Here, Boy...

As westerners, we're used to receiving the hairy eyeball and beckoning call from our parents or guardians when we've been found guilty or done something wrong. The mere symbol of being summoned by the curl of the pointer finger released from a closed fist is enough to spark a flood of memories from my childhood. What? Just because I was cute didn't mean that I could get away with EVERYTHING.

Also termed the 'dog call', this motion is considered supremely insulting, and acceptable ONLY for our canine companions in the Philippines. And beware, my friends; for if you're found guilty of committing this "crime", being arrested is the least of your worries.. Others have not been as fortunate and have actually had their index fingers broken or cut off to ensure that the offense does not happen again!

Shoes: The Ultimate Insult

I was going to go with the "Who Throws a Shoe" title, but after Googling it, I saw how unoriginal that would have been. I also pondered adding the infamous Austin Powers clip to the bottom of this post, but opted to simply link to it instead. See, simple modifications easily make this post stand out.. right?

Recent events have revived the popularity of this Austin Powers moment. While we've all found a way to chuckle over the fact that George W was nearly beheaded by a shoe at an Iraqi press conference, the fact of the matter is that this is one of the highest insults in Arab culture. Maybe it's something innate in regard to the Presidents that we elect, but Bill Clinton seemed to miss the memo on cultural awareness too. Anyway, I digress. And Willy C was in the States at the time, so he has a better shot at forgiveness.

Back to the topic at hand. Arab culture views the sole of a foot as the dirtiest part of a person's body. It certainly makes sense, if you think about it. When entering a mosque, the first thing a person is required to do is remove his or her socks & shoes and then wash his or her feet. By pointing the sole of your shoe at someone within this culture, you're demonstrating complete ignorance and total disrespect. As you can surmise, Bush basically got the steroid-induced version of this insult.

As always, be aware of your surroundings. Feel free to share any relevant experiences that you might have had in regard to the above noted situation.

Proxemics: Don't Stand So Close to Me

Space can be a very mysterious concept when it comes to interpreting body language across cultures. Personally, unless I'm dating you, sharing a very small bed with you, or clearly in distress, then I'd prefer that most people keep their distance. I don't think I'd classify myself as claustrophobic.. that may be a bit extreme.. but we'll just say that I prefer to go to the 11:30a movie on a Tuesday rather than the 7:30p show on a Saturday. For me, the distraction has more to do with all of the white noise than the volume of people within one area. If someone in that theater is snapping gum, whispering, or lightly tapping on an arm rest - FORGET IT, that's all I'll hear for the remainder of the film. Ask any roommate I've ever had.. I'm insane when it comes to small noises.

Anyway, in 1966 anthropologist Edward Hall introduced the term 'proxemics'. The word signifies set measurable distances between people as they're interacting. To quote Hall, "Like gravity, the influence of two bodies on each other is inversely proportional not only to the square of their distance, but possibly even the cube of the distance between them".

Here's the general chart of proxemics per Hall's delineations in regard to body spacing, posture, & unintentional reactions:

• Intimate distance: embracing, touching, whispering
  0 inches - 18 inches
  
• Personal distance: interactions among close friends
  1.5 feet - 4 feet
  
• Social distance: interactions among acquaintances
  4 feet - 12 feet
  
• Public distance: typically used for public speaking forums
  12 feet - 25+ feet
  

While these delineations are standards upheld by North Americans, it's important to note that they do vary according to different cultures. High-contact cultures maintain smaller relative distances when interacting. Latin, Arab, & Mediterranean cultures are more comfortable with a shorter amount of personal space. Conversely, low-contact cultures such as Nordic & Asian people prefer most interactions remain within Hall's social distance zone. In fact, low-contact cultures often prefer no contact at all as it can be viewed as intrusive (i.e. hand-shaking, light tap on the shoulder).

