Why can't I use the 'OK' or the 'thumb between index finger' hand-signals --
in Turkey?
On dry land, in this part of the world, the
standard hand-signal used to indicate sexual intercourse is to
show the OK sign with the left hand while inserting the index
finger of the right hand through the hole in the 'O'...
Someone has pointed out to us that scuba divers round the
world use the OK hand signal to indicate that they are 'all
right'...So there may be an exception in that case, depending
on who you're with underwater and what your real intentions
are..:^)
And also, in Turkey (and in many places in Europe, as you
may already know) one uses that hand-sign to make reference
to one or another of two body orifices -- not your mouth, not
your nose, not your ears....
And, be careful about the game of 'stealing the nose' of a
Turkish child or friend...The thumb inserted between the index
and middle fingers is the way you 'flip the bird' or 'give the
finger', in Turkish hand-language...
Want some more '
secret' pointers --
about 'how-to-behave' and 'how-
not-to-behave' as a foreign visitor in Turkey?
If so, just drop us a line...
Also, check out all of our 'Personal Experiences' pages --
there are
some interesting, fun, and informative things there, as well.
And if you're really interested to learn more about Turkish cultural 'idiosyncrasies',
then buy and read the enlightening (and very entertaining) short book,
Culture
Shock -- Turkey.
[Click the link to see our review of that book.]