The rules of body language and gestures change from culture to culture, so it is understandable that mistakes happen. Sometimes they can ruin a cross-cultural friendship or business deal, or even...

The rules of body language and gestures change from culture to culture, so it is understandable that mistakes happen. Sometimes they can ruin a cross-cultural friendship or business deal, or even cause a war:

● The “thumbs up” gesture is obscene in Australia and New Zealand.

● In Japan, the “OK” gesture is a request for money. It’s obscene in Russia, Turkey, Greece, and Italy, and in France it signifies that you believe the speaker is “worthless.”

● In the Middle East, it is rude to sit crosslegged (keep both feet on the ground) or to point with the index finger (use your fist instead).