What do you do when you see someone you know? Give a smile? Or say hello? Do you hug the other person? Here are some ideas for travellers in a foreign country. They tell you how people in different countries and cultures welcome each other.
In many countries in Asia, people bow their heads when they greet(问候) each other. This shows respect. In Thailand, people put their hands together and bow. This is called the "wai" and it is a very old tradition. In Japan, people bow down and say hello when they meet each other. Children and young people bow lower when they greet older people. It is their way of showing respect and politeness. In Mongolia, people give a "hadag" to welcome people visiting their home. It's a piece of silk, usually white. And when you get a "hadag", you should hold it in both your hands. This also shows respect.
In most Western countries, people shake hands when they greet each other. But sometimes they just smile and say something like "Hello!" or "Hi!". In many countries around the world, friends greet by kissing on the face, and in some they even kiss three times.
The Maori people in New Zealand touch noses when they meet. This is called the "hongi". It may look strange to you, but it's their special way of saying hello to each other.
