Allergic to the Midwest

I've been having some major issues with allergies lately. It's to the point where claritin doesn't even do the trick. After 8-9 years of having little to no problems with allergies, it started to be an issue like never before once I moved to Illinois. I never remember it being this bad.

Through high school and my first year in college, I'd have seasonal issues with allergies - fall, spring along with 2-3 nasty sinus infections a year. When I got into meditation - around my sophomore year in college, I started to have less problems. After my second stay in a Buddhist monastery, I no longer had any problems. In fact, I didn't get sick for 3 years. I'd have small fits of issues with allergies in Baltimore but nothing to be worried about.

Obviously, a large part of the reaction is psychosomatic. So in short, I'm allergic to the Midwest! This is not a total indictment to this area. I always viewed my stay here as temporary. I never wanted to get too comfortable here. In that vein, I never got completely settled in and used to how things work here. I've pissed off my share of people and rubbed others the wrong way. Part of it is indeed a slight cultural difference but I am willing to own up to me not being the best person in the world at times.

So what can I do about my allergy? The simplest thing is to get the hell away from here. I still have some more time here, my wonderful girlfriend is here and not leaving until her Ph. D. is done, and there's a real possibility that I won't be gainfully employed in the field of my choosing by the time I graduate. So for now, pop those pills, meditate more and not be such a cynical asshole and see if that makes me feel better I guess!