From the Caribbean to the Midwest: Meet Chantel

Generated automatically from the recording, so expect the odd misheard word.

Welcome to Between Neighbors. I'm Carly, and this is Kat. Your favorite neighbors are back. Episode five.

Here we are. So before we dive into everything that we have today, let's just catch up a little bit. So we went to a soccer game last night, right? Your son. Yes. That was exciting. Did he end up being okay? Because I know he got hurt. Oh yeah. Um, so he he did have like a super bad like Charlie horse. Okay. Um, so it's just been like real tight, and we have like the massage gun um and whatnot. And then he went to the trainer today. Just needs like rest. I think he'll be fine by by next week, definitely. But yeah, I was like ready to go out, and you know what he said to me? What? Oh my gosh. When I was like, Yeah, I didn't know what happened. I was like, should I run out there? And he was like, Oh my god, absolutely not. I remember you were like, absolutely not. She's like, should I go out there? I'm like, do you want to embarrass him? Absolutely not. Do not go out on the field. I mean, I it looked like he got really hurt, but then he said that it was just that, like the Charlie horse, like he couldn't like you know, like stretch out his his calf, but no, he's fine. Right. The way he was like walking and the way she was stretching him, I was like, it looked like a bad, like a cramp or something. And then his little brother was like, He's fine. I know he's not because he had to like broke his leg.

He was fine, all good. It was a fun night, but I know we were talking about you know that there's no concessions over there. I know it's kind of sad. The school spirit has gone down completely since we were in high school. I feel like there were no concessions open. I I didn't see like I guess it is like I don't mean this in a bad way, it's not at all, right? Like here, football is very like prevalent, yeah. But it was kind of sad to see like the lack of fans. I know it's usually just like the parents, I think, because like I said, they charge admit admission now. I know, but you said they charged for you as well back then. Well, you just had to show your ID though if you were a student, but for parents, yeah, you had to pay. And here it's students, parents, you you have to pay now for all sports, which is interesting. But like we said, I would think that something like concessions or whatever it may be would you know bring in money.

I mean, actually, freshman year, they had it last year. I can't remember, but they did have like taco trucks. I I don't know. It's just so like it is sad. Okay, and also how crazy was it? Oh, I know I literally walk in, and our old high school coach is standing there and I immediately walks up, which was very nice. It was nice to see him and say hi. What did he say to us? I I well he said that he was trying to listen to our podcast. I know that part, but I felt like but I can't remember what like something sassy like about us too. Yeah, like like look who's here. Yeah, yeah, that's what he said, definitely.

That was cute. Yeah, it was cool to see him again. And I can't believe he's still coaching soccer there. Good for him. The girls, my goodness, they've always had a really strong team, so yeah, definitely. Well, and speaking of soccer, actually, the guest that we have today, we have a guest, everyone. She played Trumper Soccer too, one of my longtime friends and now Kat's friend. Yeah, right? Uh, Chantal is here with us. Hi, everybody. Welcome. Yes. So, um, like we had said in previous episodes, we want to bring on guests just to tell their stories, that whether that be life story, something crazy that's happened. And when I tell you this girl has stories, she has stories. Like we have stories together, we have stories not together. So, Chantal, why don't you give us like a quick like 10-second who you are? Oh my goodness.

That would be longer than 10 seconds. Um I don't I don't even know. My name is Chantal. Um, I am American Trinidadian. Uh, I came to Wisconsin when I was how I how old was I? 16?

It was sophomore year. I don't think no, we didn't have our license yet. 15. So 15. Yeah.

Just turned, I think I just turned like 16. Oh, right. So we came like August, right? Yeah. And then um, yeah, I mean, I don't know. Then back and forth. Lived in the Caribbean for a very big portion of my life, and then up here as well. So back and forth. Uh, and yes, I have a very crazy, chaotic life.

Well, and it's crazy because we were sophomores in high school when our families had been friends for a long, long time. But when we were sophomores, that's when Chantel came here and she introduced me to a whole new world. I was like, you know, soccer players, student government, marketing, like very like whatever, and here comes this churny girl, like, whoo, that's good.

Oh my gosh, I ruined Carly. No, no, no. It was it was such a different like life here for sure. Um, oh my gosh, I don't know. I feel like in ways it was nice because I feel I always I think I always say this to you, like I got my childhood back, um, talking about like school spirit and stuff like that. I mean, internet you just grow up so fast, like we don't have things like that. So we you know, we party from early, we drink early, you know. I was doing things with like my big cousins from like so young. Um, and I just feel like when I moved back here, I was like, Oh, okay, this is or moved here for the first time. I was like, wow, we go to football games, we dress up, like this is so fun. Like, I don't we just never did stuff like that. And it was kind of nice to like I guess get part of my childhood back because I felt like I was living like a grown-up life, you know. Um, so yeah, I had a lot of fun actually. Like, I love my high school. I think it was at first it was very hard, but um, just like getting accustomed to like I came from like a small school and Trumper was like how big massive, yeah.

