I think it's a pretty common thing to feel awkward eating alone, especially at dinner and in a crowded city. Personally, I carry my Kindle everywhere and I have developed the ability to ngaf if people think it's odd that I'm eating alone with a book.

I mean, I do this even in my native language. A lotttt of my (native) English vocabulary is defined in my head in a sort of handwavey, thesaurus kind of way and if you asked me to flat-out define it in a right-or-wrong manner I'd be in trouble.