available 24/7, Mary shares her amusing experiences. "How is it possible to charge my phone without the power going out?" she laughs, recalling the frequent blackouts in Cuba.
The surprises don't stop there. With her lively and spontaneous style, Mary jokes about the non-existent lines at supermarkets, contrasting it with Cuba's "three-block queues for absolutely nothing." She also expresses her bewilderment at the local term "cholas" for flip-flops, quipping, "Why not just call them flip-flops, not cholas! But hey, I'm starting to like it." When discussing Tenerife's beaches, she praises their beauty but can't fathom swimming in the "very, very cold" water, humorously deciding against taking a dip.
The video has attracted numerous comments. One user reminded her of the historical ties between Cuba and the Canary Islands, noting the migration of many Canarians to Cuba during the 19th-century economic crisis. Others welcomed her warmly and resonated with her humor, while some couldn't help but laugh at her struggle to adjust to having electricity and food around the clock. Of course, not all feedback was positive; some critics suggested she return to Cuba if she wasn't pleased, to which Mary responded with her trademark sarcasm, "Take life with humor, sir."
Amidst the affection, viewers offered her advice, such as trying Cuban restaurants in Tenerife or maintaining her Cuban identity. One user humorously warned, "If I catch you saying cholas, I'll put you on a 12-hour blackout as punishment." Mary concludes her video by affirming her enjoyment of the experience while remaining true to her roots: "If you hear me say cholas instead of flip-flops, please send me back to Havana." Her candid approach has made the video a hit, encouraging both Cubans and Canarians to laugh at cultural differences while emphasizing that we all eventually adapt, without losing a piece of who we are.