From Berlin to Caracas: Who Pays on the First Date?

After years of traveling the world, I’ve learned one thing above all: in most countries, it’s expected that the man pays on a first date—something I eventually just went along with. For me, it became normal.

But in Berlin, I had a surprise. After a pleasant conversation with a blonde woman in her mid-thirties about work, travel, personal life, and other topics, the moment of truth arrived. I smoothly reached for my wallet to treat her to tea and cake, but she insisted on paying for herself. Welcome to my world.

In other cultures, it’s a point of pride for a man to pick up the tab, which means I don’t always fit the masculine stereotype of certain societies.