Nonverbal Messages In Other Cultures

My first semester at San Jose State University in one of my COMM classes, the teacher showed us a video of how nonverbal messages are different around the world. I had never really thought about it. The gesture we use with our finger to tell someone to come here in Latin American is known for being romantically into someone. Wanting their attention they simply put their palm tilted towards yourself and use a finger with a back and forth motion.
That's one of the many cues one might want to be careful using if in another county. Also, in America our thumbs up and mean screw you in another person's language. In some countries looking into someone's eye's when speaking is disrespectful or standing to close can be as well. Some a form of greeting is kissing someone on both cheeks, where in others its a handshake.
I haven't necessarily moved around this country, but I've had many different group of friends from other cultures. I've seen how Filipinos greet each other, with just one kiss on the check and a hug. I had to get used to it meeting my friends parents, I always just said hello or gave a hand shake. When I started hanging out with my Hispanic friends it was a nod or handshake to the young people and with older it was a hello or hug depending on the person. The grandma and grandpa's you'd have to give them a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I'd start to learn more and more nonverbal cues that they would give and start to pick them up as well. I believe every culture as something to learn from and if you can take something away from it then I think it's a great learning experience. I love how I've grown up in a diverse society and I wouldn't change it for anything.