Chapter 3. Gestures

Blessings

The Dalai Lama holds both hands together as in prayer and makes a slight stiff bow. A rabbi, like Spock, holds his right hand up and flat with pointer and ring fingers separated to make a V. The pope partially stretches out his right hand with fourth and little fingers curled inward. A Baptist lays his palm on your head or shoulder: Blessings are made with the hands.

Curses

Different gestures show disdain at different times and places: one thing a traveller must know.

OK

The OK sign means it’s OK. Any OK is OK by me, even if it’s only for the moment.

Air quotes

To make you think I’m “smart,” I say the opposite of what I mean and quote it in the air. I’m not sincere when I’m “sincere,” and I mean it.

Shush

The only thing you can say here is “shush.” Put your index finger pointing up before your lips, or pretend your mouth is a zipper and zip it up.

Appreciation

A Salish native holds both hands up and to each side forearms vertical elbows at shoulder level palms backward. Americans and Europeans clap or raise a single thumb with fingers folded in.