Wine Down Wednesday: Felecia Chatman

Wine Down Wednesday: Felecia Chatman

Aired: February 17th, 2022

Audio and Photo Source: Felecia Chatman and Instagram

Episode Summary

This Wine Down Wednesday fed our souls, and not just because we covered fast-food abroad. Felecia took us with her on her travel journey as she recounts the time she spent living in Germany, China, Israel and Palestine. Tune in to this WDW Recap to learn the least Vegetarian-friendly place she's lived, where she learned body positivity, and where she found family in the local Black communities.

 

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Episode Transcript

Wine Down Wednesday: Felecia Chatman

 

Orion Brown (00:00:02):

Hey, you guys. Do y'all see this behind me. That is, that is what's happening in Denver right now. It is snow everywhere. Um, it is Wednesday. Hey Jenique. Hey Chris. Hey, y'all come on in. Hey, John, uh, it's Wine Down Wednesday. Y'all I hope you have a glass. Please tell me you have a glass, throw a glass in the comments cuz uh, I need somebody to drink with. That's just where we're at. It has been a crazy week. Look at me getting some volume here though. A um, for those of you who don't know me, my name's Orion brown. I am the founder and CEO of BlackTravelBox. We are the only personal care products brand focused on travelers of color. And I'm super excited to be here. We about to kick it about to get that wine. Jenique, I know you had a day too. So clink clink, a Chris came through with the glasses. I should have gotten red. I should have gotten red, you know, but that's okay.

Orion Brown (00:01:04):

We who are new to Wine Down. This is honestly just my excuse to kick it with you and talk about my favorite topic, which is travel. Oftentimes we get into all kinds of other things, travel, beauty, food, all kinds of stuff. Hey Morocco tours. Uh, Hey, Felecia, you made it in. Awesome. Cause we got so many other folks coming in, come on in. Y'all throw your glass in, up in the, uh, chat. It could be Kool-Aid Ooh girl, what you got? Wait a minute. What is that?

Felecia Chatman  (00:01:36):

I, what I have is juice. I don't drink.

Orion Brown (00:01:40):

I'm not mad at this is juice too. It's just sat. It sat in a jar a little too long. Yeah. Uh,

Felecia Chatman  (00:01:48):

I was like, I would just go ahead and just pour it. And I was just like, I'm gonna just toast to myself and you know my non-alcoholic beverage.

Orion Brown (00:01:55):

So, so a there's no shade in drinking juice. It's probably much healthier. Two, I honestly, sometimes we'll just get up and like, especially if I have a cold or I'm feeling sick and get myself a fancy glass of orange juice just to like, you know,

Felecia Chatman  (00:02:12):

It's just, I always tell myself, treat yourself, but sometimes treat yourself. It's it's just always in the spirit. We just gotta be like, treat yourself.

Orion Brown (00:02:20):

You just gotta treat yourself and treat yourself well, and I do love a good fancy glass. Like pinkys up? This isn't even champagne. This is just like a white, but I was like, I like the little glass. It just makes me feel dainty.

Felecia Chatman  (00:02:32):

Really nice. It,

Orion Brown (00:02:33):

I love it. I love it. Thank you so much for joining. I'm so excited. I already tell it's gonna be lit. I'm just, I'm just so excited. Um, so tell everybody who you are. Aye Soraea. You can. Yeah, if you can phonetically fix that for me, then that would be awesome. I wanna know how to say people's names. Correct. I keep for, I keep forgetting though, like screen names aren't necessarily real names. Sometimes they are. Sometimes they aren't, uh, sometimes it's a whole sentence and I break it in the wrong spot and then I'm like, that's not what you was trying to

Felecia Chatman  (00:03:06):

Say. Yeah. I think I always get mixed up when I see people's names. And I'm just like, what would you like to be called? That's the easiest thing. Like that's the easiest way you can handle that. It's just like, what would you like to be called?

Orion Brown (00:03:19):

Gems dropped already. We only in like three minutes in, we dropped gems. Just

Felecia Chatman  (00:03:25):

That. Hey everyone.

Orion Brown (00:03:26):

So Ray. Oh, Solia Ray

Felecia Chatman  (00:03:29):

Solia Ray. Yes.

Speaker 4 (00:03:31):

Okay. Hey girl. Hey.

Orion Brown (00:03:35):

Um, so tell everybody, it sounds like you got some friends already up in here. I'm not mad at it. Hey, y'all come, come kick it with BlackTravelBox. Go make sure you follow us. Um, so

Felecia Chatman  (00:03:46):

You follow share, um, and follow along. Yeah. So I am Felecia. I go by shadesoffe, uh, is my IG handle. Um, as well as my curated blog. Um, I've been writing on and on for like the past eight years. Um, it's something that I love to do and document, um, just from travel, lifestyle, um, especially just from living abroad in different places in spaces. So, um, right now I've just been super excited to just to connect with BlackTravelBox and other organizations to learn and support everything that you're doing, um, in the community.

Orion Brown (00:04:29):

That's awesome. That's awesome. And tell us, uh, where you are, where you're from and how many stamps do you have on your passport?

Felecia Chatman  (00:04:37):

Yes. So I am, I'm from I'm Houston, Texas. Um, I'm re I'm temporarily right now. I'm remote, but I am in Houston right now. I just moved from, uh, relocated from Tulsa and then I will be moving to the DMV area, uh, come summer. So I'm always here and there and everywhere in between. Um, so it's, uh, been a time, but yeah, all my H Town people stand up. All right. Um, gotta represent ahe anyways.

Orion Brown (00:05:14):

I see y'all! You out here.

Felecia Chatman  (00:05:15):

Yeah, so that's kind of like where I'm at the moment just been relocating and then I'll relocate again. Yeah,

Orion Brown (00:05:24):

That's amazing. And so, so passport, passport stamps,

Felecia Chatman  (00:05:29):

Passport stamps Currently, I didn't, have not counted how many places, but I think it's anywhere between like 10 and 15 countries.

Orion Brown (00:05:39):

Okay, she said I don't even have to count. It's just it's

Felecia Chatman  (00:05:42):

I think it's somewhere in the ballpark. However, I think for me, um, my experience has been a little bit longer just because I lived abroad. Um, so sometimes that travel was kind of mixed in and like work. So that's why it's like all kind of muddled together.

Orion Brown (00:06:00):

So do you, do you think like when you're traveling for work or if you're like already say in Europe and you go to places over the weekend, does that count or like, how do you, how do you think about that?

Felecia Chatman  (00:06:11):

It counts when it gets stamped.

Orion Brown (00:06:13):

Boom done. She said what she siad.

Felecia Chatman  (00:06:17):

It counts when it gets stamped. It counts when it is a visa permit that is in my, uh, passport bucket, um, booklet. So it, it counts and y'all, don't let nobody else tell y'all that it counts.

