The chances of accidentally insulting someone is greater when you travel internationally, thanks to differing customs and ideas of etiquette. Even common hand gestures can signal the wrong thing.
Picture: sfslim
Mental Floss has gathered five hand signals that don’t mean what you might think, depending on the country you’re in. A thumbs up, for example, doesn’t mean “good job” in parts of Latin America, West Africa, Iran and Sardinia — it’s more like giving someone the finger. Likewise, the peace sign is not so peaceful in the UK, depending on how your palm is turned, and the OK sign does not mean “OK” in the Middle East, Turkey, Germany or Brazil.
Before you travel to a foreign country, it’s best to review the etiquette and customs, including those related to eating. Or, if there’s any doubt, just avoid making hand gestures all together.
What Hand Signals Should I Avoid When Travelling Abroad? [Mental Floss]
Comments
5 responses to “Avoid Making These Hand Signals When Travelling Abroad”
*high five*
Kill the infidel!!!
Bilbo’s giving me a high five?
http://www.pajiba.com/image/tumblr_mvogsdIj3P1qbjoooo1_250.gif
People think hobbits a rude when really their hand gestures are just misunderstood..
just ignore everyone