Rock, Paper, Scissors

From my travels around the world, I have learned that every country has their own hand gestures. The best example of how one thing could mean something good in one country and something terrible in another is crossing your fingers. In America, crossing your fingers is something people do for good luck. In Vietnam, crossing your fingers at someone is by far the rudest hand gesture one can make especially at a woman.

Three hand gestures that are universal though are those played in Rock, Paper, Scissors. I've found that everywhere I go, people know how to play this game. However, people in Japan play this game ALL THE TIME. Rock, Paper, Scissors in Japan is seemingly how every decision is made for non important decisions. I can't tell you how many times my students have played Janken (one of the official names for the game besides rochambeau) to decide who gets to do what in class.

I never thought there was much skill to this game but after being trounced by a few students, I'm starting to become a believer. After a little more time abroad, I met enter the USA Rock Paper Scissors League.