Americans feel that physical contact can be important in breaking down

barriers between people. Such physical acts as hugging, shaking hands

and kissing in public are seen as displays of affection.

In China, on the other hand, this is not common because physical contact

is not the custom. Interestingly enough, most Chinese who spend some

time in America come to like hugging; they learn that Americans use

body language to express feelings. It is a way of saying "I like you and I

care about you."

Shaking hands is another traditional way of greeting someone in

America. Shaking hands is a more formal way of greeting than hugging.

Whereas hugging shows closeness, shaking hands means that there is a

little more formality in the relationship.

Western people usually shake hands when meeting someone for the first

time, or when they see someone again after a certain amount of time has

passed. In Japan, people traditionally bow as a form of greeting. Other

countries have different customs, like patting someone on the back or

kissing.