From online dating, HB7, and mid-20s would be an 8 if she tried. A Syrian girl who's resided in the states for more than 5 years.

Lady from Syria: Hey just want to get this straight, we're not dating tomorrow right? Just hiking, right?

Me: (Don't really know what to write, but more amused by it)

I don't want to go a soft next because I've never really dated women who probably hadn't had her share of American date culture and it amuses me. From what I've generally heard from friends, they'd usually have a patriarchal way of viewing things.

I wouldn't mind paying for a drink or two but how can I be straightforward without miscommunicating?

Example: Last time I tried going flirty physical or even flirty text, the girl acted all gross and pouty, granted she was a Chinese Korean transplant, so the leading is probably super different and foreign. Compared to a girl from Nebraska, regardless if she was a Tinder lead, the chances of giving her a backrub in the first outing is higher without looking all creepy or lost in translation.

Even if she says "it's not a date right?" and I'm mostly amused by it, I wouldn't want to try to escalate and get screamed at in Syrian, for this coming, not date day.

What also threw me off is that she's on a dating site and all of the sudden asks that, we're not dating or just want to be skillshare partners (she apparently loves to market trade which I find valuable info) she's a Jeweler by trade.

Do I need to start dating like a Syrian Borat or will my advances not matter? Lastly, how can I normally close this off. Usually, I text and just soft next a girl after a date and be subtle if she's open to dating more if not, then it's okay. I feel like this is going to be super awkward