The Not-so-elephant In The Room

[KevinM1]

Question: do the faithful who engage in the Eucharist actually notice the transubstantiation? Because whenever I engaged in the ritual (remember, I grew up in a barely practicing Catholic household) it all tasted like a crappy stale wafer and wine, and I didn't feel blessed or energized or content afterward. Then again, I was one of those kids who just kind of went through the motions because it's what my elders expected of me and I didn't want to get into trouble. I never actually believed, even back then.

So, what do the faithful experience when they do it?