Orion Brown (00:06:31):

Love it. I love it. So, so tell me what took you abroad like and how did you make the decision to move abroad? Had you been traveling a lot previously or was it something that was like a new adventure for you?

Felecia Chatman  (00:06:44):

So I've always kind of just had like been curious just about life. So different places being, um, born and raised on the Southwest side of Houston, which is a very diverse, uh, community, but I always just had the, is innate, uh, feeling, some people call it spirit. Some people got it, call it, God whatever guidance, um, of just wanting to be curious about other people, wanting to be curious about other cultures. And so that led me, um, in University I went and I did a study abroad in Germany. Um, at the time I was learning the language. So it helped just to know the language and how to, and also know like just the history of everything that I was studying. And then from there, once I graduated, I actually ended up joining the Peace Corps, which was an adventure within itself. Um, so for those of you who don't know about the Peace Corps, um, right now, I think they're slowly opening up programs, but you're pretty much in developing countries or even some might be parts might be developed and some might be developing within a country and you kind of focus on different sectors where they send US citizens to other countries to help.

Felecia Chatman  (00:07:54):

Um, and so that led me to live abroad in China for a couple of years. And then after that I went and worked, um, and went to Israel and Palestine. So it was like a night and day

Orion Brown (00:08:10):

Just, yeah, that's not like Germany at all. It's

Felecia Chatman  (00:08:12):

Different.

Orion Brown (00:08:13):

In fact, they may have some antithetical beliefs.

Felecia Chatman  (00:08:15):

Yeah. I was really just diving in. I wanted to go to a place where, um, I didn't know anything. Like I, I am that person when I travel. I don't want you to tell me about it because sometimes the media can, um, just kind of blow up stories. You, you do have to be, um, open minded when you're traveling and you do have to be cognizant of like whatever political or geopolitical things that are going on. However, it has never stopped me from going to places. Um, it's just more aware to, to definitely travel. Yeah.

Orion Brown (00:08:48):

So what's the, what's the place that you've traveled to that we'd be giving you the side eye and you're like, yeah, but I'm go anyway.

Felecia Chatman  (00:08:55):

Um, I think one of the places was definitely Israel being in Israel and some people call it Palestine. Some people call it the West Bank. Um, it depends on your technicalities of it. And so, so

Orion Brown (00:09:08):

And your political proclivities. Yep.

Felecia Chatman  (00:09:10):

Yeah. And then the time that I was there, um, uh, I think there was strife that was happening in the Gaza strip. So I was literally like maybe, maybe 30 miles from when they were flying the kites over with little bombs and it's, it was an interesting time to be there. Yeah.

Orion Brown (00:09:31):

How, okay, so, so outside of the political atmosphere, what was it like to be one, a Black female in like the middle of a war torn territory? Um, and how, how did you, or even just being a female within a war territory? Yeah. Or like, how did you navigate that? Were you able to find sort of enjoyment in the space or was it really like life or death? Like, you know, stuff we see in the movies.

Felecia Chatman  (00:10:08):

Yeah. Um, so it's really just, if you are closer to where it's happening, um, when there are maybe little up when there might be some uprisings or some conflicts, uh, that are going on, however, really people are living their lives. It's just like, I know this is happening. If I need to take shelter, everyone, uh, for most buildings and most communities have bomb shelters. So that was something used to get used to is having a bomb shelter in my home. And so that became normal. Um, what is, you know, abnormal, uh, for other, it, it just became normal to, to see this and being a Black woman, I was actually within the Ethiopian Israeli community. So I saw other people that looked like me. Um, and a lot of them thought that I was Jewish, um, or they thought that I was also a part of like the community. So although religiously, I was very different. However, it was still one of those things, very welcoming community that I lived in a very diverse community because there were, um, people from India, people from Russia, people, um, from Ethiopia and Sudanese people. And so my community

Orion Brown (00:11:20):

Really

Felecia Chatman  (00:11:20):

Very welcoming and where I lived. Um, and then I also had like a host family, family, and also colleagues that I could go to when sometimes it's just like, you need to lay your burdens down. So that is something that everybody understands, microaggression. So it was all of my co colleagues, uh, were actually White and I was the only Black person. And so being able to go and talk to other people, made it a lot easier. Um, but it also kind of created some inner work challenges because people were able to see that I was able to connect with the community and other people on a different level that they weren't. And that was only because even though we are in two very, I'm an American, um, they're Israeli, uh, we were still we Black and there are stuff that you would just never know.

Felecia Chatman  (00:12:11):

And that's the easiest way that like I could put it, but I think it was still so welcoming. It did come with its challenges. Um, only just because I think there were aspects where it's just like, I am, I am not Jewish. I am a person of faith. However, that is not my, uh, religions by choice. So I think sometimes there was just very differences. However, I just remain curious and open because anytime you go into that and just paying reverence to the people that are there. Um, and one thing that I learned from a rabbi was you meet people where they are. So, um, he sat down with leaders in Al-Qaeda. He sat down with some of these heavy top terrorist groups and like people think that they're really doing the right thing, so if you meet them. If their talk is about religion, you're gonna meet them on that level. And so that really taught me just to find the similarities in, in who we are, you know, rather than like the differences, but I would say definitely being within the Ethiopian Israeli community specifically, and learning about everything that they were going through, um, the discrimination, um, the microaggressions and other things we were able to understand and help each other in a way that I think some of my colleagues we weren't, you know?

Orion Brown (00:13:22):

Mm. Cause they're like, oh, that's so, that's so strange. I don't know what you, why would that, why would somebody say that to you?

Felecia Chatman  (00:13:28):

So even like sometimes when I wasn't there, the people would be like, yeah, they would just kind of make snide, be like, well, they always asking for her and I wouldn't be there. And I'm like, I, I dunno what to tell you.

Orion Brown (00:13:41):

There's a reason my dear. There's a reason I, you just shared so much, so much richness of that experience. Um, I just, like, I just wanna like dive in, in like my, on all of it. Um, you mentioned meeting people from so many different parts of the world. I would not have imagined Israel to be that, um, diverse in that way. I do know from a nationality standpoint, like, you know, Jewish people from all over the world coming in, but you're telling me people of color and like, what do you think is the draw? And, you know, how is that something that like benefited your experience by meeting these people from all over?

Felecia Chatman  (00:14:30):

Yeah. Um, so what was the draw specifically to Israel or to live there?

Orion Brown (00:14:35):

For them? Yeah. Like why is it, why is it so diverse? Like,

Felecia Chatman  (00:14:39):

So I think particularly within that community, so again, it's not all of Israel, but particularly within the community that I was living in, um, the draw was just that they were people of faith. So this kind of goes back to like, I think the early, like maybe 1990s or something when they were actually moving the, um, Ethiopian Israeli Jews out of Ethiopia because of the persecution, um, that they were experienced. So you have to go back to like, um, when it, it sounds political, but like Israel itself, anytime you talk about it, it's gonna be political.

