As a young Cuban-American woman, I have encountered a lot of stereotypical world views of people from Cuba. For example, it is a stereotype that all Cubans love salsa music, since some of the greatest salsa singers come from the island. All Cubans must also love baseball, the country's national sport. Also, Cubans are constantly at the beach, relaxing. I visit Cuba once a year, and I can tell you that those statements are not facts. A lot of Cuban love salsa, but some prefer rock, pop or even classical music. Baseball might be the national sport, but Cubans hold a passion for soccer, too. Finally, many Cubans enjoy the beach, but they have to work hard, so they're not always relaxing there. The U.S.A. also has a lot of stereotypes. For example, in Madrid, I have heard that Americans are viewed as "too nice" and "very loud". Madrileños also think that all Americans love football. Those who live in the U.S.A. know that not everyone is like that. Some people are quiet and shy. Some people prefer soccer, baseball or tennis.
Before coming to Spain, I learned some Spanish stereotypes. Here are some of the most popular ones:
1) All Spanish people know how to dance the Flamenco.
2) They are lazy and take siestas (naps) every day.
3) They eat paella every day.
