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Body language is a tricky matter, especially since more than 50% of what we project to someone else is through body language, and not through language. Therefore, when confronted with a different culture, there may be a few misunderstandings, in both languages, body and oral.
When I first came to England, I was struck at how distant people were when greeting each other. Coming from a french background, I had always been accustomed to kissing people on both cheeks, or at least, to shake their hand. In England, people shake hands, but often just acknowledge people's presence with a 'hello' and a slight movement of the head. I soon got the message, and stopped insisting on closer contact at a first meeting.

In the United States, hugging is a very common way of showing affection, or even of greeting someone. Although I have got into the habit of hugging people in appropriate circumstances in the US, I still have problems with it. Not morally, or anything like that, but just physically. The embracing gesture always feels a little bit intimidating to me, perhaps because it is less coded than the kiss on both cheeks. I never know how long I should keep hugging, how tight, etc.
There are many other gestures that can be misinterpreted between cultures. Eye contact is another one of those 'culturally specific' actions. In France, making eye contact means that you are willing to talk to the person you are looking at. In the United States, eye contact seems like a way of acknowledging another person's presence. Perhaps not looking at people in the eye is considered an offense in other cultures?
Body language, is specific to each individual, but there are also certain gestures that a particular to a culture. Understanding these body codes helps us to accept other people's habits and ways of life.

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