13. Sorry, Lefties
For the left-handed out there, this may come as a bit of a shock so brace yourselves. In some cultures, the left hand is associated with sinister dealings and overall evil. The less glamorous reason however, is that in many countries the left hand gets the brunt of all the disgusting bathroom duties, and in these countries people would rather you kept that hand to yourself. In Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to name a few, don’t have any kind of physical contact with your left hand, and don’t give or receive gifts with that hand either.
14. The Fist Bump
This is becoming a more common, casual greeting in many Western countries. We wouldn’t recommend introducing yourself to your new boss this way, but among friends it’s a good way to say “hey” without the unhygienic aspects of a palm-on-palm handshake.
15. A Round of Applause
The Shona of Southern Africa greet each other by clapping in a rhythmic fashion. You probably don’t want to take a bow in response, though (unless you’re Japanese, of course).