I mean, yeah, the high school that we went to was very large, yeah. Like, I think there were over 600 kids in our graduating class for sure.

Yeah, so that was just a whole and then like it is like the movies, like the it is actually like that. Like when you like walk in, you see all like the shocks, and I just was like in shock. I was like, oh my gosh, this is definitely not like that anymore, I don't think. Like really mm-mm. Like I I notice a big difference um just from like picking up and dropping off, and I just don't well because we're like pajamas to school, right? Yeah, it's like totally different.

Like we would call that scrubbing it days, yeah. And you did not want to be a scrub for one day a week was like appropriate, like if you did any more than one day, and also another thing, we always wore our ladder jackets. Oh, see, I I think I've seen like maybe two or three people wear them. I really don't see that either. Yeah, mm-mm. Not anymore. So, yeah, it's crazy. So you come from to talk a little bit about for people who don't know what Trinidad and Tobago is, like what it is, so it's or where it is, yeah, yeah.

It's a small Caribbean island, like it's the last Caribbean island of the West Indies. Um it's all the way down by Venezuela, so it is a tiny little island. We're actually very rich in um like oil and gas, and so because we're so close to Venezuela, we are one of the I think richest Caribbean islands in the West Indies. Um, but yeah, that's where my mom is from, and so I was born in California, but then um my dad was a Marine, so that's how they met. He was stationed down in Trinidad, and then um we they moved back to California. But they had myself and my brother, and then we he retired from the military, and then we my mom was like, Let's go home, basically. And then I grew up there from when I was eight until 16, and then we moved back up here where my dad is from, so um, and then I moved back again, but that's another that's a hole. This is definitely like a culture shock, just like listening to that. It was a culture shock for me, just it was wild.

Well, especially like going from uh Caribbean island to then the Midwest, like you're not even going to like Florida or back to California. Yes, yeah, you're going to straight up like girl, you went to Oh my gosh, I remember like the first time I saw snow.

Like the teacher let the whole class go outside for me. He was like, I was like, oh my gosh, this is so cool. I also remember I my dad took us and it was like August when we moved up here, and he was like, We have to go and buy a jacket. And do you know he bought me like a massive ski jacket that you're gonna do? And you probably were grateful for it. No, Carly laughed at me and was like, Why are you wearing this ski jacket to school? And they had like the little Abercrombie ones with the little fur or something. Yeah, and she was like, You don't wear that. I remember that.

You remember?

And I also wore I just like saved you.

I wasn't trying to be mean, I was just like, no, girl, like I gotta help her.

Yeah, we told people that we were cousins because Carly was like, This is too confusing to tell them that our grandparents know each other and our dads know each other, right? And then you lived away, and then now you came back. Like, she's like, We'll just say we're cousins. Like my cousins coming.

Because they're they would be like, How do you know her? And I'd like go through this whole thing, like, well, they're family friends and this and that. But I remember the first time my dad was like, Okay, like Chantal is coming to move here. Like, I think you guys should like talk on the phone for a little bit, and her accent was so strong then. I like could not understand half the words she was saying on the phone. I'm like, I I don't know, like I have no idea. And then I remember like you guys used because back in the day we used AIM, like aim messenger, and you used like MSN or something weird, and so I had to like download MSN to talk to you.

I do remember that. I remember you being like, What? What on the phone all the time? Yeah, you have to like call on the phone. My dad was like, Okay, we're gonna put her on, you're gonna call Carly. I wanted to know what school she went to because obviously I was like, I'm not going somewhere where I don't know anybody. Um, and the only person I knew was Carly, so they were like, Okay, we'll find out what high school she goes to so that you can go there. And um, I mean, I still feel like I have a little bit of an accent. People sometimes ask me like weird questions, like, you know, I don't know, where are you from? Like they just look at me like crazy, but I think it's just because it's a mix of yeah, yeah, like whereas your mom is like so so strong. Yeah, my mom's accent never like left. Like it's just and you know what it's funny too because um when she's with me, or like if I am talking to her or even about her, like it comes out so strong, and then or around my husband, and then like if I'm just around uh you know Americans, then I saw I feel like it blends, so I don't know, it just kind of comes and goes, but there's definitely certain words that I just like stick and I cannot say, and um, yeah, so you can probably hear it. Yeah, I can definitely, yeah.

And when you talk with your mom for sure, like when I'm around you and your mom, like, oh my gosh. Yeah. Um, okay, so talk a little bit about like how you met your husband and all of that, like down in Trinidad, where he's from, etc.

