J: Gong Xi Fa Chai.

C: K, I'm just gonna put this back here.

J: Hiii.

J: If you haven't seen our faces before, I'm Jessica.

C: I'm Claudia

J: We're married,

and we're currently in Malaysia.

C: We are here for a total of seven weeks.

C: We normally live in Brighton.

J: Which is a lovely little seaside town, where it's currently snowing.

C: I know. [evil laugh]

J: And we're on the beach most of the time. C: Smug much?

J: Sorry, guys.

C: We're currently in Kuala Lumpur, which is the capital of Malaysia,

visiting my relatives, as I am half-Malaysian.

C: And... J: And we came to see them for Chinese New Year!

J: We did the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations and festivities

and we thought that we would talk to you guys about Chinese New Year

J: and the Zodiac, and what it means! C: Yeah.

J: A) Because we love that kind of stuff

J: But B) because our Zodiacs fit us really, really well

and so we're intrigued to see whether your Zodiac fits you really well.

J: We're gonna tell you what ours are

and then you can tell us whether that is actually true or not.

C: I'm gonna... J: Yes?

C: tell you about you, according to one--this is an important thing.

C: You're gonna use one site, because depending which site you go to,

you can make your future how you want it to.

J: Yeah, they're all different.

J: If you don't like one, just find another. It's fine. C: Yeah, be like...

J: "I want a better year."

C: Generally, the summary of the characteristics of each animal that you're assigned to

is quite true, I find.

C: In my past thirty years (yes, I'm thirty),

when I've met people, I'm like, "Oh, what Chinese Sign are you?"

('cause that's the first question I obviously ask them)

I'm like, "Oh, yeah, that kind of makes sense, because you're like this..."

Actually, I don't know -

I'm lying, I don't know off by heart what each animal Sign's characteristics are,

C: but when I look them up... J: Well, let's just begin with what they actually are!

J: The Twelve Signs of the Zodiac are:

J: Rat,

C: Ox,

J: Tiger,

C: Rabbit,

J: Dragon,

C: Snake,

J: Horse,

C: Goat,

J: Monkey,

C: a Rooster,

J: Dog,

C: a Pig

J: Ooo.

C: I was born in 1987.

So that makes me a Yin Fire Rabbit.

J: And I was born in January, 1989,

which makes me a Yang Earth Dragon.

And I had to mention that I'm born in January

because the Chinese Lunar New Year is based on the Chinese calendar

and the New Year generally falls at the end of January or the beginning of February

J: and not... C: Yeah. And it's to do with the cycle of the moon,

C: rather than a calendar itself. J: And not the Gregorian calendar.

J: So, because I was born before Chinese New Year,

I have the same chara--I have the same Zodiac as if you were born in 1988--I don't know, I'm waffling.

C: Got there in the end. J: If you were born in January or February,

J: be careful; find out when the New Year was that year.

C: Yeah. For instance, this year,

2018,

the first day of Chinese New Year was the four...

C: --no, sixteenth of February? J: Sixteenth. Yeah.

C: So, quite late.

C: So, yeah, if you were born before Chinese New Year this year, you are a Rooster.

J: And if you were born after, you're a Dog.

J: Not that you're watching this, obviously,

or understanding what's happening, because you're like a month old.

C: Those different things, though - Ying / Yang, and then the elements like Wood, Fire, Water, Earth...

C: I think there's Air, as well. J: Oh, yeah. There are five elements

in the Chinese cycle, and they cycle through each time

and - each time your Sign comes up in the zodiac -

and they are:

So, it’s Fire, Wood, Metal, Water, Air.

J: Yes.

C: I’m pretty sure.

C: So, the cycle is of twelve. There are twelve animals.

So, each year – each Chinese year is assigned an animal –

but then on top of that, like you said,

depending what cycle it’s been,

C: you then are one of the five elements. J: Yep.

And also, the Yin and Yang part is more just--that’s kind of set, because depending what animal you are,

C: you’re either a Yin or you're a Yang animal. J: It’s very specific.

So, a Rabbit is a Yin animal.

J: Yes. C: And the Dragon is a Yang animal.

J: And that is because Yin animals have an even number of claws

and Yang animals have an odd number of claws

and the only exception to this is the Rat, which is both Yin or Yang.

J: Because, fun fact:

rats have four claws at the front and five at the back!

J: Isn’t that intriguing? C: The whole thing’s a bit random, to be honest, like...

C: But, um… J: It’s very special.

C: What, you may ask, is Yin and Yang?

C: Well, I’m not an expert on the subject.

C: You might need to go see some Feng Shui master on that.

C: Yin is like…cool, calm, quiet,

C: introvert. J: Follows the rules.

C: Yeah. That kind of stuff.

J: Everything you associate with an introvert. C: Anything you can think of as calm, basically.

C: And then Yang is obviously the opposite,

which is like hot, fire, reds,

C: energetic, lively. J: Extroverted.

C: Extroverted. J: Talkative!

C: Talkative, yeah.

C: And you need –

like the little Yin and Yang circle thing –

you need the two together to make a complete—

J: Which is why we work so well together. C: [Laughing] Yeah.

C: And too much Yang is bad, as is too much Yin is bad.

C: Or not “bad,” but not as good.

