1 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,120 [Trailer] Katherine WONG: They look like ballerinas 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:08,139 from the 70s. 3 00:00:08,139 --> 00:00:13,320 [Intro] OF: Welcome to Mosaic of China, a podcast 4 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:15,690 about people who are making their mark in China. 5 00:00:15,690 --> 00:00:18,340 I’m your host, Oscar Fuchs. 6 00:00:18,340 --> 00:00:23,300 So today we’re taking about WeChat stickers, which makes this kinda the craziest of these 7 00:00:23,300 --> 00:00:26,090 10 compilation episodes from Season 02. 8 00:00:26,090 --> 00:00:28,760 And I say that for two reasons. 9 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:33,880 The first is that it’s a bit crazy to devote an entire episode to something that’s 100% 10 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:34,880 visual. 11 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:40,050 So if you don’t have access to the images on social media, listening to today’s compilation 12 00:00:40,050 --> 00:00:43,070 will be a slightly bewildering experience. 13 00:00:43,070 --> 00:00:48,559 And the second reason it’s crazy is that if you are following on social media - specifically 14 00:00:48,559 --> 00:00:53,339 if you’re in one of the listeners groups on WeChat - then you’re going to be deluged 15 00:00:53,339 --> 00:00:58,539 with a reminder of all the favourite stickers chosen by the guests of Season 02. 16 00:00:58,539 --> 00:01:03,429 So as much as I’ve tried to engineer these groups to be as low-impact as possible, today 17 00:01:03,429 --> 00:01:08,050 is where all the rules are temporarily suspended, and you’re suddenly going to find yourself 18 00:01:08,050 --> 00:01:11,580 in the most obnoxious place on WeChat. 19 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:15,640 So with that warning in place, let’s listen to how the guests from Season 02 answered 20 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,520 the question: “What’s your favourite WeChat sticker?” 21 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:20,080 [Main] [Voiceover] 22 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:24,970 OF: Murray King, the public affairs leader from Episode 29. 23 00:01:24,970 --> 00:01:27,550 [Clip] MK: It's a great question actually, because 24 00:01:27,550 --> 00:01:32,060 I communicate more by stickers than by text. 25 00:01:32,060 --> 00:01:37,050 So there's a series of WeChat stickers which is called 小刘 [Xiǎo Liú], Little Liu. 26 00:01:37,050 --> 00:01:38,050 OF: Yeah. 27 00:01:38,050 --> 00:01:40,840 MK: And it's actually, you know, a couple of characters. 28 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,490 There’s a duck, and there's a cat, and I think there are a couple of other characters 29 00:01:43,490 --> 00:01:45,970 that occasionally make an appearance. 30 00:01:45,970 --> 00:01:49,440 And I just think that the designs are brilliant. 31 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:53,300 And it's just super fun, and a little bit naughty. 32 00:01:53,300 --> 00:01:54,570 And yeah, that's me. 33 00:01:54,570 --> 00:01:56,800 OF: Now, here's a funny thing. 34 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:01,970 When I interviewed a diplomat in Season 01 - he worked for the New Zealand consulate 35 00:02:01,970 --> 00:02:07,460 here - he was always careful about stickers, because they can be misconstrued. 36 00:02:07,460 --> 00:02:11,290 And when you give me this cheeky naughtiness, that's kind of what he was slightly worried 37 00:02:11,290 --> 00:02:12,290 about. 38 00:02:12,290 --> 00:02:13,770 So he doesn't use WeChat stickers. 39 00:02:13,770 --> 00:02:17,300 Do you think if you were still a diplomat, you would have these stickers? 40 00:02:17,300 --> 00:02:21,379 MK: I think these are cheeky and naughty, but they're not even close to crossing the 41 00:02:21,379 --> 00:02:23,129 line of being inappropriate. 42 00:02:23,129 --> 00:02:27,620 Although there are some others that are probably less appropriate. 43 00:02:27,620 --> 00:02:30,549 I think if I was still a diplomat, I would be more careful about using WeChat. 44 00:02:30,549 --> 00:02:31,560 OF: At all. 45 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,500 MK: And I would certainly be careful about what I used. 46 00:02:34,500 --> 00:02:36,299 But I think these are harmless enough. 47 00:02:36,299 --> 00:02:38,040 I think the world has changed a lot as well. 48 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:39,040 OF: Yeah. 49 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:43,269 MK: You know, people are communicating more primitively, and yet in a more sophisticated 50 00:02:43,269 --> 00:02:46,120 way through things like videos and photos. 