Was she expecting a move from me?

[Anonymous]

I’m a 27M on a master’s exchange abroad that has just started. While preparing for the exchange, I was texting with a 22F girl from my university. She was the only other person going to the same city, on the same dates, for the same reason.

Our conversations were mostly practical, like helping each other with doubts and logistics. After a while, we stopped talking for a few months.

During the first week of the exchange, she texted me again saying: “heey!!! how are u? have u already arrived?” That restarted the conversation. The next day, we met in a big group setting, but we barely talked and introduced ourselves.

I told this to some female friends, and they all said she was clearly expecting me to make the first move. I’m not fully convinced. She’s attractive, and in the little time we’ve talked, the conversation felt comfortable and interesting. However, I’m unsure because the age gap in the twenties can feel significant, and our lifestyles are quite different. She mostly goes out partying with the same group, while I prefer having different social circles, meeting locals, and travelling.

Still, one of her friends invited me to join her group on a trip. I accepted and have already bought the flight tickets.

[Anonymous]

Doesn't sound like she's interested, just excited by the trip. Sometimes that might be enough to get me interested in a fling or something if the timing was right, where I otherwise might not be.

[Asker]

Thank you for your answer! :) Yes, that’s what I initially thought when my friends said she might be interested. But she had already been there a week before me and was surrounded by her own group of friends, so the fact that she still took the time to message me during those chaotic first days made me unsure. She had plenty of other things to worry about, and she even remembered my arrival date months after I told her.

[DishLady]

Yeah, she's waiting to follow your lead.

[Abbycado]

Nope. Acting like a normal human being does not equate to romantic interest.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you should expect a move from her.