Medical personnel are clad head to foot in protection. What should we do and not do? Here are some idea.
Coronavirus alerts have caused us to be wary of hand shaking and kissing as greetings and farewells.
Hand shaking used to be a must when entering the stage to speak and when handing back to the Toastmaster of the Day at Toastmasters International speakers' training meetings. But you also see handshakes as a ritual ending a tennis game, for example at Wimbledon. And you will meet people offering to shake your hands many times.
France has banned la bise, the kiss on the cheek as welcome and farewell. I have found more than 30 alternatives to handshaking and kissing.
If you are being ultra cautious, you should also avoid, high fives, fist bumping, air kisses, and blowing out candles on birthday cakes.
I should also mentions other advice I have heard, to avoid touching door handles.
These include
FACE
Winking
Nodding and smiling acknowledgement.
Even wearing a mask over the nose, your eyes can smile. A voice shows a smile, because on the radio or acting as a phone receptionist, you are advised to smile which is reflected in the sound of your voice from a wider mouth and the instinctive enthusiasm generated by the action.
HANDS
Namaste
palms together
Indian namaste greeting at the Oberoi hotel in Indian.
Martial Arts self handshake.
Cross thumbs and cross one hand over the other. I think it's the right hand over the left.
Here is my friend Raymond from Toastmasters International speakers' training in Singapore, demonstrating.
I once saw a poster advising staff in a Japanese department store, Isetan in Singapore?, how to greet customers. Staff at the door wait with their hands folded. Men fold their hands one way, I think its right hand over left. Women fold hands the other way, left over right.
The staff members nods as the customer enters.
You could fold your arms. But that looks unfriendly. Better to simply clasp your hands together. Or clutch a handbag, umbrella, walking stick, Zimmer frame, clip board and pen, whatever suits the occasion.
Remember not to put your pen in your mouth. Don't touch your face, when tempted to yawn, rub your eyes, scratch your nose, sneeze.
Hats and Salutes
Wear a large hat such as a sombrero.
Or an Australian hat with suspended bobbing corks designed to keep away flies, also stops people trying to kiss you.
You can touch your hat.
Or tip your hat.
Or removed it entirely.
At funerals or when funerals pass it is in some placed the custom to remove a hat and place it in front, either over your heart and chest or lower.
Boy Scouts
The boy scout salute is a two or three finger salute. The thumb meets the little finger.
Military Salutes
A salute can be horizontal, hand palm forward at top of hear or at ear level
Army
Air force
Navy
See pictures on Wikipedia.
Other countries have different salutes which include hand on heart.
Hand heart
How to do it? Put your two thumbs together, then your next finger on each hand touching the counterpart. Bend the two next fingers downwards to make the heart shape.
The V For Victory
Winston Churchill made this popular in the UK. In the UK, the v sign with the palm facing the onlooker is peace. But the hand reversed means up yours, an insult.
As different countries can reverse this rule, I always avoid v signs to be sure of not giving offence.
BODY
Bow.
Statues in Singapore by Gao Xiao Wu.
Curtsey
To prevent others approaching you, and save yourself from forgetting:
Western
Carry a tray of food, drink or leaflets.
Stand or sit behind a dog.
Sports, Events And Work
Sit on a horse.
Stand on a podium or pedestal, behind a lectern.
Insert a glass window and speak through it. (As done by banks, security entrances.)
Taxis
Drivers can insert a glass to keep passengers at the back.
Open windows to circulate air.
Eastern/Oriental/Tropical
Use a fan
Weddings
On special occasions such as a wedding, you can carry a tray of drinks.
Or your glass of Champagne.
Or raise your glass in a toast.
The bride can carry a bouquet and/or a prayer book.
She can wear gloves which co-ordinate with her outfit.
A mask discourages kissing.
Goggles also have the same effect.
You could wear a work hat and goggles.
Or a motorcycle helmet.
In the early days in Wuhan, photos showed improvised headgear boxing gloves, motorcycle helmets, ski goggles, swimming goggles. Such as plastic bags with holes cut out, hollowed out fruit such as grapefruit.
Keep smiling. Keep well, and keep cheerful. Hope for the best.
As American Benjamin Franklin said, prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
About the Author
Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and photographer. Author of
Etiquette for every Occasion by Batsford.
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