51 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:47,120 OF: Yeah. 52 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,750 MK: And abbreviations, and emoticons, and gifs, and things like that. 53 00:02:50,750 --> 00:02:51,790 OF: Yes. 54 00:02:51,790 --> 00:02:55,409 Let's go into the societal history about hieroglyphics, because that's what we're doing really, using 55 00:02:55,409 --> 00:02:57,109 gifs and using emojis, right? 56 00:02:57,109 --> 00:02:58,219 MK: Right, right. 57 00:02:58,219 --> 00:03:00,410 OF: Very good, these are super cute. 58 00:03:00,410 --> 00:03:05,110 MK: You'll be converted quickly, because there's a great range of stickers. 59 00:03:05,110 --> 00:03:09,150 All of my stickers are 小刘 [Xiǎo Liú] now. 60 00:03:09,150 --> 00:03:10,400 OF: Beautiful. 61 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:15,010 [Voiceover] OF: DJ BO, the DJ from Episode 23. 62 00:03:15,010 --> 00:03:18,159 [Clip] BO: OK, now let's talk about this Oscar. 63 00:03:18,159 --> 00:03:19,540 OF: OK, send it to me first. 64 00:03:19,540 --> 00:03:20,540 BO: Got it? 65 00:03:20,540 --> 00:03:21,540 OF: OK. 66 00:03:21,540 --> 00:03:23,049 BO: Well, let's talk about this. 67 00:03:23,049 --> 00:03:28,749 So when I first listened to your podcast, and I heard this question, I really hated 68 00:03:28,749 --> 00:03:34,260 this question, because I generally don't like WeChat stickers. 69 00:03:34,260 --> 00:03:38,560 Because I like when people are talking with their heart, when they're really being sincere 70 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:40,079 and truthful. 71 00:03:40,079 --> 00:03:41,919 So I like to write without spellcheck. 72 00:03:41,919 --> 00:03:45,180 I like to use full words. 73 00:03:45,180 --> 00:03:50,189 And when people are picking up WeChat stickers, they're obfuscating in a way. 74 00:03:50,189 --> 00:03:53,529 They're trying to be clever, but they're actually not even being clever, because it's not their 75 00:03:53,529 --> 00:03:56,090 own words or ideas. 76 00:03:56,090 --> 00:03:59,040 You're not engaging with the person, you're obfuscating. 77 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:00,370 I don't like that. 78 00:04:00,370 --> 00:04:05,849 One of my favourite DJ jobs every week is, I DJ - Saturday mornings, usually starting 79 00:04:05,849 --> 00:04:11,180 at 7am - at F45, which is like a CrossFit gym and studio. 80 00:04:11,180 --> 00:04:17,810 And I would have to message the accountant for the money for the DJs each week. 81 00:04:17,810 --> 00:04:24,210 And for some reason, the manager saw my communication with the accountant and said “Please don't 82 00:04:24,210 --> 00:04:25,870 be rude to the accountant”. 83 00:04:25,870 --> 00:04:28,259 And I was really shocked. 84 00:04:28,259 --> 00:04:32,740 Because I wouldn't talk too much, but I would just say, you know "Please send this amount 85 00:04:32,740 --> 00:04:33,740 of money”. 86 00:04:33,740 --> 00:04:37,669 And I reflected on it, and I was like, maybe it's because I don't use WeChat stickers. 87 00:04:37,669 --> 00:04:41,720 There's no panda bowing, or any of the other ones that get used. 88 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,820 There's no little cat, you know, running in a circle, or some ****. And I was like “I 89 00:04:45,820 --> 00:04:49,030 need to start engaging with this a bit”. 90 00:04:49,030 --> 00:04:52,680 But I also really respect copyright as much as I can. 91 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:53,680 OF: Ah. 92 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:59,370 BO: So I decided that I wanted to use video or pictures, but only from public domain sources. 93 00:04:59,370 --> 00:05:02,650 And I love silent movies, especially. 94 00:05:02,650 --> 00:05:05,569 And so I started making my own WeChat stickers. 95 00:05:05,569 --> 00:05:06,569 And it started… 96 00:05:06,569 --> 00:05:09,810 they weren't necessarily very good, but I started getting better at it. 97 00:05:09,810 --> 00:05:11,780 I invented something called ‘poetremes’. 98 00:05:11,780 --> 00:05:12,780 OF: Oh. 99 00:05:12,780 --> 00:05:20,370 BO: A poetry meme, where I would take certain video, and I would add poetic elements to 100 00:05:20,370 --> 00:05:21,370 it. 101 00:05:21,370 --> 00:05:23,599 OF: That's really interesting as a concept, right? 