Erasmus doesn’t start with the first lecture. It starts the moment you realize that your usual gestures might spark a diplomatic scandal in the dorm.
Imagine this: you’ve just landed in Sofia, walk into your room, and ask your Bulgarian roommate if he wants to go for dinner. He nods. You’re happy to have found company for your first day. But you end up dining alone – turns out, nodding in Bulgaria means “no”. And “yes” is shown by shaking the head. For the first few weeks, you feel like you’re living in an upside-down world.
But that’s just the beginning of the European gesture saga. Italians have turned gesturing into an art form – their famous fingers-bunched-together gesture near the face can mean anything from genuine surprise to mild irritation. If an Italian waves their hand away from themselves, don’t take it personally – it means “oh, that was ages ago” or “forget it.” And gently flicking fingers under the chin? That’s a sign of complete disinterest in the conversation.
In Greece, gestures are even trickier. Showing your open palm to someone’s face is a “moutza”, one of the most offensive gestures in Greek culture. So, your first meeting with a Greek student might not go as planned. On the bright side, raised eyebrows mean not sarcasm but polite interest – “I’m listening.” The “call me” gesture can mean “call me later” or “go away now” – it’s all about context.
The French have elevated shrugging to a philosophy. That universal lift of the shoulders conveys everything from a simple “I don’t know” to a deep “that’s life.” A French shrug is like the Swiss knife of non-verbal communication – one movement can replace a whole conversation.
Germans are precise even in gestures – they tap their temple when something seems dumb. Russians make the same gesture, but with the opposite meaning: “use your brain.” In Turkey, the common “OK” hand sign is considered rude – better to stick with the thumbs-up.
Poles and Ukrainians share a philosophical gesture of spreading their arms – the universal answer to life’s challenges. “That’s life, what can you do?”. It carries a kind of quiet acceptance. In Portugal, waving goodbye might look like an invitation to come closer. Confusing? Oh, yes.
In Hungary, pointing with a finger is extremely rude. In the Czech Republic, tapping your nose means “it’s a secret.” Finland keeps gestures to a minimum – excessive hand-waving might seem strange or even aggressive to Finns.
The most fascinating part? These gestures have formed over centuries – they’re part of a national code. Understanding them helps avoid misunderstandings and shows cultural respect. Erasmus is a school of intercultural communication, where every hand movement matters. So before you go abroad, learn not just basic phrases but also the key gestures of your destination country.
And what about you – which Catalan gestures do you think confuse others the most?