People the world over use their fingers
to communicate; mostly in rude ways. Hip teenagers and Italians couldn't
communicate if they had to wear mittens or a catcher's glove. The
problem is this "finger talk" is not universal the world over. In
America the "okay" sign means everything is hunky dory, while in
Germany, Russia and Brazil it's on par with giving someone the finger.
In Japan it means that you want change, preferably in coin, and in
France it means that you are worthless and quite possibly a drunk. And
that's definitely not "okay"!
If you
travel a wide circle you'd be well advised to keep your hands in your
pockets. And don't say anything either. I've previously written about
the time in Australia when I asked who everyone was rooting for, not
realizing that "rooting" is the "f" word down under. Many years ago
American Jim Courier committed an even bigger blooper when he said of a
player on worldwide television, "There's two guys in the locker room
rooting loudly for her."
Constantly
staring at someone is the norm in the Middle East and it's a compliment
to a pretty girl in America, but do it on a New York subway and you'll
get a knife in your gizzard from a gang banger. And remember that sign
from your childhood where an uncle would pretend to take your nose off
and he'd show it to you between his fingers? Do that in many parts of
Latin American and you'll get your nose knocked off for real; except in
Brazil where it means good luck.
In
America if you turn your glass over on the bar it can mean you're
through drinking. Do the same thing in an Australian pub and it's a
challenge that you can lick anyone in the place in a fist fight. While
you're in Australia do like I did and just drink from the bottle.
You
don't have to travel overseas to get in trouble by making the wrong
gesture or saying the wrong thing. Many of the gestures people make in
big cities are misunderstood by us country folks. For example, if you're
at a sporting event in New York city and grab your throat with both
hands it's a sign that a team or player is "choking." The same sign when
seen in a small town cafe is an alarm that you're gagging on a tater
tot and need someone to perform the Heimlich maneuver on you.
On
mean urban streets and NBA basketball courts you'll see young men
engage in highly orchestrated "handshakes." They'll hook the ends of
their finger's, twist their wrists, tickle their palms, do a 360 degree
turn in the air, do a few high-fives and finally finish off with a hard
bumping of fists. But can you picture two farmers in the coffee shop
saying howdy that way?
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