Ups and downs

So everything has been going pretty well. I'm settled into my new house and I have visitors pretty much constantly. I broke out a deck of cards, which were new, and we've been playing with them for about 3 weeks and they now look like a deck of cards that is 10 years old. I've taught them how to play spoons, B.S. and old maid. They're all quite popular, but Old maid is my favorite because the kids are constantly cheating. They've memorized the flaws of the Old maid card, so they carefully analyze your cards before drawing one. Also since I only have a small table that fits 4 people, the rule is that if you lose the game, you lose your spot at the table; that way everyone gets a chance to play.
People are concerned about me being able to cook for myself and want to ensure that I'm eating, so I'm often invited over for dinner or sometimes food is brought to me. I keep trying to tell them that I know how to cook, but no one believes me and I'm not doing a good job of trying to prove them wrong since I haven't filled my gas tank yet. I tell them I'm taking a break from gallo pinto and have been enjoying cereal and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the last couple of weeks; but that's just not acceptable for them. I guess I'm going to have to fill my gas tank and actually cook one of these days and I'm sure it will be with someone looking over my shoulder and criticizing everything that I'm doing because I'm not doing it Nica style.
I'm really enjoying living in my house, but I hate cleaning! I don't know how Nica women do it, honestly. Right now, I've got quite a bit of time on my hands and it's only me living in the house and I still find it bothersome and difficult to complete all my chores, so I don't understand how they do it while caring for children, husbands and actually cooking 3 meals a day.
School is starting up soon, which I'm excited about because I'm hoping it will keep me busy and hopefully I'll be able to stay out of the gossip mill, which I've unfortunately been thrown into recently. It's already hard enough sticking out and constantly drawing attention just because I'm different; but then to have people talking about me all the time makes it even more so. Sometimes I wish I could go back to the States where I'm able to blend in more and live in a city where people don't know what I do every hour of the day. As much as I'm enjoying my time here, there are definitely downs to every up.