102 00:05:23,599 --> 00:05:28,150 So not to distil something into something small and visual, but actually to open something 103 00:05:28,150 --> 00:05:29,150 up. 104 00:05:29,150 --> 00:05:32,550 BO: Yeah, I eventually want to start selling them on WeChat, and that's how I'm gonna make 105 00:05:32,550 --> 00:05:33,550 my fortune. 106 00:05:33,550 --> 00:05:34,870 I'm just kidding. 107 00:05:34,870 --> 00:05:36,520 But I've really enjoyed doing that. 108 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:41,840 So I'll watch a movie that's in the public domain, and I'll take snapshots and I'll cut 109 00:05:41,840 --> 00:05:46,510 it up into clips that I can then use to make my own WeChat stickers. 110 00:05:46,510 --> 00:05:48,390 And now I have a huge collection of them. 111 00:05:48,390 --> 00:05:52,520 So I've really turned 180 degrees from what I believed initially. 112 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,430 OF: Thought-provoking. 113 00:05:54,430 --> 00:05:59,710 [Voiceover] OF: Cassandra Chen, the heavy metal bar owner 114 00:05:59,710 --> 00:06:01,130 from Episode 16. 115 00:06:01,130 --> 00:06:06,620 [Clip] CC: So it's two of our regular customers drinking 116 00:06:06,620 --> 00:06:09,560 from a horn and doing cheers to each other. 117 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:10,560 Yeah. 118 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:12,770 OF: And this was at one of the Viking Nights? 119 00:06:12,770 --> 00:06:13,770 CC: Yes. 120 00:06:13,770 --> 00:06:17,400 OF: Yes, they look the part, I must say. 121 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:21,870 [Voiceover] OF: Seth Harvey, the education coach from 122 00:06:21,870 --> 00:06:22,870 Episode 19. 123 00:06:22,870 --> 00:06:25,009 [Clip] SH: There are two types of WeChat stickers, 124 00:06:25,009 --> 00:06:26,009 right? 125 00:06:26,009 --> 00:06:29,060 There's ones that are pulled from like famous pop culture shows or cartoons and things, 126 00:06:29,060 --> 00:06:30,939 but you can actually make your own stickers. 127 00:06:30,939 --> 00:06:34,490 So my girlfriend sends me ones of her that she's made of herself. 128 00:06:34,490 --> 00:06:38,009 So then I find it really useful to send herself back to her. 129 00:06:38,009 --> 00:06:41,040 Like a little bit sarcastically. 130 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:45,729 [Voiceover] OF: Jamie Barys, the street food expert from 131 00:06:45,729 --> 00:06:46,729 Episode 02. 132 00:06:46,729 --> 00:06:50,370 [Clip] JB: My Beijing guides are really tech savvy. 133 00:06:50,370 --> 00:06:53,120 And I still don't know how to make my own WeChat stickers, but they have made several 134 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:54,120 for me. 135 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:59,770 My favourite one that they made is… my husband came to a team building dinner, and they just 136 00:06:59,770 --> 00:07:01,919 took a couple pictures of him and made it into a gif. 137 00:07:01,919 --> 00:07:04,860 And it just says in Chinese underneath it: 高富帅 [gāo fù shuài]. 138 00:07:04,860 --> 00:07:07,180 So like “Tall, rich and handsome.” 139 00:07:07,180 --> 00:07:10,300 I don't send it to people, but I just love it. 140 00:07:10,300 --> 00:07:12,240 It's so great. 141 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:13,719 OF: Wow. 142 00:07:13,719 --> 00:07:18,159 [Voiceover] OF: Michelle Qu, the improvisational comedian 143 00:07:18,159 --> 00:07:20,040 from Episode 20. 144 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:23,360 [Clip] MQ: I made it by myself. 145 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:24,379 OF: Very good. 146 00:07:24,379 --> 00:07:25,630 So you did the makeup. 147 00:07:25,630 --> 00:07:26,630 MQ: Yeah. 148 00:07:26,630 --> 00:07:28,320 OF: And what does it say? 149 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:32,500 MQ: 回眸一笑百媚生 [Huímóu yīxiào bǎimèishēng]: That means “With this face, 150 00:07:32,500 --> 00:07:36,289 she turned back, with so much charm”. 151 00:07:36,289 --> 00:07:42,659 [Voiceover] OF: Chang Chihyun, the humanities professor 152 00:07:42,659 --> 00:07:43,680 from Episode 03. 153 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,909 [Clip] CC: I love to use myself to create WeChat 154 00:07:47,909 --> 00:07:48,909 stickers. 155 00:07:48,909 --> 00:07:51,360 OF: OK, and what does it say? 156 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:52,360 It says… 157 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:53,360 CC: Over my dead body. 158 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:54,430 And I am the body. 159 00:07:54,430 --> 00:07:56,969 OF: It's a funny way of saying… 160 00:07:56,969 --> 00:07:58,909 CC: No. 161 00:07:58,909 --> 00:08:03,479 [Voiceover] OF: Cocosanti, the drag performer from Episode 162 00:08:03,479 --> 00:08:04,479 05. 