When it comes to the food; let's be honest our food here is heavy and pretty fattening. I can even get disgusted by it and I've been born and raised here. I've never even been outside of the country. Where I live, we have a lot of Asian-Americans and I can tell you, their food is so much better and leaves me feeling refreshed as compared to my own.
Those people not greeting you, that could easily have to do with you being a teenager. I'm not saying it couldn't be for another reason, but I know from my own experience (I'm white) I wasn't often acknowledged as a person. Kind of sucked, but I got used to it and actually enjoyed it. I could disappear without anyone caring.
Everywhere in this country is different. Where I live, it really isn't common to see neighbors greet each other; that sort of thing would freak me out if I saw it. Passing a stranger around here, you don't acknowledge them. If you do, a slight nod is all that's exchanged.
I don't know what it's like to be an immigrant into another country. However, if you want to learn about cultural things, expressions and customs etc., I'd be more than happy to help. Feeling isolated can drastically damage you more and more into depression, so don't be afraid to find comfort and community here.
Oh, and your writing is very good.