Orion Brown (00:15:14):

By definition. It's been political since ancient times. Like we got no,

Felecia Chatman  (00:15:17):

Um, tell is all's time, but it's just gonna be that. And, and so one of the things for the community that I was in is, um, you're also dealing with immigration as well. So these are, you're dealing with the grandparents and people who immigrated in and their whole purpose was because, um, this is their Homeland. So it's kind of learning about the Homeland, learning a lot of about why they needed to be here in this particular place. However, you slowly see now that you have second and third generations, um, there's kind of this move of like, okay. Yeah. My parents came here, my grandparents came here for this reason, but maybe I'm not so tied to the faith that they are. Um, also like many people I came across were not religious. Um, maybe like just ethnically, they will celebrate high holidays, but that's pretty much kind of there. But I think initially like the parents and the people, the grandparents who immigrated was more of like people of strong faith, not that the children don't, but I think that it's just, even now in America, you can see there's a transition in how people, spirituality and, um, religion, how it's playing with, um, younger generations.

Orion Brown (00:16:34):

So you, you've got older generations that are, are far more Orthodox in how they approach religion, how they approach thinking about themselves ethnically as Jewish people or religiously as Jewish people. Yeah. And coming the, and, and bringing their families in and those families growing up in the area and creating the like flourishing sort of diversity pot. Now you mentioned though, like, you were like, well, I don't know about all of Israel, but like just in this area, did you get the sense that, like there was a, um, you know, sort of epicenter for diversity in Israel? Or

Felecia Chatman  (00:17:12):

I would say there's this saying that Tel Aviv plays while Jerusalem prays?

Orion Brown (00:17:20):

Mm.

Felecia Chatman  (00:17:20):

So there's this like just kind of transition where kind of you're in Tel Aviv, that's just kind of like party party. It's a little bit more freer. A lot of people, if they do come visit Israel, it's gonna be to go there first, unless they take like a day trip or a tour to the ne or the desert, um, or to the dead sea. Uh, and then whether you go to Jerusalem, it's a very, even when you enter in, it's a very different feeling entering into it. And you can definitely see the divide in everything that's going on from the old city to the newer parts of it. You can literally see it. And then also when you get into more of how people have to have day passes to get into certain sections and then go back to the other side of the west bank.

Felecia Chatman  (00:18:04):

So it gets very, very tricky. Um, when you're there now, there is another place in the north called HAFA where, um, I was able to meet other people where they live in these communal type of, uh, modern day caboots, which is like communal living. Um, and so this is where multiple families kind of shared their lives together. And there might have been one husband and different wives living in there, or, you know, wife and other people that, but they all just kind of pretty much raise their children and their families together. Um, and so that's also, there's like pockets of diversity, but I think, um, it's just very concentrated in specific areas, uh, specifically. And then there's also kind of when you're looking at Tel Aviv, south Tel Aviv, um, where the Eritreans and Sudanese are, um, who that's a whole other can of worms.

Orion Brown (00:19:03):

Okay. No, but tell us about this Black people, cause y'all know Eritreans, Sudanese, those are skin folk. So like what's the, what's the deal for that section? Do we wanna go there and like kick it with them or do we not so much?

Felecia Chatman  (00:19:15):

I think that, so what I was learning, um, from being there, so my reason for being there was learning about social justice and what does social justice look like for the middle east and how also, when people talk about equality, when they talk about all of these different things, that means something very different. So sometimes as spectators, when we're across the, the sea, you know, we're looking on the outside looking in and it's just kind of like, well, people are yelling terms, but they mean two totally different things. So equality could just mean like, Hey, everyone's kind of like on the same playing field it's equality because we have a Ethiopian here. We have a Sudanese we that we haven't kicked out, but they don't have passports. So, and they can't get out of the country.

Orion Brown (00:20:05):

Yeah.

Felecia Chatman  (00:20:07):

That's equality,

Orion Brown (00:20:09):

Technicalities, technicalities. Yeah. That's a really a good point though. Especially when we talk about like freedom for women, um, in traditionally, uh, more conservative states, whether it be Muslim, whether it be Christian, whether it be, um, you know, Judaism, this idea of, oh, well, women need to be able to run the streets naked if they want to. It's like, yes. And the, if they want to is the important part. And what freedom means to them and equality means to them and rights mean to them.

Felecia Chatman  (00:20:45):

Yes. I think that is the key. It's like what it means to them. I think what I learned. Um, so I worked at a, a Jewish religious school. So where you have to have your skirt come to a certain level. Yeah. Um, my students, the boys and girls are separated on different sides. Like you don't even walk up the same years, um, as boys, once you pass for, uh, the third grade.

Orion Brown (00:21:11):

Oh, okay. They said you starting to bud you to get over there.

Felecia Chatman  (00:21:15):

I feel, yeah. So,

Orion Brown (00:21:16):

Um, what grade was a rough year for me? I, I know I would've loved to have been sperated.

Felecia Chatman  (00:21:21):

It was, but I love, I definitely loved, um, my students that I was working with. And, um, I think that was one of the things that I learned from being around other folks who were, uh, led a life of orthodoxy or to a certain extent, maybe not everything in their life was Orthodox, but it just kind of helped me in my approach when I am looking. And I am traveling to other places of that kiev if they want. Sometimes I think that for me personally, people are so quick to wanna put their beliefs of equality of equity on someone else when it's just like, but I'm okay with what I, this is what I want to do, you know? Yes. Um, and so for some people, I think you're having, like, you're just having two different conversations if you're trying to tell them like, but don't, you wanna be free? Don't you wanna wear a mini skirt? Don't you wanna like, you know, you're having

Orion Brown (00:22:16):

Mm mm, The way my thighs set up. No.

Felecia Chatman  (00:22:18):

Right. And the way the sun is just using them as a foot stool it's angle, it's just not, I just it's it's too much, but yeah. So I just it's, it was a time and definitely a lot of lessons, um, learned as well as, um, I think just, just learning more about the community there. I think oftentimes when you hear about Israel, you don't hear about all of these other groups of people. Um, you might, I think the narrative, even within my coworkers, um, we had these conversations, uh, kind of conscious conversations around the narrative that you hear oftentimes even in America, um, which is typically around a certain sector of people. So, so even that, I think it was just beautiful to, to kind of learn about that. And then even my time when I was living in China, it was beautiful to see, uh, the common things I think in China, it was one of the things where I was talking to a friend and she was just like, oh my God, you have the same thing with like your mom or whatever.

