anime_ted

You are absolutely right if it’s the “thumbs up” gesture. I learned the European way, with the fingers curled but not closed and the thumb extended to the outside (right side for a right-hand gesture and left for left-hand) at about a 45-degree angle. This doesn’t really look like the offensive gesture from my perspective but I realize others may disagree. Thankfully, as far as I know, I have never offended anyone doing this.

If I’m dealing with someone who I can reasonably assume is not American it’s palm toward me and thumb out (but not pointing straight up) for one, thumb and index finger for two, and so on. Many American hand gestures are offensive to other cultures and it’s not hard to learn to do it this way.