The stages of travel and return
 

I came across this natty little image of the stages of the travel experience (which they call rather pompously, 'the intercultural sojourn').

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30.../w99hartf2.jpg

They also call this a W curve - though this wasn't the image brought to my mind I must confess. Maybe it can give comfort to those who have just got home and are, well, somewhere past the right nipple.

You can find it at

Myths-Dreams-Symbols- The Psychology of Dreams

along with an academically inclined discussion of the hero and his journey in myths and stories.

Interesting theory and probably one that has some validity for short "vacation" type traveling.

Confucius, he say:

"Just as the universe is infinite, so is the stupidity of the know-all"

I don't fit their curve ...

I known I'm mad, I've always been mad dark side of the moon PF...

I reckon they've got their curve upside down.....

Me too!

Interesting study though... for me... I worry a lot in the first few days, then settle in to the travel routine and relax and enjoy myself. then comes the minor ups and downs of daily life (very small amplitudes but high frequency), with a few major spikes in amplitude in both directions along the way. If I get tired, this usually would equate to a sustained low median amplitude waveform then I sit and chill (preferably on a nice beach) for a week or so and the median amplitude rises exponentially.

Upon coming “home” I am never on a high.. it may or may not reach a high (lately not). and it tapers to low until I know I am about to or better yet I am travelling again... I think that there are some people that never quite lost to nomadic gene and we are not happy with staying in one place.. it is now called the travel bug

I think it is also important to note that that study was 1960 and 1963... and things (people, places, ease of travel, ect) have changed a lot since then....