Undiagnosed Edginess

I seem to be a little on edge lately so I was thinking as I sat in traffic on the I seem to be a little on edge lately so I was thinking as I sat in traffic on the way home tonight that maybe I have a case of undiagnosed culture stress. I have no real idea if that is actually a problem, but it sounds plausible. I started thinking about what might actually cause culture stress. It seemed to me that it might be losses of certain freedoms, or not knowing all the perimeters or ‘rules’ to life here.

Odd thing is that I know a lot about Kenyan culture and Nairobi culture in particular. So I probably know more of the perimeters than some, and certainly more than when I first came. So why should it catch up with me now?

Also I got to thinking about a friend who has been living and working in a ‘closed’ country for about 17 or so years. I once visited her. There are lots of western freedoms she has had to give up. She doesn’t need to dress like the nationals in her adoptive country but she does dress covering from wrists to ankles everyday – even when it’s hot, really hot. I wonder if she ever feels this kind of culture stress. If that’s what it is.

Anyway, I didn’t come to any real conclusions about my current situation. I shouldn’t feel edgy, but I don’t know what is causing it. The days are only going to get more challenging as I try to figure out how to balance work and school.

C’est la vie.