Hello Around the World

A smile is such a simple and easy gesture, yet it has universal meaning. There is not one person in the world who misunderstands a smile. A sincere smile is the easiest way to communicate your feelings when at a loss for words. It is a simple way to show your appreciation for something that was done or given to you. It can also be used as a simple greeting between friends, strangers and family.

Greetings are one of the most important aspects of communication. They are ways people interact with one another and recognize each other. The most simple and informal ways of doing so in English are using the words hi, hello, or hey, as most people know. These words are second nature to students at AHS, but words like marhaba and ahn nyeong are only familiar to some.

In French, the most common way to greet one another is saying bonjour followed by the person’s name, Mr., or Mrs. Salut is the way to greet one another informally. “When it’s a familiar greeting between two girls or a girl and a boy, they will normally exchange two kisses, or deux bises. It is possible that they may just be air kisses, and not actual kisses on the cheek. If the greeting is between two boys that are related, they might also kiss on the cheek. If they do not kiss, then they will shake each other’s hands. When the two do not know each other, they will only shake each other’s hand,” said French teacher Patricia Heininge.

These words and more are used by those of other cultures to simply greet and acknowledge one another’s presence. Gestures go hand in hand with the spoken words, and sometimes they can be insulting in various cultures but flattering in others. A kiss on the cheek is expected in most countries in Europe and South America if you are familiar with the person, but the same action would be a huge insult to those living in Japan, China, or Korea. Most students that attend AHS do not take these practices as seriously as they would in their home country or with relatives. Many have created their own way of greeting each other, mixing a little bit of everything together to make one fabulous greeting.

If you are surrounded by people who can be insulted by the wrong gesture, just be cautious. It is important to use the gestures according to their cultures, but an honest mistake can usually be understood. If you are at a complete loss, just smile, because everyone understands a smile.