Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better

Often times, I assume that the way I go about doing something is the best way to do it.  I’ve thrown a side eye to parents of kids who are having a temper tantrum, as I question their methods of discipline.  I’ve tasted someone else’s food while thinking about how I could make the same dish, but better.  Maybe it’s just me, but I’m guilty being a bit ‘judgy’ every now and then.

So you would expect that I brought a bit of this to China.  I assumed that I had to replicate our “US way of life”, the best we could, because of course, it must be a better way to go.

After being here for 2 months, I am convinced that some US ways of life are better – one trip to Target to complete a simple shopping list is WAY better than the endless markets I need to go to now.  But,  I’ve come to appreciate ways in which China simply has a better idea.

One of those better ways I’ve learned in China is “WeChat”.

At first glance, WeChat is a simple smart phone app, like Facebook, Skype or any text message function.  But, as you live here, you realize it’s so much more.

• Need to get in touch with the teacher?  Send her a message via WeChat.
• Meet someone and want to exchange contact information?  Scan their WeChat QRCode, and you’re connected.
• Want to do a quick video call?  Use the WeChat video function.
• Birthday Party Invites?  Create a WeChat group and easily notify guests of party details, and any changes.
• Get lost on the way to a meeting?  Have someone already at the meeting turn on their WeChat location feature, and guide you to the right spot.
• Out to eat and don’t have exact change to split the bill?  Send your portion of the bill to one person via WeChat, and have them pay the entire bill (via WeChat of course)
• Forgot your restaurant membership card at home?  Show them the electronic card via WeChat
• Forget to send out your “red envelopes” stuffed with cash for Chinese New Year?  Send your hongbao via WeChat.
• Phone got cut off?  Pay your phone bill via WeChat.
• Have no idea what those text messages say from your phone company because they are in Mandarin?  Send them to yourself in WeChat and translate them to English.  (Maybe I should have done this one before the phone got cut off :).

While I know there are apps that do all of these functions individually, I haven’t used one yet that is as comprehensive and widely used as WeChat. The capabilities are amazing – it’s your communications, banking, social media, and GPS, all wrapped into one.  For my marketers, it’s also a huge marketing platform for businesses.  Simply put, you can’t live in China without WeChat.

Needless to say, I love WeChat; it’s been a great reminder for me to remain open to new and better ways of living life.  I’m just waiting for the WeChat function that will babysit my kids :).

PS – Check out some of my pics from an awesome trip to Huangpu Ancient Port.

-rms