Felecia Chatman  (00:23:30):

I think my mom is on here. Hey girl. But, um, Hey mom. Yeah. It's, it's kind of one of those things where, uh, she was like, oh my God, like me and my mom have the same thing. And it's like, for some reason, I don't know why sometimes things don't connect where they're just like, oh, we're not that different from each other. Yes, we do have differences, but there's also some things that like join us together. Right. Um, and so it's, um, I think just having that love and going forth from there of like the I'm gonna like, love you, where you're at and we can share what we want to. And then also building that trust to where you can. Um, I say in a sense, when you're in community with others, you're, you're still educating them. I know that some people, they have this thing around educating others, but you're still, even if they look like you, you're still educating people how to do life with you.

Orion Brown (00:24:29):

Yes.

Felecia Chatman  (00:24:30):

So that is something that I've had to learn by having a diverse experience of travel, as well as diverse group of friends is realizing like you're always constantly, uh, updating. I kind of look at it like it, like, you're just always yes. And every time you have a system update, sometimes you be like, mm, we gotta get rid of this software cuz it doesn't work for this relationship anymore. Ah,

Orion Brown (00:24:54):

Did y'all catch that. We gotta get rid of this software cuz it's not working for the relationship anymore. And I love, uh, okay. I love so much about this. Um, you, you really hit the nail onthe head, particularly around the similarities versus differences piece. Right. And just digging into that a little bit. Like oftentimes we'll go places because we want to in theory, explore different things. Uh, right. So it's like, oh I've never done this before. Let me go do it. I've never been to this place before, but I really feel almost the most part about travel for me is finding those connections with other people, especially when they're so different from me.

Felecia Chatman  (00:25:36):

Yes. Yeah. And I, I love just going places where it's like, I know that I am not the same, you know? So because it forces me out of my comfort zone. Now don't get me wrong. There are sometimes where I'm traveling, where I do want that comfort. I don't wanna be put on my comfort zone and sometimes you need that.

Orion Brown (00:25:54):

So where's my McDonald's at like, I just want my regular double cheeseburger.

Felecia Chatman  (00:25:58):

Also McDonald's in other places to be hitting. So I don't eat 'em as much here --

Orion Brown (00:26:02):

Let's come back to that.

Felecia Chatman  (00:26:03):

But McDonald's I be trying to play, you know what I'm saying? And um, KFC

Orion Brown (00:26:09):

KFC is fire around the world

Felecia Chatman  (00:26:10):

But KFC here? OK. We're not doing that. Cause the way my stomach's set up, we ain't doing it, but

Orion Brown (00:26:17):

You get all spoiled and then you come back to the states and you're like, this is whack.

Felecia Chatman  (00:26:21):

Hey, I was in China. I didn't even know that they sold chicken fried chicken at McDonald's.

Orion Brown (00:26:27):

Okay. How wait now this is gonna sound so bad. Y'all back me up though. Every Chinese food place in the hood sells fire wings. For the most part, their wings are on point. They're like, look, let's do it for the people we got this walk. We got this oil. Let's get it done.

Felecia Chatman  (00:26:44):

I don't what they do, but it's, it's, some soul in there.

Orion Brown (00:26:46):

They put love in it.

Felecia Chatman  (00:26:48):

It's some soul and love, it's --

Orion Brown (00:26:50):

And some MSG I ain't gonna lie, but the MSG is good. I ain't mad at it.

Felecia Chatman  (00:26:53):

Oh no. I'm telling you like it's it's not the same. It's really not the same.

Orion Brown (00:26:58):

So, so wait let's let's pivot into food cuz there's just so many things you you're clearly coming back. Cause we're gonna talk about so much more stuff. I wanna pivot into food though and not to like set it around the, the time in Israel, but like, like one, I would just love to understand what the food situation was there. Cuz I feel like in my blissful ignorance, I know what the, a food situation is in China. I'm sure it's wrong because it's very American and I haven't been there yet. So like I'm, I'd have a very American view, but like tell us some of the greatest hits. Like,

Felecia Chatman  (00:27:35):

So I would say GOBA, um, G Don, um, there's like a egg and tomatoes then they it's very meat, heavy, a lot of your dishes. So when I went to China, I, I was vegetarian. Underlying was okay.

Orion Brown (00:27:50):

She said, I'm not gonna make it y'all they got fried chicken.

Felecia Chatman  (00:27:53):

Right. Well, so for me, a lot of people, uh, some of my, my friends, um, and other associates that came there were people who have been like vegan or like for like 10 years. But anytime they would travel to, um, China, they would kind of be like vegetarian and adjacent. The reason why is because oftentimes even if you have your vegetables, they have cooked it in the meat or like the grease of some type of animal. So it's so

Orion Brown (00:28:21):

Basically they're Southern.

Felecia Chatman  (00:28:24):

Okay. Right. I didn't even think about that, but yes. Yes. So like they've cooked it in some, something, um, that has a face. So if you are very particular,

Orion Brown (00:28:35):

She said a face y'all, it has a face.

Felecia Chatman  (00:28:38):

If you're very particular in what you are consuming, I will say that. However, I will say that the portion, because you're constantly eating with hot sticks, even though you're eating a lot of food, um, it's still kind of one of those things where I still was able to maintain a very healthy lifestyle living there. Very, very, um, also it was less likely everything is more communal communal style where someone or for the table. Um, so it helps someone who can be in decisive like myself at times, because it's like, you didn't have to over overthink. And so there is a lot of foods I lived in the Siwan province, which is where people know the pandas are, where they breathe the pandas. Um, and so living there are known for like their spicy food. Um, so if you hear, yeah, if you, if you hear anything with LA that's a pepper, they also have this thing called numbing pepper. That if you chew on it, it kind of numbs your tongue. It's very hot. However, the food is very flavorful. It is like they know somebody or a God that has seasoning because it's flavorful,

Orion Brown (00:29:53):

There is seasoning up in here is heat, but there's seasoning,

Felecia Chatman  (00:29:57):

It's heat, but it's seasoning. Um, and the food is just really good. It, there is, I will say a curve to where you do have to get accustom to, um, the spice. However, each province is very different. So if you go to the north, like Gosu, um, this is where you have a lot of Muslims in that area. And so there's actual people that the food is a, um, not spicy. Um, and they have really great noodles, um, there that they are known for. So if you're ever like in the north, you can try like the noodles. If you're in CI one, try their spicy dishes. They also, China is very known for their hot pot. So, um, now I will will say, you need a, I had to hot pot in China is very different, especially depending on what city you're in. I lived in a very small city where I was the only Black of like a million people.

Felecia Chatman  (00:30:52):

So it does something to you to live in a place where you're the only one with over a million people, but it's like the, the food is just very flavorful and you do kind of work your way up to it. Not everything is spicy, but, um, it's, it's, it's fun to experience. And that is definitely a way that the, I found a lot of my Chinese friends were very hospitable and like, they're gonna keep feeding you. They're like very Southern. I'm gonna keep feeding you until you say no. And then you can't say no the first time or the second time, but maybe that third plate, the third plate could be the one.

