Do Asians hug each other?

It is very common for Asian women to hug in public, especially among the younger crowd. Men? No way! Hugging is sissy! Worse, people will think they're gay. Homosexuality in most parts of Asia is still frowned upon, not celebrated. Hugging between men and women? They will be viewed in the same way as if they were having sex in public. Unacceptable behaviour.

"Hugging is a good medicine. It transfers energy and gives the person hugged an emotional lift. You need 4 hugs a day for survival, 8 for maintenance and 12 for growth. Scientists say that hugging is a form of communication because it can say things you don't have the words for. And the nicest thing about a hug is that you usually can't give one without getting one." - quoted

My Cambodian friend who is rather western in her ways posted the above quote. I love it! I love hugs too!
A Junior High School class in America were doing a lesson on the Seven Wonders of the World. Each listed what they thought were the official list, then the class voted and narrowed the list down. One quiet girl was asked what her list was because she didn't say anything during the lesson.

"I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:

1. to touch...
2. to taste...
3. to see...
4. to hear... (She hesitated a little, and then added...)
5. to feel...
6. to laugh...
7. and to love.

Human beings regardless of culture are the same. We are all made to love and be loved. Anybody young or old will enjoy being hugged. I do!

I've been pleasantly surprised in the last year or so that my Asian male friends do ask me for a hug. They're not perverts, neither are they "the special someone". They're my good friends! I enjoy their company, just as much as they do mine. We hug because we want to express our joy at meeting each other again. Maybe Asian culture is changing to be more expressive and less repressive.

Let's spread the love around with a friendship hug!

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