Oh, yeah. So, okay, so after high school and university up here, I then decided that I wanted to go back home. Um, well, that's what I call home, and I was like determined, like, I'm just I'm going back to Trinidad, leave my mom, my dad, everyone. I I did apply for jobs, and I was like, nope, I just I want to be in the Caribbean. So I moved back there and lived there for five and a half years. Um, and I yeah, I just think um I was out and about and living and working, and um, I met him at a Spanish nightclub. That's where you met people back in the day. I don't know. Um, I probably had one too many, dancing.

Um, and he just saw this blondie girl. I don't know, he was like, he was like, I just could I couldn't believe you were Trinidadian because he did he come came up to me and was like, he thought he thought I was from somewhere else, and then I was like, with my little accent, he was like, Oh my goodness. So he asked me for my number, and then the rest is history because he was not from Trinidad. Oh yeah, so he is from Venezuela, um, and he was over in Trinidad learning English, so he was at school, um, and so his English wasn't great, but um, and I of course I was like, Oh, I'll help you.

But I'll help you,

I'll teach you English and show you around the island. And I did just that. No, you didn't. We went to the beaches, and I was like, and then funny enough, I found out that he actually had dated one of my really good friends before me, and she had shown him all around, so he was like, you know, but he was like, I I just didn't say anything because I really wanted to hang out with him. Oh, that's cute. Yeah, yeah, I can't believe we're gonna be married for 10 years. That's insane.

I know it's crazy, and so because when did you move back here?

Uh in 2020.

Oh my gosh, because it took you a while to get him over just because of like citizenship and all of that.

Yeah, we fought for the green card, took like three years, lawyers, blah blah blah. Um, and then COVID hit, and that was fun, and we literally got out in like one of the last flights. I wrote the American embassy and was like, get me out. Like, we were he he had done everything else until that point, like we had had an interview and they did all this stuff, um, and then the embassy and everything shut down, and I was like frantic. And my grandmother had just passed too, so we were living in her house, and it was just so much unknown. And I was like, I am going, and we had our daughter, the first one, and I was like, Okay, we need to get out. And if I'm getting COVID, I'm getting it in in the states. I am not getting it in a third world country. I am getting COVID in America where there is an ample amount of healthcare. So um, I like rode the embassy, and then they wrote me back and they were like, There are five flights leaving, and this one is the last one. So in two weeks, I packed up our entire like life basically, um, in barrels and sold whatever I could, and like, yeah, we just were like, We're leaving, and I we got in the last flight, it was like a night flight, it was crazy, yeah. And then my dad drove all the way down to Florida to pick us up because I was like, I'm not taking a few. Oh, so the flight was just to Florida, it was just to Florida, and my dad drove from Wisconsin all the way down. Oh, he's so sweet, yeah. He is so sweet, and he was like, I'm picking up my grandbaby, because you know, Allie was with us, and so yeah, I was like, I'm at because also, too, there were only so many flights, and they were like the when we were looking, it it wanted to stop all over the United States. It was like, Oh, we'll take this one to Texas. I'm like, I'm not going, and I hate flying, so yeah, um, I was like, No way. I was like, Dad, please. So he drove all the way down there, which actually was so fun. Um, looking back because Erin got to see America and like like really like driving cross country for the first time. And my dad was so cute, like he pulled up and he had like an American flag and like a shirt that said welcome to the U or USA on it. It was so funny, but yeah, it was it was actually a lot of fun. And we stopped in like Nashville, we we like planned stops and stuff too, so it was a lot of fun. So cute. Yeah, that's awesome.

Yeah, yeah, and I bet like such a culture shock for him.

Oh, yeah, and he got to see like different parts, you know, which was cool because normally when you just come up, you just fly up and you're just at your destination. He got to see Florida because we stayed there for a couple nights, and then he got to see Nashville, and then we we were in like Tennessee for two days, we went to Georgia, we were so we stopped like a lot, and he got and like I remember he probably saw more things than we did. Yeah, and it was around this time, so it was like as we were driving up, it was getting colder and colder.

And he was like at the end, what's happening? Where are you taking jackets, like full-on jackets? He's like, I'm freezing. Like, yes, I know. What does he think now being here? Honestly, I was so scared um bringing him up here because I'm like, he's also like an island boy, yeah, surfs, like, does all the I don't know, does all the island things, and I'm like, are you gonna like just absolutely hate this? Because it would like I said, culture shock, right? It was hard for me. I always wanted to go back, ask Carly. Like, there were so many times in the summers I wasn't around though, even coming through like in high school, because I would go home. Like I would be like, I would tell my mom, like, can I go back? And they would be like, You missed the whole summer. And but I you know, I had my friends and stuff down there and cousins, and um, so yeah, I guess I was just very scared that he was going to hate it and be like, This is way too cold, I don't like the Midwest. Or um, and he loves it. He like loves it. He he's like into things that I never thought he would be. Like hunting, right? Like turkey hunting.

