How to Learn Local Gestures in The Sims 2: Bon Voyage

One thing every Sim wants to do when they go on vacation is learn to fit in with the locals. The easiest way to do this is to learn the Local Gesture, which may take the form of a bow, a "hang loose" motion or a chest pounding. Learning the gesture can be tricky, so here's how it works.

Go on vacation. See our article on Sending Your Sims on Vacation for more details on how to make this happen. Obviously you can't learn the local gesture if your Sim isn't on vacation!

Find a local. No matter where you go, there will be a bunch of townies. Most of them will practice the Local Gesture on a regular basis, so watch for one of them bowing, making the "hang loose" wave with their hands or thumping their chest and shouting. The catch here is that the townie must do the gesture to your Sim before they can try to imitate it back.

Click on the other Sim (the townie who just did the Local Gesture in front of your Sim) and select Gesture, and choose the gesture you want your Sim to perform (there will only be one unless your Sim has already learned other Local Gestures.)

Have your Sim keep repeating the Local Gesture. It will take a few tries for them to get it right, but eventually they will learn to do it properly. In the meantime, feel free to have a good laugh as your Sim timidly pounds their chest and meows instead of thumping their chest and letting out a good hearty bellow.

Take more trips! There are three destinations: Twikkii Islands, Three Lakes and Takemizu Village. Each destination has it's own local gesture, and your Sim will get some Vacation Mementos for learning each Local Gesture.