¡Que Maravilla! A Phenomenological Analysis of Awe in the Cuban Diaspora

This study offers a critical evaluation of existing theoretical frameworks on the emotion of awe by exploring how awe is culturally mediated within the Cuban diaspora. Through Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of semi-structured interviews with seven Cuban American participants representing 1.5, second, and third-generation diasporic experiences across Chicago, Miami, and New York City, this research reveals that awe operates as both an individual emotional experience and a collective cultural practice deeply embedded in Cuban identity and diasporic belonging. Three interconnected themes emerged: Cubanidad in Diaspora revealed how Cuban identity serves as the foundational interpretive framework for awe; Elicitors of Awe demonstrated that profound awe emerged from everyday moments participants described as "the little things"; and Embodiment and Expressions of Awe highlighted awe as a fundamentally somatic, pre-conscious phenomenon. A key breakthrough finding reveals that the so-called "little things" are not little at all when understood through a Cuban cultural lens. Rather, they possess inherent cultural magnitude that challenges Western distinctions between extraordinary and ordinary stimuli. This suggests dispositional awe may reflect culturally transmitted frameworks for recognizing inherited significance rather than individual traits, contributing to understanding of culturally constructed emotions within transnational communities.