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Thanks to 1992 and all that, European countries are becoming all alike, aren't they? Well, yes and no.
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Thanks to 1992 and all that, European countries are becoming all alike, aren't they? Well, yes and no.
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Teenagers in Bulgaria are at least trying to dress like kids in Britain. And if you have a bank account in
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Teenagers in Bulgaria are at least trying to dress like kids in Britain. And if you have a bank account in
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Stuttgart, chances are you can withdraw money from an automated teller machine in Seville. But languages still
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Stuttgart, chances are you can withdraw money from an automated teller machine in Seville. But languages still
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build barriers, and gestures can be more troublesome yet. Some	of Europe's hand signals emerged 2000 years ago
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build barriers, and gestures can be more troublesome yet. Some	of Europe's hand signals emerged 2000 years ago
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 - and details like the single market or the demise of communism are not about to change things.
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 - and details like the single market or the demise of communism are not about to change things.
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Here is a taste of what you should and shouldn't do when you're travelling around Europe:
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Here is a taste of what you should and shouldn't do when you're travelling around Europe:
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</p><p>
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</p><p>
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<b>Tapping the nose</b>: in England, Scotland and, strangely in Sardinia, this means, "you and I are in on the secret".
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<b>Tapping the nose</b>: in England, Scotland and, strangely in Sardinia, this means, "you and I are in on the secret".
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But if a Welshman does it, he means, "You're really nosy".
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But if a Welshman does it, he means, "You're really nosy".
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</p><p>
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</p><p>
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<b>The V sign</b>: What Churchill meant was "victory" - but the same signal with the knuckles turned out is England's
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<b>The V sign</b>: What Churchill meant was "victory" - but the same signal with the knuckles turned out is England's
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equivalent of the American middle finger.
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equivalent of the American middle finger.
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</p><p>
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</p><p>
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<b>The chin rub</b></b>: That's what people in France, French-speaking Switzerland and Belgium do when they're bored.
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<b>The chin rub</b></b>: That's what people in France, French-speaking Switzerland and Belgium do when they're bored.
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Don't try it elsewhere: no one will get it.
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Don't try it elsewhere: no one will get it.
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</p><p>
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</p><p>
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<b>The wave</b>: careful with this friendly greeting while in Greece. It could be misinterpreted as "go to hell."
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<b>The wave</b>: careful with this friendly greeting while in Greece. It could be misinterpreted as "go to hell."
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When Greeks wave goodbye, they show the back of their hands.
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When Greeks wave goodbye, they show the back of their hands.
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</p><p>
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</p><p>
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<b>Kiss on the cheek</b>: How many are appropriate? Zero to one in Britain, two on most of the Continent, three in
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<b>Kiss on the cheek</b>: How many are appropriate? Zero to one in Britain, two on most of the Continent, three in
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Belgium and French-speaking Switzerland - and in Paris four.
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Belgium and French-speaking Switzerland - and in Paris four.
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</p><p>
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</p><p>
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<b>Thumb-and-index circle</b>: America's "OK" sign means just that in much of Europe - though not in
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<b>Thumb-and-index circle</b>: America's "OK" sign means just that in much of Europe - though not in
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Germany, where it is an obscene anatomical reference.
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Germany, where it is an obscene anatomical reference.
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</p><p>
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</p><p>
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<b>Tapping the temple</b>: do this if you want to say someone or something is crazy almost
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<b>Tapping the temple</b>: do this if you want to say someone or something is crazy almost
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anywhere in Europe - except in Holland where the gesture means "how clever".
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anywhere in Europe - except in Holland where the gesture means "how clever".
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</p><p>
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</p><p>
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<i>adapted from Newsweek november 12 1990</i>
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<i>adapted from Newsweek november 12 1990</i>
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</p>
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</p>
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