Orion Brown (00:31:33):

Okay. So the way my carbs is set up, um, I don't have no problem with being open fed by a Chinese person. One of my best friends is Chinese Filipino. And every time I go to her house, she was like, so do you want this and this and this and this. And I'm just like, I don't wanna say no, it just feels wrong in my heart.

Felecia Chatman  (00:31:53):

Right. I mean, I will say it was a catch 22 because on one hand, um, I will say kind of like the body positivity move, which was something that like, when I had, uh, I kind of created, like I had like this girl talk group for women, young professionals, as well as college students. And so that was one thing we kind of worked on because if you were not very petite or thin, a lot of women definitely struggle with gain weight. So it's a very hospitable, but it's like one of those things where people see you gain weight, it's gonna be like, mm, but it's like, you can beating me. What am I supposed to do?

Orion Brown (00:32:31):

You know? So there's something I feel like there's a little something some, well, I would say we are, we tend see in, in the south, in the us little, you know, thicker people, but there is something to be said for, you know, getting that slap on the butt by your auntie. Ooh, look, your butt's getting big. Even though they are like insisting upon a pot of something that the fat has to be skimed off of. It's got that much fat in it. Uh, not that I'm mad at it and you can put hot sauce on and won't even taste the thing. But, you know, but that's, that's a really interesting thought that like body positivity and, or that hospitality and body positivity are somewhat at odds. And to me, it's like, it's like guys, and I know we got guys in the chat. Somebody said, Hey to us earlier, Dwight said, peace and love. I saw you Dwight. Um, Hey Dorian, I see you girl. Um, but to me, Hey fifth on fam. Now I'm just shouting everybody out. But to me, and, and y'all in the comments hop in, if you, if you seen something different, but I feel like American men oftentimes want women, or I have have that fantasy of this woman that can sit and drink beers with 'em and eat pizza and nachos and be cool and like, hang out. But then they also like with that belly dough. Yeah.

Felecia Chatman  (00:33:52):

So I will say that it, it, it depends true. It depends on like what maybe that man or that person is like attracted to, uh, generally. Um, however, I feel, I feel like, yes, I will agree. Yes. And I think it depends, cuz I've also met men where it's just like, Hey, you got a little, you know, you gained a little weight, you gotta mark. We still rolling. Let's go. You know, like my, but

Orion Brown (00:34:24):

You know, stretch marks don't come in singles. They come two by two, like Noah and everybody. Like they,

Felecia Chatman  (00:34:29):

Yes. They were just like, I'm about to leave you alone. You're about,

Orion Brown (00:34:33):

I'm cold by myself. I need some friends.

Felecia Chatman  (00:34:35):

I just, you know, I think that's why with my partner, it's just, I was just like, look like this, is it it like, you know, but he would just kiss every stretch mark and be like, we good. I was like, well, let you know least, you know, friends, so least, you know?

Orion Brown (00:34:53):

Yeah. And, and at the end of the day, these are all like sort of broad swath trends, stereotypes. Yeah. Mainstream concepts. But is one of those things that, you know, I feel like the, the visual of the girl who looks like a model and throws back beers or like throws back whiskey and it's like, you know, how many calories is in the whiskey? The, the low carb stuff. Right. It's completely different thing. Um, but I can't. So, so as a guest in China and eating, did you feel the same type of pressure around body reflect like just body positivity and being really aware of your size in comparison to people, which by the way, is just like celebrities, they're shorter. They're going to be smaller than you.

Felecia Chatman  (00:35:40):

Yeah. So I was saying that when I first got there, um, I was very much aware of my size, um, to the point where I was literally followed in a shop of the lady trying to get every single big size and follow me around. And my friend had to like shoe them cuz I started getting very emotional about it cuz I was already a little bit uncomfortable about me gaining so much weight in a very short time, um, before I left and then, um, still trying to figure out okay, how, how to a love my body as it has transitioned into something, um, that I am not aware of. And so I think the hard thing that people are just like love yourself, but I think you have to also unpack the, the wounds and the words that you have spoken over yourself and over your body.

Felecia Chatman  (00:36:34):

And that's not always the easiest thing to do. I, you're not gonna do it overnight. And so I think when I was first there, it kind of took me a while. It was like a gradual transition. Um, but it also just took me like reclaiming, like what is healthy for me. Um, and me understanding that my body don't look like them. Um, my sure is not gonna look like them. I, um, have a larger chest than most women I was coming into contact with just in general. Even when I am at maybe a, um, a lesser kind of more athletic weight, I still got big thoughts. Like it ain't going away. Like I still have come

Orion Brown (00:37:19):

Through Serena, come through Serena with the guys,

Felecia Chatman  (00:37:23):

Certain things that's just not going away. Yeah. So I had to become comfortable with, and I had to really just kind of take an assessment of like, okay, this is what I look like. And I'm never going to look like, nor do I wanna look like this person. Um, but you have to be very real about that. It, it does something to you to always be constantly reminded, um, that you are a specific size, you know, because when you go into the places, go into the stores, generally speaking, a lot of the clothes, which kind of you have the fashion Novas and different things like that. Those are made in China there, that's why you can't fit. That's why you tech a large, but you and plus size cuz it ain't right. And it does something to you. So that's why like it, it does something mentally to you to always have to keep, if you're already struggling to, to kind of, you know, see yourself in a new way. Um, as well. And I think that kind of to fast forward to even now over the, a pandemic, like our, our bodies have just gone through so much, it has absorbed so much. And even that has kind of transitioned into how I see myself, how I look at myself and I think that it is great to have positive affirmations, but every day you don't have a positive affirmation to give yourself when you're just like, look, I just wanna Oreo. That's where I'm at. You know? And, and just keep they

Orion Brown (00:38:45):

Have magic inside, you gotta unlock.

Felecia Chatman  (00:38:47):

Right. And just kinda keeping it real. And I think for me, it's just been like a slow climb of like, I know what I need to do to get to where I need to go. However, it's gonna take a little bit longer. And that is okay, you know,

Orion Brown (00:39:01):

And see, this is why you can't let me loosen Asia, cuz I'm like, I wanna be cute, but I want noodles more period, period. I just want noodles more. So I'm gonna wear something, traveling and cute and flowy to get my noodles in. Yeah. I was in Bali and I was like unapologetically eating noodles for breakfast. Like what?

Felecia Chatman  (00:39:22):

No, it's welcome. It makes so much sense. Or even like the little vouchers or the little buns that you can buy. Like those are so good.