I mean, it probably helps too that we live on a very large lake. Yes. Because then at least there is some. I know it's not like the ocean, but it is very large.

No, that honestly, Lake Michigan is like, to me, from a Caribbean perspective, is the lifesaver. Like going there, you look out, it looks like the ocean. To me, there is no difference because I can't see the other side. It is not a lake, it is like, and it gets so green and pretty. You're like, Yeah, it's beautiful. Yeah, so I used to go out there sometimes and be like, oh, just like sit out by the lake. But I think he loves that too. And I guess once you have some kind of body of water, like we're definitely like we call ourselves beach people, it's really lake, but we go to the beach a lot in the summer, and I feel like for us that is like home, yes, yeah. I think if I lived somewhere where there was none, I would be like in Indiana, yeah. And then I guess they do share part of the like, but like you could be like landlocked. Like landlocked, completely. Yeah, I could never, I don't think I could ever live somewhere that was like absolutely no water, I would die.

So well, and then talk about a little bit like when you came here, how you decided because she you're a business owner, which is awesome, and you're expanding your business now. Um, so talk a little bit about that.

Um, yeah, so I own two venues now, which is crazy to say. But yeah, I know. Um the first one we started in 2023, it's it was like a small venue. I just wanted something, so I love Kenosha. I just felt like it's just has a cute downtown area, and I just love the community, and so I felt like there was a niche for that. I also love partying and parties, and I'm like, I'm getting old, so now I can't do that anymore. But let me just create a space where I can enjoy where other people party. Um, and so I just felt like there was a niche. I I remember, um, I can't remember what was I looking for? I think it was like a birthday party. I was looking for a place on the it was like our 30th 31st birthday or something, and I wanted like a girls' brunch place, and I could not find anywhere. It was like thousands and thousands of dollars, and I'm not a big foodie, but I do like my drinks, and I just wasn't I was like, where can I go that I could rent this space and have like nice drinks and then just like bring in my own food, and there was nowhere, like literally nowhere. Um, and so we found this little space, and I just told Aaron, like, I'm gonna create it. Like, I think there's a niche for this. I think people uh want to bring in their own food, and also being from another culture too, we eat different food. My husband eats different food. I'm like, there has to be other people out here that like culturally have different like tastes, you know, and um cuisines that would don't want like what the average venue sells, and so um yeah, we created this space and it's been around for four years now, and yeah, I know. Um, but it's definitely not a moneymaker, it is really like something that's it's a passion project. It's a passion project, it's something that's like for the community, I feel like, and I love that. Like, I'll never take that away for it because that's like makes me feel good, and um, I just think it's so special to be able to like watch people celebrate life m milestones, like baby showers, bridal showers, engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, retirement like that's just so those are all milestone life things that are just so special, and like you deserve to celebrate things like that, and so um yeah, so that one, and then we just got a crazy opportunity. Carly was with me when that opportunity came, but um basically the landlords kind of Like we had a mutual friend that kind of reached out to us, and then they were like, Do you want to see this space? We would love, like, would you like to expand? And I was like, No. Like at first, I was like, No way. Because I was working and I had a kid, and actually, no, we had Ari ready. So I had two kids. Yeah. Um, and I was like, There's no way we just had a space for the new space. Yeah. And I was like, We just had a baby, but when I saw it, I fell in love.

Okay, so let's set the scene really quick, just like rewind. So basically, there was this huge venue place, and right now in in our city, there is not like a huge venue that holds a ton of people. So I got married here, and that venue has closed. The venue that Chantel has now purchased and owns, they went out of business, and so there's this beautiful building that used to be an old bank just sitting there. And so that's how she kind of got introduced to like, hey, we have this beautiful building. You already own an event space. Would you want to kind of expand to this? Right.

Yeah, we don't own the building, but we lease it. But um, yeah, the the owners of the building basically reached out and were like, you have a venue, it's obviously very successful. Yes, yeah, and so on the outside. But um, and they were like, uh, you know, do you want to expand open for four years? Yeah, oh no, I mean it.

We have things there, like you're not rolling around in a Rolls Royce, but like you're still like you're still. No, it's a Rolls Royce, right? Is that not cool anymore? No, that sounds like very ladies. The guys were probably born then. Correct.