163 00:08:04,479 --> 00:08:09,599 [Clip] C: The one I use the most is a flipping-the-hair-back 164 00:08:09,599 --> 00:08:11,460 kind of sticker. 165 00:08:11,460 --> 00:08:15,600 I use that too often, and it's mostly because I know when I was younger, I used to do that 166 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:16,629 all the time. 167 00:08:16,629 --> 00:08:18,009 I'd be like, yep. 168 00:08:18,009 --> 00:08:19,889 OF: And it's the tongue placement too. 169 00:08:19,889 --> 00:08:20,889 C: Yeah, that’s… 170 00:08:20,889 --> 00:08:23,009 It's literally the face that I make all the time. 171 00:08:23,009 --> 00:08:24,009 OF: Oh that’s great. 172 00:08:24,009 --> 00:08:25,729 C: That is the sticker that I use the most. 173 00:08:25,729 --> 00:08:31,349 [Voiceover] OF: Danma Jyid, the Tibetan social enterprise 174 00:08:31,349 --> 00:08:33,630 leader from Episode 10. 175 00:08:33,630 --> 00:08:35,060 [Clip] DJ: A little happy monk. 176 00:08:35,060 --> 00:08:36,531 OF: Oh, he's a Buddhist monk. 177 00:08:36,531 --> 00:08:39,289 DJ: Yeah, Buddhist monk OF: Of course he is, I should have got that 178 00:08:39,289 --> 00:08:40,779 by the clothing. 179 00:08:40,779 --> 00:08:47,010 [Voiceover] OF: Sean Harmon, the beer company CEO from 180 00:08:47,010 --> 00:08:48,019 Episode 09. 181 00:08:48,019 --> 00:08:50,140 [Clip] SH: I don't know why I love this sticker, 182 00:08:50,140 --> 00:08:54,220 but if you talk to my colleagues, they will say that I certainly overuse this sticker. 183 00:08:54,220 --> 00:08:57,760 It's Denzel Washington in Training Day, and he just says “Boom”. 184 00:08:57,760 --> 00:08:59,720 I don't know why, it just makes me laugh. 185 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:04,470 And when you get good news at work, or something happens, where you know, you land an account 186 00:09:04,470 --> 00:09:05,470 and… 187 00:09:05,470 --> 00:09:07,350 Yeah, to celebrate a bit, just give an old Denzel “boom”. 188 00:09:07,350 --> 00:09:09,310 OF: OK, I'm gonna use this one. 189 00:09:09,310 --> 00:09:10,310 That's a great one. 190 00:09:10,310 --> 00:09:11,709 SH: It's also a great movie, if you haven't seen it. 191 00:09:11,709 --> 00:09:12,890 OF: I haven't seen it. 192 00:09:12,890 --> 00:09:14,320 SH: Check it out, it’s worth watching. 193 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,090 OF: It’s an action movie, is it? 194 00:09:17,090 --> 00:09:19,310 SH: Yes, but with great dialogue. 195 00:09:19,310 --> 00:09:20,990 OF: OK. 196 00:09:20,990 --> 00:09:23,520 SH: Try it. 197 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:28,260 [Voiceover] OF: Zhao Huiling, the Africa travel vlogger 198 00:09:28,260 --> 00:09:29,650 from Episode 28. 199 00:09:29,650 --> 00:09:34,890 [Clip] ZH: So it's my newly favourite sticker. 200 00:09:34,890 --> 00:09:36,460 It's a smiley face. 201 00:09:36,460 --> 00:09:41,400 But it's a very awkward smiley face, with the eyes all twitched up. 202 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:42,450 OF: Oh. 203 00:09:42,450 --> 00:09:50,200 ZH: Basically, you know, the brave face that we have to throw on, as adults in this world. 204 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:55,120 Knowing the negativity is out there, you just still have to continue. 205 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:57,270 OF: Yeah. 206 00:09:57,270 --> 00:10:01,889 [Voiceover] OF: Crystyl Mo, the fine dining expert from 207 00:10:01,889 --> 00:10:02,899 Episode 26. 208 00:10:02,899 --> 00:10:06,990 [Clip] CM: Well, this is just a handy sticker. 209 00:10:06,990 --> 00:10:13,090 Because in WeChat groups, often people will accidentally send something, or say something 210 00:10:13,090 --> 00:10:14,399 inappropriate. 211 00:10:14,399 --> 00:10:18,020 And you just need to have a sticker for that occasion. 212 00:10:18,020 --> 00:10:20,260 It literally happens every day. 213 00:10:20,260 --> 00:10:22,360 So that's just a fun one. 214 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:24,279 OF: Can you quickly describe it? 215 00:10:24,279 --> 00:10:27,660 CM: So this is a sticker that has just a giant button that says ‘unsee’. 216 00:10:27,660 --> 00:10:31,630 So this person is just frantically tapping this button. 217 00:10:31,630 --> 00:10:32,910 Unsee unsee unsee unsee. 218 00:10:32,910 --> 00:10:37,550 Like, please just take me back to five seconds previous in time and let me not have seen 219 00:10:37,550 --> 00:10:38,550 that thing. 