I wasn't shocked about dating in American movies - I thought, sure, you can ask someone out to do something and see if it works. But later on I was indeed shocked when I realized that's the main way to try a new partner. I found myself at a bit of a loss trying to explain to my American friends that I do date but have never been on a date with someone I hadn't hooked up with before. And finding the idiom hook up was my way out, because now I can describe how it usually goes: you're somewhere doing whatever with friends or alone, then you talk to someone and you hook up.

Disclaimer: I'm Brazilian.