We were we were, but it was yeah, you're right. It it no, it does well and it it does well for itself. Um, and that's you know, a lot of people tell me, like, you you'll be in the red for three years. We never never were in the red, like it is always made and covered its cost, which is just amazing. Um, so yes, that's why I can keep it around. But um this one I'm so excited about because it's a wedding venue, so it's beautiful, and it just needed a lot of love. And I think I'm kind of good at designing. I I should have been an interior designer, I think, but um, and I think I just am good at like seeing the vision of places and like really fixing it up, and um, it is just so beautiful. It's 1920s, it's like it was built in 1927.

There's a lot of historic history there, and it was an old bank, so there's like a bolt in the so much character, like the ceiling was beautiful, yeah. Yes, so we are it did need love, like for sure, a lot of love, a lot of love.

A lot of love, a lot of cash. But you know what? It's I'm hopeful that it's just gonna be again a Kenosha staple. I hope that people will like it, and you're sorry, like there's nothing that people there's nothing downtown that fits that many or has the character that that one does. And so I'm hopeful that people will love it and love all the you know fixer up things that we've done to it, and I can't wait for you guys to come to the Grand Lodge. Oh, I am so excited to see it. So cute. So for this new event space, are you uh will you have food here or will it be like you bring your own? Yeah, so same concept. I just wanted to have it where people can bring in their own food. I think again, I just think that's a niche. Like, so I when I I I did do a lot of research before. So I have a marketing background and I really did my research in like what do other venues have, what are their price points, what are like things that are missing, and like the two things that I saw that I was like we can definitely offer is one that again, like you have to get their food, which obviously drives up the cost a ton. Right. Um, I'm like, people can just get their own cater, like that's you know, and if they want to bring in different types of food, that's fine. Um, but and also, like I said, I'm not a foodie, so I'm like, bring it in, I don't have to deal with it. That's great. Um, and uh we got our liquor license, so it's like again the same thing, they can do their bar. Um and also the other thing is everything closes at like midnight, and I'm like, oh, we're pushing it 12:30. Like, where are my party people at?

Honestly, everything downtown closes so early. Remember that night we tried to get a glass of wine, and like we had to go to three different places because everyone's like, Oh, it's nine o'clock. It was a Thursday night on a beautiful summer night. Yeah, oh, the patio's closing, sorry. Like, on in the next place. Yeah, a nice little sushi place. Oh, sorry, we're closed. It's like 8 30. And we're like, Really?

Yes, yeah, it closes so early. And I'm like, maybe on like the weekend then. Well, the thing is too, like, even with Carly's wedding, we went out after. We went out after, so I'm like, why would I let people like go downtown when I can keep them? Like what I can keep them drinking and at my facility for longer. Why would I? I mean, I'm not going till like 2 a.m. Right. But like if everything ends at I think I'll party till 2 a.m. Yeah, that's all right.

But you know, but yes, yes, you can keep them longer spending money at your bar instead of the bar down the street.

Exactly. And also I feel like the wedding your wedding is like your one time in your life that you're like, you just don't want the night to end. Yeah. It's like what you know, if I can offer that to somebody, how cool. Is it like a city ordinance? 2 a.m. Yeah. So 1 30 is like the like city ordinance. Like you have to be, like everyone has to be out by 2 a.m. But last call has to be at 1 30. But during the week, you guys were finding that the places were staying.

I just think since COVID, people have just I don't know, have have just like not invested in like having the nightlife down there. On the weekends are different, but this was a Thursday, but still like Thursday, Friday eat.

Well, I think also too that the new generation does not drink.

I know they're having like these wellness darties. What they do not drink anymore. Instead of like partying and like walking home at like 4 a.m. Like in stilettos and no coat in the winter, they're like going on runs at 4 a.m. Absolutely. And like do like they do like full skincare before they go to bed. I used to like pray and brush my teeth before I went to bed in college.

Um just sleep with your mascara on. Oh, my daughter is nine and is like asking me for skincare, and I'm like, absolutely not. Like, you're not like I bought her like two little things and I'm like moisturizer, that's what you can have, and a little cleanser. Like, you're not putting on a full skincare. She's like, Mom, I want to do. I'm like, I'm 30. I'm like in my 30s. Like, I have to preserve this. Like I didn't put this on when I was nine.

Um, I didn't put it on when I was 20.

I don't even think we took off our makeup. No, yeah, they don't party anymore. No, they really don't. Like, I worked with some younger girls too, and they're like home crocheting. It's it's wild. But you know what? Maybe it's a good thing. It's a they do crocheting now. They do wellness runs. Our like millennial generation is keeping everything like open and five. Yeah, yes. Wow. Yeah, I know. I keep hope. I'm like, uh, my husband's like, you know, if the Gen Z come to the wedding, we might not make a lot of the bar packages, but I'm like, you know what? It's fine. We have like non-alcoholic options, moptails are big things now.

