Ireland

1. Women sit first. It is proper to sit with legs crossed at the ankles or at the knees; it is informal to cross your ankle over your knee.

4. To refuse to buy a round of drinks when it is your turn is considered rude.

5. Don’t shove in line.

9. Use a firm handshake.

Italy

1. In churches, women should cover their heads; do not wear short sleeves or sleeveless shirts. When dining, only men pour the wine.

9. Long handshakes.

10. In greeting, warm hugs and kisses are common.

Poland

1. Do not chew gum while speaking, and speak with a soft voice.

2. To invite someone to drink, flick your neck.

10. Men may greet women by kissing their hands; women greet other women with a slight embrace and kiss on the cheek.

Spain

1. It is proper for men to cross their legs; it is considered unfeminine for women to. Eye contact may denote romantic interest.

2. Stretch your arm out, with your palm downward, and make a scratching motion toward your body with the fingers to beckon for someone.

4. The ok sign is obscene.

9. Men and women always shake hands.

10. Both men and women use the abrazo to greet; women may accompany that with a check kiss.

Sweden

1. Eye contact is important. When men converse with women, they remove their hat. The male guest of honour sits to the left of the hostess, and the female guest of honour sits to the right of the host. To make a toast, lift your glass and say, Skoal; the host always makes the first toast. When leaving a home, wait to put on your coat after your have stepped outside the door.

9. Firm handshake.

10. Men greet women by tipping their hat.

3. Do you know culturally conditioned Ukrainian or Russian gestures, or body language? Which ones are surprisingly similar to those found in Western culture? Read a few examples of some interesting gestures used by the Russian people and comment on them in class. Do you find some of the gestures funny?

Russian Gestures and Body language

Various General Gestures

Split the cost of a bottle of vodka? This is a gesture used by a man who is seeking another man to share the price of a bottle of vodka. The individual stands upright and with his right hand extends the first two fingers across his chest indicating "two." Similarly, if a third person is needed to split the cost of a bottle, the individual extends three fingers. The three fingers are laid on the lower chest with the thumb and little finger folded under and out of sight.

What a dummy!

This unique gesture is made by men and women, commenting on something dumb they have done. The hand, with all fingers and thumb extended, is lightly slapped on the center of the forehead. Then, with all digits still extended, the hand is rotated upwards so that the fingers lay on the brow and the thumb extends upward, above the head. This two part gesture is used by the individual to refer to themselves.

You got that backwards!

This interesting gesture is used to communicate ones opinion that another person has something backwards or is making a task too complicated. The gesturer will reach behind his/her head and scratch the right ear with the left had; or the other way around.