Hand Gestures? Smiles?

[biglen]

Hello,

I was wondering if a open handed wave or a thumbs up is good for profile photos.  I was in Poland last March and got strange reactions to giving them in person.

I also got strange reactions to smiling at strangers while in Poland.

If I was to travel to FSU countries are there any hand gestures to avoid? 


Lenny

[START2]

You actually might be able to Google that. "hand gestures" There are all kinds such as being drunk, crazy, etc. They are understood in europe/FSU.

[Lily]

Hello,

I was wondering if a open handed wave or a thumbs up is good for profile photos.  I was in Poland last March and got strange reactions to giving them in person.

I also got strange reactions to smiling at strangers while in Poland.

If I was to travel to FSU countries are there any hand gestures to avoid? 


Lenny

Sure open handed waves and thumbs up are fine for profile photos!

Yes, smiling to strangers is something that people don't do in former Soviet countries. Smiling is appropriate if there is a direct reason to smile.

As for various gestures..suggest watching Russian movies and observe gesticulation corresponding to what is being communicated.

[Blues Fairy]

I was wondering if a open handed wave or a thumbs up is good for profile photos.  I was in Poland last March and got strange reactions to giving them in person.

 
A glaring smile and thumbs up would look kinda silly on a profile photo.

[possum]

A glaring smile and thumbs up would look kinda silly on a profile photo.

Hmm.. would a black and white Soviet passport style photo be better?. I've got one of me shirtless with both thumbs up, and my American 'girlfriend' loves it..

[Blues Fairy]

I've got one of me shirtless with both thumbs up, and my American 'girlfriend' loves it..

Sure, it all depends on what kind of image you want to project.  Shirtless, grinning, thumbs up.  Or soviet passport style.  Or sophisticated, slightly mysterious, sexy...

[Lily]

A glaring smile and thumbs up would look kinda silly on a profile photo.

Come on. They never would. 

[possum]

Soviet passport style is my favorite.. not only is it sophisticated but it also gives you a pretty good idea what the person is going to look like ten years from when the picture was taken..

[Lily]

Soviet passport style is my favorite.. not only is it sophisticated but it also gives you a pretty good idea what the person is going to look like ten years from when the picture was taken..

...if the person is not going to grow in a positive direction during those 10 years. 

[possum]

...if the person is not going to grow in a positive direction during those 10 years. 

At about 25 years of age we all start growing in the same direction: down..

[Lily]

At about 25 years of age we all start growing in the same direction: down..

We, who?  my regrets to people who thinks that way.   

[possum]

We, who?  my regrets to people who thinks that way.   

We humans, of course.. there's no escaping gravity; eventually, we all go back to where we came from..

[Faux Pas]

We humans, of course.. there's no escaping gravity; eventually, we all go back to where we came from..

Theres a saying: "Get busy living or get busy dying" which you decide is up to you

[groovlstk]

I also got strange reactions to smiling at strangers while in Poland.

It's hard to avoid such behavior on a first trip, I know I always wanted to be a good ambassador and one of the ways I (mistakenly) thought would engender good will was by smiling and behaving extraordinarily polite. Instead, people (in ukraine, russia, poland, and czech republic) suspected I was mentally ill and if it wasn't for my clothes I'd probably have been mistaken for the village idiot.

[catzenmouse]

It's hard to avoid such behavior on a first trip, I know I always wanted to be a good ambassador and one of the ways I (mistakenly) thought would engender good will was by smiling and behaving extraordinarily polite. Instead, people (in ukraine, russia, poland, and czech republic) suspected I was mentally ill and if it wasn't for my clothes I'd probably have been mistaken for the village idiot.

Every village needs one don't they? 

One of Elena's first impressions here was that everyone in the U.S. was "nobody at home" due to the ever present smiles. She's used to it now but knows (as we all do) that only a very small percentage of those smiles are genuine.

[Gator]

This Russian gesture always amuses me.  This photo does not capture it exactly.  Make a fist with the thumb between the index and middle fingers.

I believe it means "nothing for you."  I never received a definitive explanation as it came when a RW had enough of me.

[biglen]

Thank you all for your replies.  I have learned so much from reading this site.

Gator, that was unfortunate for you.  Reading it is kind of funny though.


Lenny

[BC]

This Russian gesture always amuses me.  This photo does not capture it exactly.  Make a fist with the thumb between the index and middle fingers.

I believe it means "nothing for you."  I never received a definitive explanation as it came when a RW had enough of me.

yepper.. have seen this 'you ain't gettin' nuthin' gesture ..  Beats 'I have a headache' though..

[SANDRO43]

This Russian gesture always amuses me.  This photo does not capture it exactly.  Make a fist with the thumb between the index and middle fingers. I believe it means "nothing for you."  I never received a definitive explanation as it came when a RW had enough of me.

Called figo or figinha in Brazil, it has quite a different meaning there:

This is a figo or good luck charm symbol. It's like crossing your fingers which is also done here. It is more common to see this symbol in jewelry than as a gesture, derived from an African sexual charm.

Brazilian children displaying it when newly-born are considered destined for a very successful life.

P.S.: the "OK" sign is taken VERY badly in Brazil .

[Serebro]

I like when people smile, but not when they have crazy look

[Gator]

Gator, that was unfortunate for you.  Reading it is kind of funny though.

It is funny.  And no tears.  Long story short - that particular RW is a thoroughbred (and tall too, 5'9"), yet we were not meant to be.  It was a blessing because I have something far better, who never gave up on me.

[possum]

This Russian gesture always amuses me.  This photo does not capture it exactly.  Make a fist with the thumb between the index and middle fingers.

I believe it means "nothing for you."  I never received a definitive explanation as it came when a RW had enough of me.

LOL I asked my stepfather about it once, and he said it meant 'You fool! You got nothing coming to you!'.

[I/O]

Any thoughts on this one....???

I/O

[Faux Pas]

That is "almost" the universal sign for errr um,  enima time but not quite. Is that a sign at all or are they just showing off wedding bands?

[catzenmouse]

That is "almost" the universal sign for errr um,  enima time but not quite. Is that a sign at all or are they just showing off wedding bands?

That's the Aussie version of the "salute"... Heck, you must have seen enough of I/O's post by now to know he's just plain mean, miserable, and nasty... Right I/O?