Smiling & Giving a Big Okay

When we tell a story, a lot goes without being explained. For example, I might say, “After I finished speaking, I looked at the audience. They were all smiling. Someone in the back shot me a big okay.” If you are from my culture, you would conclude the speech went well. The exact same response in Indonesia signals a disaster. They smile when embarrassed. Our okay symbol is obscene in Indonesia. Same words, but what goes without being said differs.

It is the standard cultural gap. It’s the fun (and mischief) of cross-cultural travels. Jayson Georges illustrates this well: Consider the…