Communicating with Gestures
Very few gestures are universally understood and
interpreted. What is perfectly acceptable in the United States may be rude, or
even obscene, in other cultures. Each of the following responses give a general guide
to cultural differences in the meaning of gestures.
1. Beckon with index finger. This means “Come here” in
the U.S. To motion with the index finger to call someone is insulting, or even
obscene, in many cultures. Expect a reaction when you beckon to somebody from
the Middle or Far East; Portugal, Spain, Latin America, Japan, Indonesia and
Hong Kong. It is more acceptable to beckon with the palm down, with fingers or
whole hand waving.
2. Point at something in the room using index finger.
It is impolite to point with the index finger in the Middle and Far East. Use
an open hand or your thumb (in Indonesia).
3. Make a "V" sign. This means
"Victory" in most of Europe when you make this sign with your palm
facing away from you. If you face your palm in, the same gesture means
"Shove it."
4. Smile. This gesture is universally understood.
However, it various cultures there are different reasons for smiling. The
Japanese may smile when they are confused or angry. In other parts of Asia,
people may smile when they are embarrassed. People in other cultures may not
smile at everyone to indicate a friendly greeting as we do in the United
States. A smile may be reserved for friends. It is important not to judge
students or their parents because they do not smile, or smile at what we would
consider "inappropriate" times.
5. Sit with soles shoes showing. In many cultures this
sends a rude message. In Thailand, Japan and France as well as countries of the
Middle and Near East showing the soles of the feet demonstrates disrespect. You
are exposing the lowest and dirtiest part of your body so this is insulting.
6. Form a circle with fingers to indicate “O.K.”
Although this means “O.K.” in the U.S. and in many countries around the world,
there are some notable exceptions: In Brazil and Germany, this gesture is obscene. In Japan, this means “money.” In France, it has the additional meaning of “zero” or
“worthless.”
7. Pass an item to someone with one hand. - In Japan
this is very rude. Even a very small item such as a pencil must be passed with
two hands. In many Middle and Far Eastern countries it is rude to pass
something with your left hand which is considered “unclean.”
8. Wave hand with the palm facing outward to greet
someone. In Europe, waving the hand back and forth can mean “No.” To wave
“good-bye,” raise the palm outward and wag the fingers in unison, This is also
a serious insult in Nigeria if the hand is too close to another person’s face.
9. Nod head up and down to say “Yes.” In Bulgaria and
Greece, this gesture means “No.”
YOU
KNOW YOU’RE A MOM WHEN . . .
1. You count the sprinkles on each kid's cupcake to make sure they're equal.
2. You have time to shave only one leg at a time.
3. You hide in the bathroom to be alone.
4. Your kid throws-up and you catch it.
5. Someone else's kid throws up at a party. You keep
eating.
6. As you cling to the high moral ground on toy
weapons; your child chews his toast into the shape of a gun.
7. You hope ketchup is a vegetable, since it's the
only one your child eats.
8. You find yourself cutting your husband's sandwiches
into cute shapes.
9. You hear your mother's voice coming out of your
mouth when you say, "NOT in your good clothes!"
10. You stop criticizing the way your mother raised
you.
11. You donate to charities in the hope that your
child won't get that disease.
12. You hire a sitter because you haven't been out
with your husband in ages, then spend half the night checking on the kids.
13. You use your own saliva to clean your child's
face.
15. You say at least once a day, "I'm not cut out
for this job", but you know you wouldn't trade it for anything."
TRUTHS ABOUT PARENTING
- A baby usually wakes up in the wee-wee hours of the
morning.
- A child will not spill on a dirty floor.
- An unbreakable toy is useful for breaking other
toys.
- Avenge yourself; live long enough to be a problem to
your children.
- Be nice to your kids, for it is they who will choose
your nursing home.
- For adult education, nothing beats children.
- God invented mothers because he couldn't be everywhere
at once.
- God invented guilt so mothers could be everywhere at
once.
- Having children will turn you into your parents.
- If you have trouble getting your children's
attention, just sit down and look comfortable.
- It rarely occurs to teenagers that the day will come
when they'll know as little as their parents.
- One child is often not enough, but two children can
be far too many.
- You can learn many things from children... like how
much patience you have.
- Summer vacation is a time when parents realize that
teachers are grossly underpaid.
- The
first sign of maturity is the discovery that the volume knob also turns to the
left.