So everything is cyclical. Maybe like Gen Z will be like the healthcare freaks with a generation after, just wait. Our children'll probably be savages because they're your kids. Correct. They're millennial children. Yes, really. Yeah. Yeah. So, um, I mean, I know growing up here too, um, in my day, because I'm older than you guys, um, we never went downtown. There was nothing. Where'd you guys go? Like when you came back from school. Dude, we were at like well, now it's a sushi place, but it there was a restaurant that was like on Green Bay Road, and we like hung out there all the time. What was it? Oh yeah, that was that that one. You know what I'm saying? It was like um Baker Street? Yeah, yeah. Are you kidding?

Yes. Oh yeah. We used to kind of hang out at the Carthage bars though, remember? Yes. What were those? Summer's House, um, Animal something. Oh, okay. I think I feel like I think I've been there. So those were like those bars, then there was like downtown, which was like Fox. You like you walked in, your feet stuck to the floor. Well, like it was just like and you had like old townies or like college kids. So so that's the thing. Like downtown was definitely like dead, and then where church and market is now was Pazos. Yes. Oh yeah. And that when we like a club.

It was so beautiful, yeah.

And then it turned into like a Mike's chicken and donuts.

Yeah, I was like, what happened? Like, we you know, we had like obviously like you know, got married and moved away and whatnot. And then it was gone and it was so sad, and then now it came back, and I think what they're doing and you're doing is is wonderful for this area.

We also used to go drive down the room. Oh, yes, you would just drive. Oh, yeah. Carly, remember like down where is that? It was like the lighthouse by the lighthouse. They changed it now. Yes, tell the story. Oh gosh. So what did you guys do? So it was like one of my first times going. So I had just got my license, and I was like, who? It was us and two other people. I'm gonna go back to the city.

Okay, yeah, and to preface this really quick, like they have changed the way the lighthouse looks completely. Like, before you could actually like park in there, everyone would hang out, like on the boardwalk. Would like get out of the car, we'd all talk, we'd go walk the boardwalk, come down. Now it's like a roundabout, and no one can park there at all. This was not at that time, yeah. So we're all hanging out down there now. Go hunting.

So then this is like my first time driving, not first time like driving ever, but I am very new, got my license, and I'm driving, and um, there's like all these cars whipping around, so I'm you know, and remember everyone used to hang down there and be like, so I'm like, Carly, what? And so I we go and I like whip my little car around, and there is a bike of police. A bike cop, and this bike cop literally like throws his bike in front of the car.

In front of the car, like we almost hit him, yes, and I'm like, and Carly's like, I didn't even know who what Carly's like, that's a police. I'm like, talk about putting your life on the line, like speeding. Like he was dedicated, yeah. He we could have hit him. We could have hit him. I'm not kidding.

And then he comes up to us and goes, How fast do you think you were going? And I go, I don't know, 30 kilometers. No, she goes 60. Oh yeah, 60 kilometers. Oh yes, take no ticket just a 60. That's it.

And Carly's like, no, I screamed. I'm like, no, you are not going. There's no way she was going 60 miles an hour.

I'm thinking in kilometers because that's what we use. And so Carly's like, are you crazy? And I so I get a ticket, and so then I have to go to Port Tourist. And I'm like, um, I'm from Trinidad, and we use kilometers. Um girl, you're not and then he was like, Do you have a valid license? I was like, Yes, I live here now. It was so funny. Oh my god.

But she wanted like getting out of the ticket.

No, I was not.

Well, he thought we were racing, which we were not racing anymore because he kept being like, You were racing that car, and I was like, No, sir, we weren't. And we definitely weren't going 60. I was just like shaking my head the whole time when she said that. You know, we were trying to be like respectful too, because we didn't we like respect authority. We were trying to like get in trouble. Yeah, oh my gosh.

I I didn't even know that they had bike cops. I've never seen that in my life. They don't have bike cops in the Caribbean, okay? Nobody rides in the Caribbean, not very many, but I will just tell you, they're not riding bicycles. So I was like, what in the heck? Carly's like, that's a police. I'm like, what?

He just ran in front of my car. I know that was crazy though, the way he like threw his like bike in front of us.

Yeah, but I was definitely the wild child that like made Carly go go out and do all the other weird.

We used to like back in the day before we were of age, drive to these like underage clubs. Like zero gravity club sugar. Oh, that zero gravity was I mean, I used to live in found that way, but yeah. Did you ever go to those? No. Never? No, I was going to real clubs. How were you getting in? You know. Well, we were like 16. Yeah. Yeah. So we would like go to these dance clubs. You it was like 15 and over, right? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. We were just drinking the car. Yeah. Have one DD. And then go there. And it was like a club. They'd like take pictures of us. We'd dance. It was a good time. We went for my 17th birthday. Do you remember that? Yes, I sure. Oh my gosh, that was so fun. Yeah. Yeah. We had a there were like foam parties. Yeah. Stuff this youth will never know. They'll never experience.

