Title: Reading Body Language: What Hand Signals & Gestures Mean in Other Countries - Thrillist
Headings: 8 Common American Gestures That'll Confuse the Sh*t Out of People Overseas
8 Common American Gestures That'll Confuse the Sh*t Out of People Overseas
Hand gestures and their meanings vary
Keep your hands out of your pockets
Even nodding can trip you up
Japan is particular about handing off gifts
How long to hold someone's gaze
Don't automatically offer to shake hands
When "talk to the hand" means something even ruder
Don't walk into homes in Asia with your shoes on
Don't give just anyone a thumbs-up

Content: Likewise, don't prop your feet on chairs or any other furniture. In places like Japan, you remove your shoes at the door and slip into house slippers, but this custom isn't just for someone's house. You need to remove your shoes before going into some traditional shops, places with tatami (straw) mats, and shrines. By extension, showing someone the soles of your feet -- considered a filthy part of the body -- could offend any friends you make in Thailand. Don't give just anyone a thumbs-up
A natural response to someone saying or doing something cool is a thumbs-up. But in some parts of the world, such as West Africa and the Middle East, you're saying "up yours." In Thailand, a thumbs-up is like sticking out your tongue. Obviously, neither is (probably) the message you want to convey, so the best rule of thumb here is to keep that fifth digit in check. Unless -- hey, this is up to you -- you need a quick way to convey that specific meaning, perhaps with a smile, and maybe even get away with it. You're just a tourist, after all, and probably don't even know what it means.