1. I was very surprised to discover that a gesture that may be common and normal to me can be offensive in another place. For example, a firm handshake can seem aggressive in some countries, while in North America it's very common. This made me think about how important it is to understand the customs of other places, especially if you're traveling with people from different cultures.

2. I never imagined that counting with fingers also varies from culture to culture. I always thought everyone starts counting with the index finger, but now I know that Europeans start with their thumb, and in China they even use one hand to count to ten. This shows how something as basic as counting can be misinterpreted if we don't understand these differences.

3. I was also shocked to learn that the "come here" gesture can mean opposite things. In North America, it's done with the palm facing up, but in Asia, that's considered rude. Instead, they do it with the palm facing down.