C: For an instance

(this is an interesting thing that my uncle told me):

the fruit

- the king of fruits, as they call it in Malaysia -

the durian,

which is infamous for its smell:

C: the flesh is the Yang J: Yes.

because it’s like the tasty bit; full of flavour and life and blah de blah,

C: but the shell - J: Yeah?

if you put water in it

and then drink it – that’s meant to bring you Yin after ingesting the fruit.

J: Ahh!

C: And all fruit apparently will have elements of Yin and Yang.

C: So they’ll have like, you know, the hot and the cold, and all that.

C: I found that really interesting. J: That’s so intriguing!

C: So it’s not just applying to humans, but all forms of life should have elements of Yin and Yang.

J: That was actually really intriguing.

J: There you go. You learn something every day.

J: School time with Jessie and Claud.

J: Now, we’re gonna learn about our Signs

and then we’re gonna tell you about your Signs.

J: So, Claudia. C: Yes.

J: First up.

J: You were born in the year 1987.

J: You are a Rabbit, and the things that are supposed to be lucky for you are:

The colours red, pink, purple, and blue.

C: Well, blue’s my favourite colour. J: You do wear a lot of blue.

J: Your lucky numbers are 3, 4, and 7.

C: You just said the same thing.

J: 3, 4, and 6, darling.

C: Seven, apparently—she’s convinced— J: I can’t even read.

C: She’s convinced that—I bet seven is my unlucky number.

C: Let’s have a look, scroll down. J: It’s here, it’s here.

C: My unlucky number is seven.

C: One, seven, and eight.

J: "Your lucky numbers are 3, 4, and 6!" I said it right.

C: I do like even numbers more than odd numbers.

Probably because I’m a Yin Rabbit with even number of toes on each feet.

J: Lucky flowers: Plantain lily and jasmine.

C: Ooo, I love lily and jasmine. J: You love the smell of jasmine!

C: Plantain?!

C: As in, like…

C: Oh, no, it’s the plantain lily. OK. J: Plantain lily.

C: I thought…banana! J: Not like…

J: A banana.

J: Yes, your unlucky numbers… C: One, seven, and eight.

J: are one, seven, and eight.

C: Which is weird, because eight is normally a very lucky number. J: It’s a lucky Chinese number.

C: It is. I remember this because when we got my – this is a random side story here –

but when my mum bought this Toyota Previa to carry us all around when we were children—

C: I don’t know why she needed such a big car because there were only – J: You were only two of you.

C: two of us, but it was really great because we had like a whole row of seats each.

C: You could request what number plate you wanted (you know, just out of the lists that were available),

and she was like, “Oh, the one with as many eights in it!"

C: So we went for R688TRX.

C: I remember.

C: I remember the number plate.

J: Your unlucky colours are dark brown, dark yellow, and white.

That’s not—you look good in white, but not in dark brown or dark yellow.

C: That’s also really—that’s also really funny, because another side story

C: (but interesting side story):

C: My primary school uniform was dark brown, yellow, and white.

J: But you did well in primary school.

C: Yeah, I did. J: You had a great time.

C: I did, yeah.

J: A Rabbit’s personality: C: Mmhm.

J: Quiet.

J: "Rabbits tend to be gentle, quiet, and alert."

J: You’re quite alert. I’ll give you that, yeah. C: That’s kinda true.

C: I think I give off the image of being laid back

and not really knowing what’s going on, but I know.

J: OK, hon!

J: You are also quick, skillful, kind, and patient.

And particularly responsible.

C: Mm, that’s true.

J: You are a medical professional, so, I guess that is…

That’s very responsible.

J: However…

The bad points of you:

"You are superficial."

C: Oh. J: I don't think that's really...

J: "Stubborn,

melancholy,

and overly discreet."

C: Not with you, but, you know…

C: with other people, perhaps. J: Never with me.

C: But it then says…

J: Oh, yeah, sorry. "Generally speaking, people who belong to the Rabbit Zodiac Sign have likable characters."

"Ladies belonging to the Rabbit Zodiac Sign,

apart from the pretty and demure experience

J: have a pure heart--"

C: But it would help if you could get someone who could read properly. J: What?

C: “A demure appearance.” J: What did I say?

C: “Experience” J: Oh.

J: "Rabbits are faithful to those around them, but reluctant to reveal their minds to others

and have a tendency to escape reality."

J: We’re just living up here!

J: "They are too cautious and conservative, which means they miss good opportunities."

C: [Sighing] That’s my downfall, I think.

C: And when I do take a risk, I find I get a real exhilaration from it,

because it’s quite a rarity.

J: 'Oh, my God, a slight risk! Something new!'

C: I know. J: I prefer that, though.

J: Than if you were complete—a person who wanted to jump off a building.

J: Moving on. By the way, this site only gives you if you’re a lady or a gentleman.

J: You may be nothing else.

C: Well, what’s it say about gentlemen? Because I believe you have lady and gentleman qualities –

like the Yin and Yang.

J: I know. I am fully with you. C: You’re both.

J: Gender is a spectrum.

J: As is your gender presentation. C: So, what’s it say? We can read both, gentleman as well.

J: "Gentlemen who belong to the Rabbit Zodiac Sign always treat people politely,"

(Why don’t ladies?)

"with a gentle smile that makes people feel they are credible and sincerely."

J: "When meeting trouble, Rabbits can handle it in an orderly way."

C: That’s true. J: "When encountering tough difficulties,

they are never discouraged

but are persistent to seek solutions."