Respect and other signs of physical affection. It is uncommon to see very many hand gestures being used in Chinese culture because this is often considered to be excessive. Traditionally, there was not much hand-shaking in Chinese culture. However, this gesture is now widely practiced among men, especially when greeting Westerners or other foreigners. Many Westerners may find Chinese handshakes to be too long or too weak, but this is because a weaker handshake is a gesture of humility and respect. Kowtowing, or kneeling and bowing so deeply that one's forehead is touching the floor, is practiced during worship at temples.
Judith A. Boss with the US Fish and Wildlife Services. An avid traveler, she has traveled with students from the University Of Rhode Island and Brown Medical School to work with underserved, indigenous people in Guatemala and Mexico. Her favorite travel destination, however, is Antarctica. Boss earned a PhD in Social Ethics in 1990 from Boston University, a MSc in Human Development from the University of Rhode Island in 1991, and BA in Philosophy from the University of Western Australia in 1969. She was on the faculty of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Rhode Island from 1988 to 1995 and