Age paradox

So I met my neighbour on my way down to the first floor when I was about to go to campus today. I saw that he didn't lock up his apartment before he went, so I started chit chatting about how we better leave it locked if there's no one else inside.

Then we introduced ourselves to each other. (I know, there's a bit of problem in the structural order of how I chat eh? xP)

He then proceeded to ask whether I'm on my first year, which here usually refers to first year of college.

me: Ummmm, no?
him: Oh, master?
me: uhmmm, no ^^
(silence)
me: doctorate, third year :D

then we chatted again about our origin. He's from central America, but speaks fluently Italian because it's similar with Spanish (why, yes of course, how lucky >_<)
and we chatted about several things else.

But it seems he was still intrigued by the error in his initial judgment that when we waited for the bus (which was late as always) he then asked how old I am.

Hmm, that has taken me quite aback,
I thought there was a certain implicit rules somewhere that you shouldn't ask a lady her age? xP

But, anyway, as surprised as I was, I told him I'm 26.
And he went, wow, you look way way way less than that.
I just laughed and asked his age. He's 21.

Then on the bus, I realized I was happy that he thought I look younger.
Yay, me! *\o/*

But then the reality hit me,
oh.my.God,
I am now old enough to be happy when someone think I am not of my own age o_o

So the moral of the story is:

1. Western people can not really judge Asian peoples' age
2. When you are happy to hear someone said you look younger, then you are actually really really really old *facepalm*

O well, life, here I come, 26 years old and counting, alive and kicking ;)