Gestures

Usually we use thumb up to inform other drivers that we are hitchhiking. But in some cultures this gesture is highly offensive, so if you don't know it, you risk to be killed by furious driver you just insulted. You better read up on hitchhiking gestures first.

The hitchhiker's method of signaling to drivers differs around the world. In the U.S., one would point his or her thumb up, while in some places in South America one displays to an oncoming car the back of her hand with the index finger pointing up. In Poland, the hand is held flat, and waved. In the Netherlands, however, this may indicate you're looking for gay sex. In India, the hand is waved with the palm facing downwards (or the U.S way). In Israel the hitchhiking signal is similar, often pointing downwards.

This article is a stub. This means that the information available to us is obviously insufficient. In these places little information is available or the description is severely outdated. If you have been there, whether hitchhiking, for travel or as part of an organized tour − be sure to extend this article!

This article contains text from the Wikipedia article on Gestures.