Although some metaphors are derived physical experience, they're not necessarily uniform across cultures.
Lakoff and Johnson, p. 161
> For example, we project a front-back orientation in context onto objects that have no intrinsic fronts or backs. Given a medium-sized rock in our visual field and a ball between us and the rock, say, a foot from it, we would perceive the ball as being *in front* of the rock. The Hausas make a different projection than we do and would understand the ball as being *in back* of the rock.
(That is, to the Hausa, the rock is facing away from us. We treat it as if it's facing toward us.)