Orion Brown (00:39:31):

I love, I, I actually want, I have a recipe actually wanna see if I can make the steamed, like the bowel buns, but then I'm also afraid that I might eat them all if I make like, cuz cuz I you

Felecia Chatman  (00:39:45):

Probably, you probably will

Orion Brown (00:39:48):

Have like barbecue in the middle sun, sun. Now the only thing. So the only thing that I wanna see now is fried chicken and hot sauce in the middle of B blend. Like the, the little domed ones.

Felecia Chatman  (00:40:06):

Oh see, Sorry. Y'all I dunno if I'm supposed to, I could say that, but that'll do it.

Orion Brown (00:40:16):

That,

Felecia Chatman  (00:40:17):

That sounds for really great, like Very, very great,

Orion Brown (00:40:21):

Nice and crisp people with the sauce and the heat cuz they always hot. Okay. Y'all see. I told y'all we were talking about food cuz a second, only to travel is, is food for me. I love food.

Felecia Chatman  (00:40:33):

Food is like so great. It's how you just, it's another way that you experience the culture like you had to, which is why I said keyword was vegetarian. There was no shame in my gang. Um, because it was like, I, I was missing out on a part. Um, when I would go out with colleagues or they would invite me into their homes or students would invite me into their homes. It was one of those things where it's like, I was not able to do that. So it was a way for me to just really experience. I see someone said that food is their love language. Like it's a way that people show like I care, you know, just like some people being like, you need to put a cut on that baby. You know, if you in a Black community, they'd be like, it's like that.

Felecia Chatman  (00:41:14):

And they will always ask, you know like, Hey, do you have you eaten like a lot of, um, my Chinese counterparts, they will always ask like, have you eaten? It's like their way of showing like concern like for you. Yeah. And even when I was with my Ethiopian, um, host family and everything like that, it was the same way. It's just like also if you have not tried Ethiopian food, it is great. If you also have not tried bona, which is Ethiopian coffee that they do in traditional ceremonies. That is great. I am not a coffee drinker, but I will drink bona.

Orion Brown (00:41:48):

Really?

Felecia Chatman  (00:41:49):

Yes. I am not a coffee drinker, but I have had bona. They add a little sugar in there or you can just take it black and it's, it's very good. Um, and so it's kind of one of those things where again, experience the food even as puts a little different. I don't really see how people go to other places and they don't at least try. I know for dietary reasons, but I I'll always say just be at least a little open to experience it something because peoples show their culture through their food. Yeah. And it is a big part that you're like missing out on. If you can't eat the food

Orion Brown (00:42:27):

That, and it's also part of the hospitality, right? Like, and people, I think generally, like you mentioned, uh, and I don't know if this is true of Che or like other places in China, but like, I feel like in general people recognize when their food is known as being very hot or it's known as being very spicy.

Felecia Chatman  (00:42:46):

Yes. Cause they for you and they're like, and they'll can you eat this? Can you, and then they see you eating it. They're just like,

Orion Brown (00:42:52):

Oh, oh snap. We don't her home. Yeah.

Felecia Chatman  (00:42:55):

Yeah. They like, wait to be like, can you, can you eat this? Oh, it's too. Or they just won't offer it to you. Cause they think it's too hot. They're just like, oh it might be too hot for you. Or it might be, you know, whatever. But I'm just like, no, just enjoy it. I said,

Orion Brown (00:43:09):

Bring it on. But for people who are a little skirt, like don't be skirt. You can tell people like certain things make my stomach hurt. Like, or it may, you know, it depends on the environment that you're in. Yeah. Whether you're at somebody's home versus at a restaurant, um, how you're interacting with the person that's like serving you or cooking, but in general, people will help and accommodate you if there's stuff that you just can't tolerate. If you're like I've landed and had this. And it was terrible. And I was sick for like two days. You can say like last time I had that, it made me very sick. I'm not sure why, but I, I just don't wanna risk it. Let me enjoy something a

Felecia Chatman  (00:43:50):

Little bit. More's hot. The hot really hot time. Um, yeah, it just, we didn't agree. So the few times that I would go, um, I there's like a, uh, a bland portion. That's like non spicy. So I would just get the non spicy one because my stomach just could not process everything that was in, um, that was

Orion Brown (00:44:14):

Going on. That's a lot going on.

Felecia Chatman  (00:44:15):

It would. And I was like, this is something that I, I am not acquiring and I don't want to. So it's how I feel about alcohol. It's just like people say, it's an acquired taste. I'm just like,

Orion Brown (00:44:27):

Well, you don't have to acquire it though. But I do. I do. I agree. Like I, I actually believe in trying anything twice. And the reason is, um, sometimes people don't know how to cook.

Felecia Chatman  (00:44:41):

Sure.

Orion Brown (00:44:42):

So if you're like I had, and this is not even abroad, but I, I had veal once it was the first time I'd ever had veal, it was a cutlet, it was fraud. And I was like, this is gonna be great. Sick is a dog. The next day, sick is a dog in the states. And I was like, I don't think my stomach lights that. And then like years later I have veal somewhere else and it was delightful. And I was like, okay, give it twice, two different places. Don't take it from the same hand. Now don't let somebody serve your, the same things twice. But like, you know, and, and also look for places that are well known either by locals or by like, you know, if, if you're talking restaurants like they're well known for this dish or that dish, cuz then you, you know that if nothing else, it tastes the way it's supposed to taste. Yeah. And you just might not. I like it.

Felecia Chatman  (00:45:34):

I will say I have been bamboozled. So I feel a certain type of way because I do think in the age of social media that a lot of places look very, they look a lot better than they taste

Orion Brown (00:45:45):

That too.

Felecia Chatman  (00:45:46):

So it's one, Uber

Orion Brown (00:45:47):

Eats do that to me all the time. They got these, this stock photos that is not a real cheeseburger from the, that place. Like stock ball it's stock photos.

Felecia Chatman  (00:45:55):

It's not like I just, I never forget me and my roommate. We were like ordering some pizza. And by the time the pizza arrived, like half of the pizza was cuz it was so hot, like just slipped off of it. And I was like, start. So you dropped this off knowing it was like this

Orion Brown (00:46:12):

People held bringing it in

Felecia Chatman  (00:46:16):

And then they didn't even answer the phone. So I was just kind of through at that point, like they literally hung up. I was like, you see

Orion Brown (00:46:22):

Burned, burned. They burned bridges over here. Well, we were, so we've been talking about foods that are different. I do want to come to fast food because fast food abroad, actually one of my favorite PAs times, not because it's so familiar, but because two reasons, one, sometimes it is just fire. It is just good. Whether that be like fresher ingredients or you know, just different spices or it is just the fact that they do some really fun, weird, different things with stuff that you know. Yeah. What, what are some of the highlights in terms? Cause we talked about like KFC and McDonald's what are some of the highlights of places that you've gone that you've had some like really fun, interesting tasty experiences with fast food, American fast food.

