[Tango-L] Cabeceo, again

[Kace]

The two schools of thoughts on the cabeceo seems to be:

1. It's a universal body language, everyone understands it without 
explanation

or

2. It's a milonguero's secret code, someone has to explain the cultural 
context.

Coming from Asia, I find it is more of the second explanation. 

A newbie needs to be enlightened by someone -- it could be the teacher, a
milonga organiser, or an article in a magazine.

Without an unambiguous explanation, newbies just can't be sure the sender
and receiver have the same message.

Kind of like: do you shake hand, bow, or kiss someone you meet for the first
time?  in Japan? in Buenos Aires? once or twice? air kiss or landed?  
It's not
obvious until someone spells it you for you.

Kace
tangosingapore.com