They don't even care. No. They'll never know what it's like to pick a dirty ping pong ball up off the floor and throw it into a beer cup. We have great immunities because of that.

Probably. I mean, what your son is 16. Okay, does he like I mean I that was like my prime. That's what I was. Oh, I'm telling you, they're just totally different. Oh my gosh. Like. Does he do TikToks?

No. Okay. Oh my god. I mean, I feel like social media changed so much because everything is recorded now. We grew up at a time where like we had cell phones, we could text, but we weren't like we carried around digital cameras still. Yeah. Like we weren't taking videos of things either. It was pictures. We were like the first ones doing selfies. Yeah, with our digital cameras. And then you'd turn it around and see if it like looked pretty much. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Like that was the best. It was kind of like the best of both worlds because you could still communicate with people, so it wasn't like scary if you were stranded or what that. But you we weren't glued to like Instagram and TikTok and all that. Like I feel bad for the kids now a little bit.

It is it's sad. Yeah, I think I I do too because I feel like they get nervous because they're like, you know, if you're gonna go talk to a girl or at a party or something, somebody could be recording you. Right. And like what happens if that doesn't go, you know, like doesn't go well, or she like rejects. Could you imagine if that was on camera, it would go like viral. And they would do so, like I think they really like think about that all the time. There's like no more like social skills for some of them. Oh, I bet.

Because they're just like, let me text you, right?

Yeah, and that's why I think they're all like a little secret detectives, too, because they're like, I mean, my nine-year-old can like find stuff on she'll be like, Oh yeah, like let's hook up the I'm like, how do you how do you even know that? Like even with like text messaging, a text cost money. There was no like unlimited texting. Oh, you would like get the bill of like a lot. Like, text was yeah, yeah, like you can just do that freely. Could you imagine now? Oh my god, our bills would be like a million dollars.

I think we only lived in that space for like a tiny bit. Yeah, like that was when I first got a cell phone, and then it was like I got unlimited shortly after that. But I do remember like all my incoming were free, and then my outgoing was like 25 cents or something like that.

Yeah, I remember before that I used to spend time on the phone, like the actual landline, and I used to stay up to the city. You probably stay up so late talking to like I don't know, boyfriends, friends, I can't remember. And I remember one time my dad came home from the bar and it was like probably like two in the morning, and he was so mad. He was like, How long have you been on the phone? I honestly probably like seven hours, I swear. And I got the bill, my dad got the bill, and I think he beat my butt. I was like in big trouble. Yeah, this is also the time when you get like beat by your dad. So for sure, yeah, yeah. My parents did not mess around.

A retired Marine, yeah, I got beat for sure. But yeah, I feel like those were times that you you just like, yeah. We had a I think millennials are like not to just be like, ooh, we're the best. But I just feel like we have a great generation because we got a little bit of best of both worlds. Like we got the privacy, but we also got the technology, and I see it now, like my mom struggles so much with the technology. Um, but then I see it like in my daughter where like she's so dependent on it. Whereas like I'm like, I can I can you put me in a situation and I will figure it out, right? You know, my mom will be like old school, like looking for the you know, the yellow pages, but like she really struggles. She's like, How do you upload? How do you like attach? You know, I have to like show her. My dad was about to like drive up to Milwaukee to give his medical records.

Okay, for real. I was like, Dad, I'm like, put me on the phone right now. I called the girl and I was like, I'm so sorry, my parents are old. Okay, and they're not even that old, they're in their 60s. But I'm like, um, I'm so sorry they're old. Can I just like email it to you? Do you have an email that I can attach the email? She's like, Yeah, absolutely. I'm like, were you really about to drive like 45 minutes away to go and hand in your document? Like, you know, we live in a time where you can send that like in a minute. My they had no idea. My dad does not know how to do that stuff. So I mean it does now.

