In addition to handing over and transferring objects, you can't use your left hand, nor can you directly point people, objects and directions with your fingers. The correct posture is to make a natural fist with the right hand, one side of the thumb up, and the tip of the thumb pointing to the target.
Having worked and lived abroad for a long time, I know a little about the details and taboos of foreigners' behavior. In the actual communication, I often encounter a variety of etiquette details.
At that time, I met those different stresses and taboos, and I found them really troublesome. Now, when I think about them carefully, those stresses and taboos are also other people's traditions and customs, and they have their own reasons.
About raising hands. On many occasions, when we speak, we inevitably need to use our hands to show and point out. In Malaysia, you can't really tell. As for the use of hands, Malays are quite particular about their communication.
In addition to hand over and deliver goods, you can't use your left hand to direct people, objects and directions with your fingers. For example, when I attended a Malay family dinner, the host introduced the food to me. For those foods that were placed a little further away, the host also had to use his hand to guide me.
Under such circumstances, I noticed that when the Malays pointed out the distant dishes to me, they naturally clenched their right hands, thumbs up, and pointed their fingertips at the dishes.
When visiting the exhibition, the Malays who accompanied us sometimes gave us some explanations. They could not help pointing out the pictures or exhibits with their hands. Under such circumstances, Malays are still accustomed to clenching their fists naturally with their thumbs up and pointing their thumbs to pictures or exhibits. When Malays need to mention someone in a crowd, they point to someone in the same way. What's more, it's the same way to show people the way.
It can be said that as long as they point with their fingers, all Malays point their targets in the above way. Not only adults, but also children. They have followed this rule from generation to generation, imperceptibly from generation to generation.
In a private chat with the Malays, I mentioned our practice of pointing the target with our fingers. They told me bluntly that, in their opinion, it is extremely impolite to point at the target with a finger other than the thumb in their eyes. Malays are born with respect for people, things and directions.
Another thing we are used to is that whenever we see a very lovely child, we can't help reaching out and touching the child's head. In our country, this behavior shows intimacy and friendliness. In Malaysia, touching a child's head is a big taboo for Malaysians. Malays have believed for generations that touching a child's head will bring bad luck and bad luck to a child's life. In Malaysia, we need to manage our hands well all the time.
As for handshake, the details I met in Tanzania were interesting. The first time I met a local employee, I reached out and shook hands with him. He stretched out his right hand and held his right wrist with his left hand, shaking hands with me in this posture.
At first, I thought there was something wrong with his hand, whether it was hurt or not. Later, I saw that when young people accepted the handshake of senior people, junior people accepted the handshake of senior people, they would greet them with such a gesture to show respect. The Malay handshake is unique. After shaking hands with me, they gently touch the left chest with their right hand.
This kind of behavior is also a rule for Malays to shake hands with the respected people in their eyes. After shaking hands, they touch the heart to show respect and sincerity.
About pitching. Under special circumstances, we should pay attention to wearing shoes. When I first took part in a visit organized by the Australian Department of defense, I saw that there were two interesting rules in the travel notes.
One rule is: when dining with soldiers in the military canteen or military canteen, in addition to stipulating that the accompanying ladies are not allowed to wear skirts, they are also not allowed to wear shoes with toes exposed. Not only that, when taking a military plane, the accompanying ladies must also abide by the above rules.
This is not aimed at or discriminating against women, because on such occasions, men and women soldiers are dressed in accordance with the military regulations, and there is no need to formulate any special regulations.
In other places, no matter who, no matter what shoes can not be worn. Once you step into a building, take off your shoes. During my peacekeeping in Afghanistan, I took advantage of my vacation to visit Lahore, Pakistan.
There are many ancient cultural and religious buildings in Lahore. Every time I go there, before I enter the door, I always see shoes on both sides of the door. For the first time, I didn't know where I was going. My local friends who accompanied me to visit quickly reminded me to take off my shoes.
I will do as the Romans do, take off my shoes and enter. Take off the shoes, step on the ground, the feeling is really different, a very solemn, awe inspiring feeling. Of course, there are many aspects to consider in the regulation of taking off shoes. In some places, it may also have the meaning of protecting historic sites.
Later, I went to work in Malaysia and became familiar with the rules of taking off shoes. There are more occasions for Malaysians to take off their shoes, not only religious buildings and ancient buildings, but also when they enter the building where I live. Of course, for my official guests, I will tell them that they don't have to take off their shoes. I tell them in a joking way that it's like going to 'China' to come to me, and 'do as the Romans do in Rome'!
We live in a world where there are many countries, many nationalities, and various cultural behaviors and ways of civilization. It is also an important aspect of promoting world peace, harmony and common development to have a deep understanding of each other's customs and respect each other's traditions when getting along with people from all over the world.