Felecia Chatman  (00:47:09):

So one place would be pizza hut. It is a nice sit down restaurant. Um, it was a very nice you walk in. There's a waiter that is there like a hostess. You go, you sit down there's menu. Someone comes in your order. However, the pieces are very different. I will say that. What is on the pizza is a mystery. However,

Orion Brown (00:47:39):

Where was this in China or somewhere

Felecia Chatman  (00:47:41):

Else? Yes. I would say in China, like people put corn on there. There's just a lot a different like culturally it makes SI like the pieces for them. Um, now you do have

Orion Brown (00:47:51):

More. That's not for me, it's for them,

Felecia Chatman  (00:47:54):

But it it's. It's good. However, I think that is what shocked me was like, I am not a big fan of peace of hood in America. However, being overseas, like being there, it is an experience it's actually a nice restaurant to go to, uh, like a family restaurant or even like what works for happy hour. They have cocktails. So it was an experience which was really, really nice, um, that I did not expect.

Orion Brown (00:48:21):

You know what the, now this is how I can tell I'm old. I can tell I'm old because I remember when pizza hut was like that in the us,

Felecia Chatman  (00:48:29):

Hey you to be

Orion Brown (00:48:31):

A very long time ago. But then they also had that like sketchy salad bar that is

Felecia Chatman  (00:48:35):

Like, yeah. So, but

Orion Brown (00:48:36):

That is just out here blowing in the wind.

Felecia Chatman  (00:48:38):

It's more lighting. So I did remember when pizza hu and they had pizza ends where they were sit down places and sketchy salad bars. Um, however, however, it was one of those things where like, um, it wasn't the same. Like you have light lighting, you sit down, it's fun. Like you actually feel like you're in experience. Like you're going to a nice restaurant,

Orion Brown (00:49:04):

No to salt. I'm gonna have to hit pizza in China

Felecia Chatman  (00:49:07):

Except because a pizza hu. Yeah.

Orion Brown (00:49:09):

So wait at pizza. Hu. Do, do they, and, and having interacted with Chinese locals, like, do they have like the same thing where like here people will be like, Ugh, I hate Hawaiian pizza. You should have a put pineapple on it. Do they have like similar things, but like within Chinese culture or they're just like, Nope, it's fried rice on everything.

Felecia Chatman  (00:49:30):

So there is no fried rice. However, there was like corn, I can't remember everything, um, that they put on their, their pieces cuz it's been a few years. However, it was still one of those things that you wouldn't typically. The one thing that stood out to me was like corn. Cause it just, I was just like, I don't know why corn is on this pizza, but um, this is, and it was just a lot. And um, I knew that like I just did not prefer a pizza, but you could still get pepperoni pizza or sausage pizza or mix it. One thing that is very common is, um, a luxury people have here in America is these whole idea of substitutions. There is know really such thing as a substitution. You get what you get. Um,

Orion Brown (00:50:16):

So it's like being in your parents house basically.

Felecia Chatman  (00:50:19):

Yes. It's pretty much one of those things. So like have you experienced one of the like traveling where maybe you're in a country where they don't really substitute the food? So that was something very new. It was just like, no, maybe sometimes depending on the restaurant, but most times the dish is what the dish is. If you don't like it, you shouldn't have ordered

Orion Brown (00:50:40):

It. You order a different dish. Yeah.

Felecia Chatman  (00:50:42):

Pretty much order a different dish.

Orion Brown (00:50:44):

I feel like this also explains why Chinese restaurants, at least in the states have like 62 items on the menu.

Felecia Chatman  (00:50:51):

Cause yes, yes, Yes.

Orion Brown (00:50:57):

Oh my God. I'm so hungry. It's it? So it's funny. Um, you know, some of, one of my actual first, uh, run-ins like with K FFC for instance, was in South Africa and it was just so interesting to go in and the chicken was the same. I mean it was local. So you could kind of taste the difference in the meat. Um, but the, which was good. It was, it wasn't bad by any stretch. Uh, and the chicken didn't look like it came off of like came amount of like planet fitness. Right. Cause you know, these chickens be all extra steroid it up here. Yeah. Uh, it looked like a little chicken. It's like, oh that's a little chicken day. We just go get four of those. It's fine. We gonna do it. Um, but they give you a whole loaf of like a mini loaf of bread instead of like a biscuit or going to McDonald. And they had, it was like a mega Mack or something, which I found really strange. I was like, Africa, y'all really eating beef like this, but it was like this massive, like four tiered burger thing that had like crazy buns on it. Yeah.

Orion Brown (00:52:04):

But it's, it's so much fun. And like Japan, I look at like the one Japan is all the beef is fire. I'm sorry. Like for those of y'all who were a little vegetarian, all the beef is fire I'm I'm not at McDonald's. They actually, I always tell the story because I'm so impressed by it. They have what would be, I guess, considered like a double cheeseburger here. And then they add like garlic chili oil. And when you open the burger, I'm that person I'm checking. I'm checking. I wanna see what's going on in here. It is little saute pieces of garlic and chili flakes and oil that have been sauteed and then like put on almost like a mayonnaise on the base of it.

Felecia Chatman  (00:52:44):

Yes.

Orion Brown (00:52:45):

I would say on hand, I've

Felecia Chatman  (00:52:46):

Never gotten a sad burger from McDonald's a overseas here. It looks like we just here and that's how burger look

Orion Brown (00:52:55):

Like the burger's like I'm over here on antidepressants. That there's anything wrong with that. We all have our vices, but yeah, they just, they look sad. They look sad. They

Felecia Chatman  (00:53:06):

Just, sometimes they be slapped together and sometimes it it's a surprise when it is, but I know that I've just never had a surprise when I was eating it.

Orion Brown (00:53:17):

You ever get the one pickle burger where you're like, seriously, you only put one on this whole thing. The burger got a whole square foot, but you don't put one moment of silence. They had one job anyway. Well, oh my God. So you're coming back and we're gonna talk more about food and more places and stuff. Cause this has been so much fun. Um, but tell this was girl I'm.

Felecia Chatman  (00:53:42):

No, it was so it was so fun. Like thank you for having me. Thanks for my mama, my friend Whitney.

Orion Brown (00:53:50):

I know

Felecia Chatman  (00:53:51):

People, um, logging on and just being here again. I, and one of the things is, is like I was like travel your city, like travel your, I think one of the things that I did before I left Houston, the last time was really explored my city, like a tourist, because there's always hidden gems. There's always things that are changing. Um, the neighborhood that you used to live in probably might be gentrified, but it has changed itself. So it's like just explore, explore your city. Um, even because some people don't have the privilege or luxury at the moment to maybe go somewhere else, but try to create that sense of travel. That sense of curiosity, even within your own city, um, that you live in, which is something that I always promote because I know that I've come across other students and other people where they're just like, maybe I don't have it. And that is is okay. But it's just like explore where you are and be curious about where you are and continue to work. So hopefully you will have, um, the luxury or the privilege to go and travel to a different state. It doesn't have to be, everybody is don't wanna go overseas. And that is okay. Or they can't go travel that far for so long. So it's like be okay with what you're doing and still celebrate it. Cuz it is a gift every single day.