Of course, in all cultures, the degree of space is heavily determined by specific elements involved in each unique situation. Gender, circumstances, privacy, and comfort levels among many other factors can alter or determine an individual's reaction. I'm sure that - if given the opportunity - any one of us would prefer a private jet over a crowded airplane. The important thing to remember is that facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language can easily be misinterpreted across cultures. Developing your knowledge of cultural awareness in regard to space can help to eliminate discomfort, confusion, and anxiety that the person on the receiving end may be experiencing.

Photographers: Stop, Don't Shoot!

"Seriously, if you take that picture, I'm going to put a hex on you."

How many times have you been in the situation where you literally want to rip a camera out of someone's hands so hard that you're willing to sacrifice grace, dignity, and your physical well-being in exchange for a tiny electronic device? This tends to become an issue the morning after an inebriated evening. You wake up all jolly, just so excited to see all of the great memories that you've captured from the previous night's festivities, and then there it is. That first picture forever freezing you in all of your glory. And then comes the rationalization: But at the time, I definitely WAS a sexy vixen, right...Mom?

While there are many a moment where I've certainly regretted jumping into a polaroid or allowing friends to take a "hilarious" [read: humiliating] video of me in action, there were definitely measures I could have taken to prevent the inevitable [embarrassment] from being both recorded & released by the PapaRazzi. Additionally, while here in the good ole US of A, we just love to razz one another for a good laugh at each other's expense, it can be a very different story abroad.

Regardless of where you may be traveling, it's absolutely vital to ask permission before photographing anything, especially people. While photography certainly boasts a plethora of advantages including sharing the world with others & capturing memories, it can be viewed as intrusive by those that know nothing about you. Asking permission is just a common courtesy that is well received anywhere - it helps to boost confidence & to connect with others. Believe it or not, in some places, taking pictures of people translates to stealing their souls. Unsolicited photography may also render people inferior, as if they're just another monument, piece of scenery, or animal. It is imperative to be open-minded when it comes to photographing abroad, and to thank your subject whether s/he allows you to take the picture or not. Additionally, don't be too hasty to photograph in international airports. Just follow the literal interpretation of these two words, "Ask" "Permission", and you should be golden.

For more specific information on this subject, Darren Rowse provides solid advice in his post "Asking Permission to Photograph People".

Earth to Meekus, Earth to Brint: Interpreting Body Language

I'm sorry, I haven't been able to get Zoolander quotes out of my dome all day - so much for an optimized title. That is totally irrelevant to everything I had intended on writing.

Anywho, this week's cultural awareness & interpreting body language post will center around the not so universal "A-Ok" hand gesture.

Ignore Willy's mug - just focus on his raised paw.



To Americans and to our friends over in the UK, this symbolic little number represents an expression of "ok" or "you got it" [dude.. if you're Michelle Tanner.. try to follow the lines here]. However, to many of our earth-inhabiting counterparts, this American act of good faith signifies something totally different. Here's a brief rundown:

• Russia > Zero (Ok, I can see where they're coming from.)
  
• Southern Europe (Portugal, Spain) > Ahem, "you are nothing".
  
• Brazil > Vulgar Insult (My strangely perverse mind can also identify why this would be controversial.)
  
• South American countries > "Marica" which translates to homosexual.
  
• Japan > Money (You've lost me.)
  

If you want to get creative, apparently making this gesture around your nose means "drunk" in many European countries. Bottom line, just because you're used to making what you consider an innocently universal gesture doesn't mean that it does have just one meaning. Be careful out there, it's called diversity.

English Language Learners

Yesterday I had the unexpected pleasure of lunching with two of my teacher friends. As we were waiting for our table at PF Changs (um, YUM), CHRISTINE* & I listened to Courtney talk a bit about the case studies that she's doing as part of her Master's program.

Currently student teaching in a neighborhood of Boston, she is in a classroom with several ELL (English Language Learners) students, one from Grenada. I was particularly interested in the challenges that this student must face in the process of developing her EL skills. Because of the phonetical differences in her culture, her pronunciation of certain words did not mirror the correct spelling of these terms.

