Emotional Arc of a Trip

Before we left on our trip, Andy David predicted that we would experience the following emotional arc - initial euphoria (due to the newness of a place), followed by an emotional nadir (due to not being able to figure out simple things that we all take for granted) and finally reaching a plateau (adjustment as we figure things out, like shopping for necessities). He was speaking from deep knowledge, given all of the moving he and his family have done.

The 'slump phenomenon' was crystallized for me in the simple act of filling up the car with gas.  I was unable to figure out how to do it and given the relative helpfulness or unhelpfulness of the pump jockeys, it was a source of frustration for me (and it's my job since Michelle navigates and she hates talking to gas station attendants, even in the states). When a very friendly attendant finally explained the system to me, it made me incredibly happy (unreasonably so), to finally be able to do it myself.

And there you have the move from slump to plateau, in a microcosm. (I guess pumping gas was never all that euphoric to begin with).

Gabriella and Maya in the Herodium tunnel

(For the record, the system is you put the dispenser nozzle into the gas tank inlet, THEN you swipe your credit card, then you enter your license plate number, then you type in the digits 1-9 and enter twice)...