If you don’t travel that much, chances are you’ve had no problems greeting others with a handshake, a hug, or a simple “how are you,” regardless of their culture. But at holiday parties, the mix of strangers, friends of friends of friends, extended family, and other unfamiliar persons might lead you to encounter someone from another culture whom you might not be all that sure how to introduce yourself to or converse with. Though it’s impossible to cover every culture you might encounter, here’s some of the basic body language rules to keep you from becoming acquainted with no one’s friend, trouble!

The Handshake

Most countries have conformed to the Western introduction of the handshake. Even then, there are many variations with the duration, strength, and what should or can accompany the handshake. For example, you might smile when you shake the hand of a Chinese person, but they might…