Example)

Term: Cheek
Pronunciation & Spelling: Shake

As you may be able to tell from a couple of previous posts about interpreting body language & cultural awareness, I'm becoming more and more interested in our educational system and how it has conformed and adapted to its increasingly diverse student body, in general. It has been projected that by the year 2010 (remember when that date sounded as if it were light years away?), more than 30% of school-age children will have grown up in homes where English is not the primary language. This already rings true in my mother's school in a city outside of Boston. Ever since she began teaching, she has faced a variety of cultural challenges and has proven to become a valuable resource in my quest to unify the world!

While many immigrants used to settle in more urban areas, America has become more of a melting pot throughout all neighborhoods - including suburban communities. Additionally, from coast to coast, many schools cater to students speaking over 50 unique languages. Included in this collection of dialects, you'll often find: Spanish, Chinese, Russian, & Korean, among a plethora of others.

The history of educating such pupils has certainly grown and developed, and has most recently turned toward privately tutoring ELL students. Having one-on-one time with a person focused on a specific culture, in addition to the child's previous use & knowledge of English is clearly an effective method of helping a child master a new language. However, immersion within a classroom is also critical. My French developed quite rapidly when I entered the classroom. Though make no mistake, learning math in a romance language was far from enjoyable.

Here are a few websites that may serve as rough guides and outlines to creating a tutorial curriculum for ELL students:

• Web English Teacher
  
• Activities for ESL (ELL) Students
  
• Interesting Things for ESL (ELL) Students
  

Now, I must reiterate that I'm not a qualified expert within this realm (as if it weren't already obvious). There are many students that are on IEPs. Tutors should always contact teachers & parents to develop an appropriate curriculum for each and every respective student as each individual's needs are unique.

Please feel free to share other resources pertinent to this subject.

*I think that Tine felt left out due to my initial non-mention of her name. Tine, you may now consider yourself famous!

Give with Both Hands: Interpreting Body Language

Here in America, we're all about efficiency. 'Efficient' is quite the buzz word in many corporate environments, yet I'm still not convinced that its definition among this crowd is crystal clear. We're used to passing plates of food, papers, pencils, beers, change, credit cards - you name it - with one hand. That way, our other hand is free to draft up a business plan, crunch a few more numbers, eat a slice of pizza, conduct a symphony, send an email, write a text message, flip off a nemesis - you name it - anything.

Prior to actually realizing that certain cultures tend to use both paws for passing anything, I can certainly understand how this simple gesture actually did/does exude feelings of a half-assed, careless effort.. but who was I to judge? I was engaging in the same act. Of course, I cannot sit here and say that I've changed my tune and now pass all things with two hands.. in fact, it's usually just objects that are too heavy for one hand, or objects that hold some sort of religious value. I don't think I'd ever pass the Bible with one hand - there's just something inherently wrong with that act.

Regardless, there are a number of cultures & countries that view the passing of any object with one hand as supremely disrespectful; namely, Japan. In many Middle & Far Eastern countries, the left hand is considered unclean. This stems from ancient stories, during times in which the left hand was used to support the right hand to prove that a weapon was not being concealed. In this day and age, though the left hand is viewed as being unclean, it is still used to support the right hand during the act of giving or passing an object. That, in my book, still signifies the use of both hands.

Funnily enough, and a bit unrelated, I was recently at a friend's apartment outside of Boston. She has a dog, a mix of some sort. I went to pat her head [the dog, not my friend] with one hand while my other hand was out of her vision, and she started to growl at me. Cassie, my friend, then told me that Sophie has "a thing" with hands. Apparently she, too, prefers the use of both.. fair enough!

