As COVID-19 broke out and spread in the world, many countries are changing their social habits to reduce the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus(新型冠状病毒). Here are some of the ways that greeting habits are changing around the world.

China

Loudspeakers tell people not to shake hands but to make the traditional gongshou gesture(a fist in the opposite palm) to say hello.

France

France is famous for its romantic greetings. They touch each other's cheeks and make a kissing sound. But now, this habit may be coming to a stop. Newspapers in France have begun publishing advice on how to replace kissing on the cheek. French etiquette(礼仪) expert Philippe Lichtfus said that simply looking into a person's eyes can be enough as a greeting.

Spain

The outbreak could also hit one of Spain's most important traditions—in the week before Easter, known as Holy Week, the faithful (信徒) queue up to kiss the hands or feet of sculptures of the Virgin Mary and the saints, seeking their protection. It's said that the ceremony could be banned.

Iran

Traditionally, people in Iran shake hands to greet one another. But today, a video has been popular in Iran, showing three friends meeting, hands in their pockets and two of them wearing masks, tapping their feet against each other as a greeting.

When I was about twelve, I headed to a restaurant for dinner with my family. It was a windy winter night. As my mom and I headed towards the restaurant from our car, a girl about my age and her mother came up to us. They asked if we had any spare change. My mom immediately asked where they kept their things. They pointed to an old car in a parking across the street. The girl said there were six of them living in that car, which was the same size as my own family.

My mom said she had something to do after handing the people a few dollars. She sent me inside the restaurant with my dad and my three siblings(兄弟姊妹).But she didn’t come.

Later, I found out she had gone home and practically emptied our cupboards into a few bags. Then, she brought that food over to the car and handed the bags to the family. I wasn’t there when that part happened, but I can only imagine the joy it brought to their faces.

A few days later, when I actually found out about what she had done, I asked her why she helped those people. She told me that they were not lucky. I remember the face of that girl who had asked us for change; she was the same age as me, yet we looked so different.

Here I stood, dressed in almost new clothes, headed to dine in a restaurant and then back home to the bedroom I shared with my younger sister. I remember thinking that the girl didn’t have any food to eat and that she was heading back to a cold car shared with five other people.

After painting this picture in my mind, I understood why my mom had done what she did. I will never forget what she did that night. And that night I also learned one of the best lessons she taught.