36M unexpectedly met 20F while traveling. Trying to figure out if I’m being realistic or just sentimental.

I’m a 36yo Canadian, divorced with a 6yo daughter who spends the weekdays with me.

I’ve been dating in Toronto for the last six months and honestly found it pretty draining. Most dates have felt like compatibility interviews. There are a lot of questions, caution, and “what ifs” before anyone seems willing to just enjoy getting to know each other.

I’m currently on a solo vacation in Mexico City and something happened that completely caught me off guard.

A very attractive woman approached me at a local club and asked me where I am from. I was born in Korea and get compared to K-drama actors all the time, so this wasn’t a big surprise. Turns out she had just finished her 2nd year in university. I told her I am much older, she thinks I am around 29-31yo.

We ended up spending the next few days together, and she’s been genuinely excited just to be around me. She keeps smiling at me, gets visibly happy when we make plans, and seems to enjoy even the simplest things together.

What surprised me most wasn’t her looks. It was how uncomplicated everything felt.

She has never asked me for anything. She actually tries to stop me from spending money. She says she comes from a poor family, so she always suggests simple local restaurants and orders inexpensive food. She was genuinely thankful when we had sushi at a K-pop pop-up that cost about $10 each.

I’m paying because I’m older and have a career, but she’s never made me feel like she’s interested in what I can provide. She just seems happy to spend time together.

I’m leaving in a couple of days, and she’s already made plans for my last full day here.

The hard part is that I’m already feeling sad about leaving. At the same time, my friends keep telling me I’m making assumptions. They think if we genuinely like each other, we can keep talking afterward and see what happens instead of deciding now that it has to end.

I know the reality. She’s about 20, I’m 36, we live in different countries, and we’ve only known each other for a few days.

So I’m wondering if I’m romanticizing this because it’s a travel romance and because she’s younger, or if I’ve simply been reminded that mutual attraction can actually feel this straightforward. Even as an objectively good attractive guy who gets positive attention wherever he goes, dating in Toronto as a mid-30s divorced dad has been like pulling teeth. After this experience in Mexico City, I don’t know how I can go back to that.

If you were in my position, how would you handle the last day together and what expectations would you have after going home?