220 00:10:38,550 --> 00:10:40,790 OF: I've never seen this used. 221 00:10:40,790 --> 00:10:41,790 I love it. 222 00:10:41,790 --> 00:10:43,860 CM: I hope you’ll start using it. 223 00:10:43,860 --> 00:10:48,400 OF: Totally, how can I not? 224 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:50,600 [Voiceover] OF: Alex Shoer, the clean energy entrepreneur 225 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:51,800 from Episode 11. 226 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:55,850 [Clip] AS: So my favourite WeChat sticker is ‘mind 227 00:10:55,850 --> 00:10:59,350 explosion’, is the best way I can describe it. 228 00:10:59,350 --> 00:11:02,600 And it's the scientist with the mind exploding. 229 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:06,820 It can change the dynamic of a conversation very quickly. 230 00:11:06,820 --> 00:11:13,110 [Voiceover] OF: Ajay Jain, the car designer from Episode 231 00:11:13,110 --> 00:11:14,110 21. 232 00:11:14,110 --> 00:11:16,709 [Clip] AJ: The one I send quite often - and I've 233 00:11:16,709 --> 00:11:21,029 been known to send it to my friends - is the ‘Happy Friday’ sticker. 234 00:11:21,029 --> 00:11:25,940 I don't actually look for the sticker, it just comes up when I write ‘TGIF’. 235 00:11:25,940 --> 00:11:29,440 And it's become a thing that I send a whole bunch of friends, ‘Happy Friday’. 236 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:30,579 OF: Super cute. 237 00:11:30,579 --> 00:11:34,579 It’s so simple, but I've never seen it before. 238 00:11:34,579 --> 00:11:38,730 [Voiceover] OF: Douglon Tse, the island businessman from 239 00:11:38,730 --> 00:11:39,730 Episode 15. 240 00:11:39,730 --> 00:11:43,540 [Clip] DT: It's Elmo behind a flame wall. 241 00:11:43,540 --> 00:11:45,690 So it looks like Elmo from hell. 242 00:11:45,690 --> 00:11:49,860 Because sometimes people say things in group chats, and I have nothing to say. 243 00:11:49,860 --> 00:11:52,820 And this is the only sticker I found that's applicable to anything, whether it's good 244 00:11:52,820 --> 00:11:53,910 news or bad news. 245 00:11:53,910 --> 00:11:58,759 Because you can't tell if he's in torture, or he's celebrating; if he's excited, or if 246 00:11:58,759 --> 00:12:01,290 he's upset. 247 00:12:01,290 --> 00:12:03,160 So the applicability is very high. 248 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:04,750 Which means that I use it a lot. 249 00:12:04,750 --> 00:12:10,019 OF: Well, I do have this, and I haven't used it enough because of the ambiguity. 250 00:12:10,019 --> 00:12:11,560 I'm like “Oh, when do I actually use it?” 251 00:12:11,560 --> 00:12:16,200 But I should just use it at all times. 252 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:20,100 [Voiceover] OF: Casey Hall, the fashion journalist from 253 00:12:20,100 --> 00:12:21,100 Episode 22. 254 00:12:21,100 --> 00:12:25,050 [Clip] CH: It is a sticker of Elon Musk on stage 255 00:12:25,050 --> 00:12:31,540 in Shanghai doing a really awkward dad dance, looking like a bit of a tool. 256 00:12:31,540 --> 00:12:37,589 The reason that I like this sticker so much is that I use it in so many different contexts. 257 00:12:37,589 --> 00:12:38,589 OF: Oh. 258 00:12:38,589 --> 00:12:41,790 CH: I mean, I use it in celebration, like “Yay". 259 00:12:41,790 --> 00:12:46,490 I also use it as like “Well, that was weird”. 260 00:12:46,490 --> 00:12:52,540 I also use it when I want to say that something's failed. 261 00:12:52,540 --> 00:12:56,640 It's the one sticker that can mean so many things. 262 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:58,029 OF: Oh, you're right. 263 00:12:58,029 --> 00:13:01,639 It's like a blank canvas upon which you can put whatever emotion you're feeling. 264 00:13:01,639 --> 00:13:02,730 CH: Exactly. 265 00:13:02,730 --> 00:13:07,279 And you might not realise it at first glance, but you can use it in 100 different scenarios. 266 00:13:07,279 --> 00:13:09,769 OF: Yes, I see that. 267 00:13:09,769 --> 00:13:10,930 Amazing. 268 00:13:10,930 --> 00:13:16,009 [Voiceover] OF: Jiyoung, the transgender teacher from 269 00:13:16,009 --> 00:13:17,009 Episode 30. 270 00:13:17,009 --> 00:13:18,490 [Clip] J: I mean, I have a lot. 271 00:13:18,490 --> 00:13:23,269 But at the moment, my favourite one is this little pig that says ‘amazing’ with a 272 00:13:23,269 --> 00:13:24,269 rainbow behind it. 273 00:13:24,269 --> 00:13:29,690 Because it's still quite queer, but it's vague enough that my co-workers will not be able 274 00:13:29,690 --> 00:13:30,690 to tell that it's queer. 275 00:13:30,690 --> 00:13:31,690 OF: Yes. 276 00:13:31,690 --> 00:13:35,340 J: So I like that I can use it in versatile circumstances. 