Orion Brown (00:55:16):

I love that. I love that. And, and a great piece to that is also all the things that we talked about today. You can find in the states and you can even find it in sort of like the more rural places. So it's like, oh, but I live in Iowa. I bet you there's hot pot within 50 miles. It might be one or it might be somebody's family. But if you have a Chinese friend be like, look, I heard that y'all have this thing called hot pot. They are everybody. I mean, Black folks everywhere age plus everywhere. I have, I cannot tell you, especially

Felecia Chatman  (00:55:48):

Immigrant.

Orion Brown (00:55:50):

Yes. Well, and, and it's, it's also immigration and we can talk about this more. Next time I already kept you like an hour, but um, you know, a lot of people don't realize that when immigrants come over, they bring over their families and things like that. Yeah. So it may be something as random as they get to go to school at a school that will take their visa and that school is in the middle of nowhere and then they get a job locally and then they start bringing family over. Um, and it's just really interesting to see, you can find some really authentic ethnic food in some of the most non-diverse populations because those pockets are there. So, you know, don't even like, thanks, miss beloved. Um, you know, it's, it's not even like, so you're not missing out unless you choose to miss out. Yeah. And like, if it is easier to go to burger king, then to try the local family owned Asian restaurant or Ethiopian restaurant. Okay. But like go over there a kick them some dollars and two learn about stuff and ask about the food, you know? Yeah. And, and so, you know, ask about the food, get familiar with it, learn what you like, what you don't like, Ethiopian food. You all, I can't stand. I'm sorry. I can't stand the little firm into squishy bread. It reminds me of sponges. Yes.

Felecia Chatman  (00:57:10):

Yeah. I can't like, I, I prefer to just put my food and then Ethan, uh, have the jar separate, uh, because after a while I just kind of peel the edges. It gets so squishy. Yeah.

Orion Brown (00:57:20):

It's too squishy. It's that? You know what it reminds me of put like the whole school dollar store sponges when you're like putting your

Felecia Chatman  (00:57:28):

Sponge.

Orion Brown (00:57:29):

And I'm just like, I, I, the association is too close, so I will eat all the stuff in the middle and then just be like, I'm good on the bread. I'm good on the bread,

Felecia Chatman  (00:57:37):

You know? Yeah. I, I like, I just like to put it on the side and then I'll just like, scoop it up on side and then eventually I'll just eat. Whatever else is on the plate.

Orion Brown (00:57:48):

I feel like I could do it if, and this is gonna be so wrong, please, Ethiopian people don't come for me. But if I just took it and put it in a really high skillet with a little bit of butter and just seared it so that like the, the juiciness came out. Cause I feel like I can eat any bread from anywhere. If it's like seared in the skill, you know, toasted, you will. I mean, buy me from Jamaica, all of it, tortillas. I, I have, I have a problem y'all love butter and fried things. Um, tell everybody where they can find you and stalk you and participate in all the wonderful things that you're doing.

Felecia Chatman  (00:58:22):

Awesome. So you can follow me on, on IG at shades of fee. So that's it? No, that's S H a D E S O F F E. So shades of fee. Um, and that's kind of like the predominant, I would say on IG. I do have, um, if you follow me on shades, if you, my name is there and you can also see me on Facebook as well. However, not too much on Facebook, um, either, but that's kind of the predominant thing. And then every once in a while I do come out with like a blog post. I love writing. I love sharing about the things that I've done as well. So, um, also, I, I love sharing about kind of places I've been, I've had people ask me and my DMS about like, oh, how did you take this trip? Or what did you do? So I love to kind of share those tips and tools as well, um, with others. So

Orion Brown (00:59:21):

I love that. I love that. And where can we find your blog?

Felecia Chatman  (00:59:24):

Um, again, it's, I'm updating it. So I'll put it in like my bio so that people can click on

Orion Brown (00:59:30):

It. She said, look, look the way my, my house ain't clean yet. You can't just be stopping by. I'm not mad at it. I'm not mad at it at all. No, I love it. And I can tell the way you, you speak about and tie sort of philosophical to these experiences. Right. And I understand like you did peace Corps and stuff. So there's some stuff that's just inherent to the experience. Yeah. But everything that we've talked about, you've always linked that back to understanding and growth and things like that. Yeah. So I can't wait to read your blog once you have it all updated will be all up in your DMS asking about what to eat in China, what to eat. Thank you. In, in Israel. Uh, we have your rich part of town. What's cool. What's not, um,

Felecia Chatman  (01:00:12):

It's definitely try. I think another part is I've just slowly been making my way through central America. So again, if you have time to stop in Guatemala, El Salvador, stop on by. Those are all so good.

Orion Brown (01:00:25):

Oh my gosh. Okay. You're coming back. That's just, that's done. We're have

Felecia Chatman  (01:00:29):

To have you back for, for having me, um, as well.

Orion Brown (01:00:32):

Yes. My dear Felic, you have made my day. You have made my week. Thank you so much for joining us for everybody in the chat. Oh, Hey Kim, I haven't seen you a bit. Kim has the cutest two little babies that the little, little baby face anyway. Um, for those of you in the chat, who's been kicking it with us and thank you for saying this was excellent. I have so much fun doing these and I love being able to bring you these conversations, um, make sure that you're following at BlackTravelBox. You make sure that you're following, uh, girl, what was it? Shades of fee.

Felecia Chatman  (01:01:06):

Yes.

Orion Brown (01:01:07):

Shade. Shades of fee. I'm I'm getting there. I'm getting there. I'm I feel like I'm getting geriatric, but I'm not. I'm getting sharper. Um, but this has been so fun. It's Wednesday. We have Wined. We have emotionally dined on the thoughts of food. Um, I hope this was good for you guys. No matter how your Monday went. I know Valentine's day can be polarizing no matter how the week went in general. Right? I hope this was a good moment away. And um, it's all downhill from here, guys. We just roll into the weekend from here. So I wish you wealth and health and prosperity and peace going into the next week. We're gonna do this again. Next Wednesday. I will have my glass ready. It may or may not be wine, but it usually is fine. Bring your Pepsi, bring you Kool-Aid whatever you wanna do. Y'all bring your juice and I'll see you there next week. Thank you so much for coming. I appreciate you.

Felecia Chatman  (01:02:00):

Thank you. Bye. Bye y'all. Bye.

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