Barack Obama: A Symbol of Change & History

"O-BA-MA, O-BA-MA, O-BA-MA.." Chicago can carry a chant quite strongly. And in the end, it really wasn't even as close as many had projected it would be. Obama won nearly two-thirds of the electoral votes needed to become President-elect. Well, America - we can breathe again.

His delivery suggested confidence. His family represented change. And his words, actions, and body language clearly stated "Yes We Can".

I think I'll write a Haiku about Obama's victory speech. A little 5-7-5 never hurt anyone. I may be missing a few of the definitive elements, but you'll get the picture. I hope.

"Positive. Honest.
Historical. Powerful.
Thankful. Refreshing."

None of what I can say will justify what this momentous occasion means to our country, our country's history, and our country's future. Simply speaking, I think we should just relish in the anticipation of a new administration, cheers diplomacy, and support Barack Obama & Joe Biden with goodwill, solidarity, hope, help, and enthusiasm.

Job well done, my fellow Americans!

McCain's Concession Speech: Gracious or Tactless?

To be honest with you, I was initially a bit surprised at the general reactions to McCain's concession speech that appeared in my web surfing this morning. I'm by no means a political analyst, but while watching his rhetoric last night, I thought that he delivered gracious words to his supporters, his family, and to President-elect, Barack Obama. Some of his statements did seem to carry suggestive undertones, but to be fair, beliefs are beliefs. Without strength in your personal beliefs or your party's beliefs, then you're not a viable candidate for the presidency. Sure, he might have made a few mistakes and probably should have said a few things differently, but at least he was consistent with the person he has been throughout his campaign. I guess.

He seemed sincere. It was a sincerity that was non-existent during all of the Presidential debates, and throughout the hundreds of other speeches that he has presented. Apparently this actually meant something to him. Perhaps, it was in part due to his body language.. a language entirely different from and more authentic & honest than the power of words can sometimes convey. He held eye contact, paused appropriately, & spoke [relatively] comfortably while remaining as relaxed as one possibly can in this situation. It'll undoubtedly be a speech to be scrutinized, dissected, and analyzed in years to come. Much like Obama's victory speech.

The reactions of the Republican party in Arizona are the words and actions that concern me. Booing at the mere mention of the President-elect's name either shows the true colors of this troubled party, or the immaturity & ignorance that plagues a good portion of our country. I'm not sure which is better. Or worse, for that matter. McCain handled the crowd's inconsiderate, untactful responses by imploring them to stop with his hands & his words, and by pausing until their insults were silenced.

Now, I'm not saying that I agree with everything he said or that I'm all of a sudden a McCain supporter, but in the end, I have some sympathy for the guy. It was a long, grueling race. A lot of blood, sweat, tears, money, time, & support went into this effort. But only one person can win.. and I'm glad it was Barack Obama.

Look Me in the Eye: Interpreting Body Language

In an effort to heighten awareness of cultural knowledge, we're going to try a new feature here: highlighting the meaning of a particular piece of body language, interaction, or symbol across cultures. We figure that it won't hurt to take breaks from travel stories to infuse an educational, cultural tip or news from abroad into the mix.

As young children, American & European offspring are taught to look people in the eye. It's a command often heard when parents, teachers, or other authority figures suspect children of lying. Because it's the sheer nature of a child to engage in occasional mischief, you can bet that this is one piece of body language that kids work to perfectly master. As a young adult, this same segment of people is taught to look people in the eye in order to exude interest, truth, and honesty. Whether it be a casual chat with an acquaintance, a job interview, or a heated discussion with a significant other, maintaining eye contact demonstrates you're attentively & intensely listening to the words of your conversational partner. In many situations, it also helps to prove that you're not a proverbial freak.

However, while eye contact reflects a common act of courtesy in some cultures, it suggests quite the opposite for others. In Asian & African cultures, avoidance of direct eye contact is interpreted as a sign of respect & esteem.

I think I prefer the latter interpretation. The next time that I walk down a street in Boston, I'm simply going to assume that everyone is worshipping me as the Queen.