277 00:13:35,340 --> 00:13:41,630 [Voiceover] OF: Noxolo Bhengu, the African community organiser 278 00:13:41,630 --> 00:13:42,660 from Episode 14. 279 00:13:42,660 --> 00:13:43,660 [Clip] OF: What is your favourite WeChat sticker? 280 00:13:43,660 --> 00:13:45,420 NB: That is my life most of the time. 281 00:13:45,420 --> 00:13:47,250 I'm like “What do I do? 282 00:13:47,250 --> 00:13:49,670 This is just too much”. 283 00:13:49,670 --> 00:13:53,290 OF: That’s a good one. 284 00:13:53,290 --> 00:13:57,850 [Voiceover] OF: Zhang Yuan, the performance art exhibitor 285 00:13:57,850 --> 00:13:58,870 from Episode 07. 286 00:13:58,870 --> 00:14:00,620 [Clip] ZY: Let me send you. 287 00:14:00,620 --> 00:14:02,069 OF: OK, here It is. 288 00:14:02,069 --> 00:14:03,069 Oh, OK. 289 00:14:03,069 --> 00:14:06,620 Now hang on, let me see, it says ‘大脑一片空白 [dànǎo yīpiàn kòngbái]’. 290 00:14:06,620 --> 00:14:07,620 ZY: Yes. 291 00:14:07,620 --> 00:14:09,360 OF: OK, phew, I could read it. 292 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:10,360 What does that mean? 293 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:11,970 ZY: That means “nothing in my head”. 294 00:14:11,970 --> 00:14:13,959 OF: Oh, I like it. 295 00:14:13,959 --> 00:14:17,170 So if somebody asks you a question, you don't want to or you can't answer, you just send 296 00:14:17,170 --> 00:14:18,170 that. 297 00:14:18,170 --> 00:14:19,170 ZY: Yeah, yeah. 298 00:14:19,170 --> 00:14:22,850 It's like “I cannot think of anything”. 299 00:14:22,850 --> 00:14:27,709 [Voiceover] OF: Katherine Wong, the Peruvian healer from 300 00:14:27,709 --> 00:14:28,730 Episode 04. 301 00:14:28,730 --> 00:14:31,190 [Clip] KW: They look like ballerinas. 302 00:14:31,190 --> 00:14:34,079 From the 70s. 303 00:14:34,079 --> 00:14:40,930 Yeah, I love this sticker because it describes the feeling of excitement and happiness that 304 00:14:40,930 --> 00:14:41,970 I have sometimes. 305 00:14:41,970 --> 00:14:46,040 OF: I'm actually drawn most to the one right at the back. 306 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:48,060 And she is concentrating very, very carefully. 307 00:14:48,060 --> 00:14:52,110 KW: I didn't see her. 308 00:14:52,110 --> 00:14:57,550 [Voiceover] OF: Jo McFarland, the product sourcing leader 309 00:14:57,550 --> 00:14:58,649 from Episode 18. 310 00:14:58,649 --> 00:15:02,529 [Clip] JM: Oh my goodness, how do we describe this? 311 00:15:02,529 --> 00:15:04,829 They're like The Golden Girls. 312 00:15:04,829 --> 00:15:07,130 And they're kind of like shimming their chests. 313 00:15:07,130 --> 00:15:09,070 Is that the best way to say it, Oscar? 314 00:15:09,070 --> 00:15:10,070 OF: Yes. 315 00:15:10,070 --> 00:15:12,460 JM: And that, to me, is a fun sticker. 316 00:15:12,460 --> 00:15:17,730 Because I have a lot of fun in Shanghai, and I've got a lot of girlfriends that make me 317 00:15:17,730 --> 00:15:22,319 smile, and all the great people that I've met while I'm here. 318 00:15:22,319 --> 00:15:26,519 [Voiceover] OF: Vladimir Djurovic, the brand naming expert 319 00:15:26,519 --> 00:15:27,759 from Episode 13. 320 00:15:27,759 --> 00:15:30,329 [Clip] VD: I never use stickers. 321 00:15:30,329 --> 00:15:33,350 But I use, a lot, the emoticons. 322 00:15:33,350 --> 00:15:36,930 And my favourite one is the determined one with the bandana. 323 00:15:36,930 --> 00:15:40,449 I hope you will give me a pass. 324 00:15:40,449 --> 00:15:43,639 OF: Well, this is a particular WeChat emoticon. 325 00:15:43,639 --> 00:15:47,810 There isn't something which is in the usual emoji which comes close to this one, right? 326 00:15:47,810 --> 00:15:48,959 VD: It's true. 327 00:15:48,959 --> 00:15:50,560 I never realised that. 328 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:52,000 OF: Yeah. 329 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:53,920 That's why it passes the test. 330 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:54,920 You can still use that. 331 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:55,920 VD: Thank you. 332 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:58,000 OF: That’s just an exception. 333 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:02,870 [Voiceover] OF: Salome Chen, the investor and developer 334 00:16:02,870 --> 00:16:04,360 from Episode 24. 335 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:07,710 [Clip] SC: I like the one with sunglasses. 336 00:16:07,710 --> 00:16:11,300 Because I enjoy mocking people slightly. 337 00:16:11,300 --> 00:16:12,300 OF: Oh. 338 00:16:12,300 --> 00:16:13,300 SC: Yeah. 339 00:16:13,300 --> 00:16:15,080 OF: So this is you saying “Cool”. 340 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,260 But really, you're saying “Hmm”. 