Gestures and Intersections

I think it's actually pretty intriguing that different cultures have different norms and in extension: folkways, mores and taboos. I went to Lima, Peru over this past summer break and learned many new things about their culture. For one thing, people keep their very nicest things for church (where in my church we really don't care all that much what you look like), they also care about things like hand gestures. For example, you never do the a-okay symbol because it's just really bad. My leader that came to Peru from America says that she can't even do it anymore. Plus, they rake in peru where in america, to say hi, we wave. In addition, if we were to be spoken to on the streets, we were not to respond-or even look at the person-because they were being rude. We americans were also told not to look into peruvian men's eyes because that is considered flirting (they only look at eachother in the eye when they know the other person very very well). Peruvians also have CRAZY driving practices. they never obey the traffic signs and almost nobody crashes. it's pretty ridiculous....



Just a passing thought, I would like to bring up...what is the rules of getting through stevenson hallways?? i know that we upperclassmen may shake our heads at the way a freshman trying to get through a hallway. this must mean there are at least a few unwritten rules that need to be followed in order to not be considered a freshman. i suppose i shall compile a list:
-rolling backpacks
-going too slow for the traffic
-going too fast for the traffic
-running to get to class
-wearing a huge backpack (sometimes bigger than themselves might i add) and twisting around very quickly knocking a few other freshman down in the process (because they happen to be on the verge of tipping anyways)
-dashing straight in front of you (and almost smashing into you entirely) from a side hallway with not enough space to get through.
-going on the wrong side of the hallway (right side vs. left side)

lol. i suppose there are some things that we consider to be abnormal and rather annoying if not followed in our hallways. i wonder if these rules change with regards to other schools in other countries, or other states, or other districts for that matter!

just curious,
katie