Filipino Gestures

Something kind of funny happened to me last week. I was having lunch with a group of pastors when one of them asked me a question. Since it was a “yes/no” kind of question, I just raised my eyebrows (quickly raising one’s eyebrows is just like nodding in the Philippines, but it doesn’t mean much to Americans). He stared at me for a couple of seconds before I verbally answered.

I remembered this a day or two later and laughed to myself. Usually I’m able to mentally separate the language and gestures that I need to use for each country. Usually, but not always.