341 00:16:17,260 --> 00:16:19,339 SC: Huhuhuh. 342 00:16:19,339 --> 00:16:24,990 [Voiceover] OF: Louise Roy, the childbirth and lactation 343 00:16:24,990 --> 00:16:27,029 specialist from Episode 06. 344 00:16:27,029 --> 00:16:31,980 [Clip] LR: My favourite WeChat sticker is actually 345 00:16:31,980 --> 00:16:37,990 one that says ‘Google it, you lazy ****’. OF: Yes, you need to do a “Bing it” too. 346 00:16:37,990 --> 00:16:42,089 LR: Yeah, ‘Bing it, you lazy ****’. OF: It doesn't have the same ring, does it? 347 00:16:42,089 --> 00:16:47,360 [Voiceover] OF: Stéphane Wilmet, the head of consumer 348 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:49,830 insights at L'Oreal from Episode 01. 349 00:16:49,830 --> 00:16:52,270 [Clip] OF: You know, in the West, we have this image 350 00:16:52,270 --> 00:16:56,480 of the hamster in the hamster wheel, running and running and running on the wheel, but 351 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:58,709 going nowhere. 352 00:16:58,709 --> 00:17:03,420 But here in China, I feel that it's always up, up, up, up. 353 00:17:03,420 --> 00:17:05,720 For me, this one sums up what I experience. 354 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:10,579 You’re always going somewhere better, more challenging, at a pace that accelerates. 355 00:17:10,579 --> 00:17:12,709 Up or out. 356 00:17:12,709 --> 00:17:16,429 There's no going nowhere or no standing still here. 357 00:17:16,429 --> 00:17:17,890 OF: Mmm. 358 00:17:17,890 --> 00:17:22,189 [Voiceover] OF: Björn Dahlman, the Swedish clown from 359 00:17:22,189 --> 00:17:23,189 Episode 17. 360 00:17:23,189 --> 00:17:27,261 [Clip] BD: It's a pink dragon hugging a girl, and 361 00:17:27,261 --> 00:17:29,140 there’s a story to it. 362 00:17:29,140 --> 00:17:37,440 In 2015, I met this Chinese girl on what was then called ‘China Love Cupid’, I think. 363 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,059 This was before the Tinder era. 364 00:17:40,059 --> 00:17:46,120 She didn't speak English at all, so it was this total cliché of trying to communicate, 365 00:17:46,120 --> 00:17:50,440 trying to figure out "Are we dating, or what?” 366 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:53,430 She was talking about marriage on, I think, the fourth date. 367 00:17:53,430 --> 00:17:55,610 You know, all the clichés were there. 368 00:17:55,610 --> 00:18:00,059 But she looked like that little girl in the sticker, and when I talked to her I felt like 369 00:18:00,059 --> 00:18:03,890 a big pink fluffy dragon. 370 00:18:03,890 --> 00:18:10,330 So to me, that series of dragon and little girl stickers became our little story. 371 00:18:10,330 --> 00:18:14,460 So it's a sticker attached to memories, more than anything else. 372 00:18:14,460 --> 00:18:15,460 OF: Beautiful. 373 00:18:15,460 --> 00:18:16,460 Thank you. 374 00:18:16,460 --> 00:18:17,460 BD: Yeah, it was beautiful. 375 00:18:17,460 --> 00:18:19,310 OF: How long did it last in the end? 376 00:18:19,310 --> 00:18:22,730 BD: I don't know if it even started. 377 00:18:22,730 --> 00:18:26,020 We're still in touch, though, as friends. 378 00:18:26,020 --> 00:18:27,020 It's no drama. 379 00:18:27,020 --> 00:18:29,910 Just, I wish I could speak Chinese. 380 00:18:29,910 --> 00:18:32,270 OF: Well, it's chicken and egg, you know. 381 00:18:32,270 --> 00:18:35,510 Once you have a Chinese girlfriend, that's when the language comes to you, right? 382 00:18:35,510 --> 00:18:38,620 BD: Yeah, and you know that's what the Chinese teacher said at the school. 383 00:18:38,620 --> 00:18:40,820 “OK, step number one, find girlfriend. 384 00:18:40,820 --> 00:18:42,520 Step number two, here's your textbook.” 385 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:49,260 [Voiceover] OF: Wendy Saunders, the architect from Episode 386 00:18:49,260 --> 00:18:50,260 12. 387 00:18:50,260 --> 00:18:52,270 [Clip] WS: I got this from a friend, and it's just 388 00:18:52,270 --> 00:18:54,090 super funny, I think. 389 00:18:54,090 --> 00:18:59,880 And it always makes me laugh because it's just these two women, fighting but not really 390 00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:00,880 fighting. 391 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:01,880 If you've lived here… 392 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:02,880 OF: You’ve seen it. 393 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:04,020 WS: You’ve seen this. 394 00:19:04,020 --> 00:19:07,120 And it's kind of people like these Shanghainese fishwives. 395 00:19:07,120 --> 00:19:08,120 OF: They’re feisty. 