cultural differences

so...Here in Japan 'flipping the bird' has no meaning. That is to say, I could walk down the street, pointing my middle finger at a baby in a carriage and no one would even care. In the last week I've been flipped off by about 5 people. Most commonly high school girls in uniform and old men.

See, I'll be teaching and asking someone a question when they'll get this itch on their eyebrow. And for some reason, it seems like the middle finger is the preferred scratching finger here. So the student will reach up and give me the big ol' FUCK you sign in innocent defiance........And the worst thing is: I gotta take it like a little bitch!