396 00:19:08,120 --> 00:19:09,120 WS: They’re feisty. 397 00:19:09,120 --> 00:19:10,650 They're fighting, but they're not really fighting. 398 00:19:10,650 --> 00:19:13,250 They're just kind of annoying each other. 399 00:19:13,250 --> 00:19:16,830 And if you look, they're like trying to kick but not really kicking. 400 00:19:16,830 --> 00:19:18,390 They know they shouldn't be kicking. 401 00:19:18,390 --> 00:19:21,860 So it's kind of really funny, because you can just imagine that being your neighbour 402 00:19:21,860 --> 00:19:22,900 right? 403 00:19:22,900 --> 00:19:24,980 OF: Yes. 404 00:19:24,980 --> 00:19:29,530 [Voiceover] OF: Michael Kinsey, the fire engineer from 405 00:19:29,530 --> 00:19:30,550 Episode 25. 406 00:19:30,550 --> 00:19:33,250 [Clip] MK: So this sticker is actually formed of 407 00:19:33,250 --> 00:19:37,320 three parts - three stickers - that you have to sort of put together in the right order. 408 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:42,410 And it's of this small, fat, Chinese child belly dancing, almost. 409 00:19:42,410 --> 00:19:44,679 So I love this because it's quite happy. 410 00:19:44,679 --> 00:19:47,900 It was one of the first ones I've seen which are multi-component stickers. 411 00:19:47,900 --> 00:19:48,900 OF: Yes. 412 00:19:48,900 --> 00:19:53,700 MK: And I use it, I guess, when I want to say that I'm happy, or to perhaps exemplify 413 00:19:53,700 --> 00:19:55,310 my dancing style. 414 00:19:55,310 --> 00:19:58,960 OF: Well, I would like to see you dance like this. 415 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:01,000 Very good. 416 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:03,659 And it's cheating as well, because it's three, not one. 417 00:20:03,659 --> 00:20:04,659 MK: True. 418 00:20:04,659 --> 00:20:05,659 OF: Can you actually send one of them? 419 00:20:05,659 --> 00:20:06,659 It must be a bit weird. 420 00:20:06,659 --> 00:20:10,909 MK: I’ve sent them in the wrong order once, and it was like “Oh, recall, recall,” 421 00:20:10,909 --> 00:20:12,559 you know? 422 00:20:12,559 --> 00:20:15,850 [Outro] OF: I know from last season that for some 423 00:20:15,850 --> 00:20:21,130 people the bit about WeChat stickers is your favourite aspect of the entire show, and for 424 00:20:21,130 --> 00:20:22,880 some it’s the least. 425 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:26,530 If you’ve made it this far through today’s episode, I’m hoping that you fall into the 426 00:20:26,530 --> 00:20:29,220 first category, so thank you very much! 427 00:20:29,220 --> 00:20:33,400 Please consider this my Chinese New Year gift to you, and for everyone who is listening 428 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:37,590 to this on their Spring holidays, I hope you’re taking some time to relax and look back on 429 00:20:37,590 --> 00:20:41,020 what has been another challenging year. 430 00:20:41,020 --> 00:20:44,809 Mosaic of China is me, Oscar Fuchs, with artwork by Denny Newell. 431 00:20:44,809 --> 00:20:48,500 I’ll see you again in the year of the Tiger. 432 00:20:48,500 --> 00:20:51,970 [Clips] SW: Thank you very much. 433 00:20:51,970 --> 00:20:53,530 JB: Thank you, it’s been a pleasure. 434 00:20:53,530 --> 00:20:54,530 CC: My pleasure. 435 00:20:54,530 --> 00:20:55,530 KW: Thank you so much. 436 00:20:55,530 --> 00:20:56,700 C: Oh hey, thanks. 437 00:20:56,700 --> 00:20:58,340 LR: Thank you very much. 438 00:20:58,340 --> 00:20:59,340 ZY: Thank you. 439 00:20:59,340 --> 00:21:00,340 JZ: Thank you. 440 00:21:00,340 --> 00:21:01,340 SH: It’s been a pleasure. 441 00:21:01,340 --> 00:21:02,340 DJ: Thank you. 442 00:21:02,340 --> 00:21:03,340 AS: Thank you. 443 00:21:03,340 --> 00:21:04,340 WS: Thank you. 444 00:21:04,340 --> 00:21:05,340 VD: Thanks. 445 00:21:05,340 --> 00:21:06,340 NB: Thank you. 446 00:21:06,340 --> 00:21:07,340 DT: Thank you. 447 00:21:07,340 --> 00:21:08,340 CC: Thank you. 448 00:21:08,340 --> 00:21:09,340 BD: Hehe, thank you. 449 00:21:09,340 --> 00:21:10,340 JM: Thank you very much. 450 00:21:10,340 --> 00:21:11,340 SH: My pleasure, thanks. 451 00:21:11,340 --> 00:21:12,340 MQ: Thank you. 452 00:21:12,340 --> 00:21:13,340 AJ: Thanks a lot. 453 00:21:13,340 --> 00:21:14,340 CH: Thank you. 454 00:21:14,340 --> 00:21:15,340 BO: Thank you very much. 455 00:21:15,340 --> 00:21:16,340 SC: Thank you. 456 00:21:16,340 --> 00:21:17,340 MK: Thank you. 457 00:21:17,340 --> 00:21:18,340 CM: Thank you. 458 00:21:18,340 --> 00:21:19,340 VF: Thank you so much. 459 00:21:19,340 --> 00:21:20,340 ZH: Thank you for having me. 460 00:21:20,340 --> 00:21:21,340 MK: It was my pleasure. 461 00:21:21,340 --> 00:21:21,840 J: Thank you so much.