We're the bridge to me. Well, and I was literally what I send you on Saturday. My parents were over, and my mom's like, How do you update my phone? It I I it I charge it and it says it's gonna update, and then the morning it says it's an update. I'm like, give it to me. And I took a picture, I'm like, because literally we are like the IT for our parents. Oh, yeah. And so I was like, okay, like your battery's full, like, and I pressed it, and I'm like, just I don't know if she was plugging it in and it wasn't charging or what it did. And then she's like, Oh, thanks. I'm like, okay, no problem. All I did was press okay. I know my mom can't. My my mom and my dad share the same email. I had to set my mom up with it. Because he needs to like start getting on certain things now. And and they're like, Oh, it says the email's taken. I'm like, because you two share one. No, most people do not share emails, okay? So I am my mom's like password person. So like if she logs in somewhere, I have to text her and I'm like, hey, just making sure, did you log into your you know, email to text or the code that gets sent to you? No, not the code. It's like, you know, when it's like you um it's detected that it's logged in from somewhere or someone changed your password, and then I'm like, oh god, I'm like, this is the time she probably got hacked, and then I'm like, Did you? She's like, Yeah, it was me, and I'm like, okay, like all the time. My mom writes all of hers down in a book. I'm like, if you loop that book you are, you're in big problems.

She's like, How do you remember yours? I'm like, my brain. Like she's like, oh my gosh, you have so much in there. I'm like, Yeah, you know. But we're also like multitaskers too, right? Like, I think, like, I again not to bash the like younger generation, but I look at like my daughter, and I'm so worried because I'm like, you better, I I'm very mean on her, but I'm like, you better, you better get going. Like, she gets flustered by like a lot of things. And I'm like, what are you talking about? Like, I multitask multiple things on a daily basis. Like, you can, and and she grabs the phone. Like, that's her, you know, she's always almost like security blankets. Yeah, like she's like, Oh, well, could we can we can I can I take a picture of it? Can I? And I'm like, no, you can remember it. You can, you know, she wants to like put everything, even like she'll be like, Mom, can I use your thing to put notes? I'm like, no, you're nine. You can remember it. Like, say it, repeat it, remember it.

Like, you don't need to like here's a notebook with a pen. Right, you know, I would just say it. Yeah, and like think about all the notes we took and wrote each other like back in the day.

I just feel like also too. I just never like of course we didn't have it, but like I never we we went places and I didn't ask my mom for the phone. Yeah. I went to dinner with my parents and I didn't have a phone, and I had to sit there and make fun games and eat dinner. You know what I mean? Yeah. Nowadays it's like, oh my god, please give the kids a phone because they're gonna throw a fit.

I remember like sitting in church and looking up at the lights, meaning like if that one fell, who would it hit? Oh my god. Well, you're like so you have to understand yourself. Yeah. Like it's like, it's like, oh, okay, there's like that would fall there. You know, or just like little things, like looking at different things, observing.

I just feel like they don't do that anymore.

Yeah.

So I I but I'm very like, that's our job as the millennial parents to be like, get it together. Right. You're gonna do this now. Like, I we're very well, we are very strict on like time, like the amount of time that they get on the phone, what they're watching, because I'm just like, this is like an open box now. You never know what they can look up, you know? Yeah, and mine's nine going on 15. I'm like, oh goodness, yeah. I it's a lot.

Yeah. I'm not there yet, but I make my child like do laps around the yard. Like I will be like, get out and run. You know what I mean? It's good for him. Like get out and move your body, dude. You're like, something's going on. You're beating up on your sisters. Like, give me two laps around the yard. And he doesn't. He comes back and he's good. Last night at the game, he she's like, Alright, rate. Let's see how fast you can run to the egg. And dude, he like booked it back and forth. He's quick. He is fast. Then he found these this little like seven and eight-year-old. He's like, let's race. Crushed him. Crushed him. He comes back. He's like, I crushed him. Just like that, like good job. He's a little athlete, that's for sure. Yeah. He is fast. I know. He always was like wants to race it.

At least like so bad. He'll like ask me, he's like, ask your phone who could win in a race. A five-year-old or a cheetah? Oh my

gosh.

Oh, but as I get older, it it gets rull. Like, we're in like, I don't know, you must feel it too, but like or gone through it, but I'm like homework, outfits, like I have boys. Okay. Like, I am some days I wonder like what it would be like to have if I had a girl, and I honestly, it's hard both ways. Yeah. But like clothes, oh my god, I have to be like, Can you like put like a clean shirt on? Like, where did you find that? Oh, can we cheat? Like, we have 27 hanging shirts, but he picks like the same three. I mean, he's he just turned 12, so he's like in that age, whatever, but um, but they do like you know expensive stuff, like shorters. Oh yeah, so I don't know, but for you, I'm sure you just said nine going on 15, so she probably sees everything from online.

Every day, so if she goes to school that has uniforms, oh my god. Because no, I'm serious, like I could never send her to school that wears normal clothes because mine is such a diva that like she she's she's a fashion girl, that's for sure. Um, maybe she'll be a stylist or something. She's so cute, but she really like puts a lot of emphasis in her attire, and in the morning it is a struggle. And like this morning she tried on four outfits and started crying, and I was like, just wear this, like just put on the damn clothes and just go. And then the the little one is like learning, so now she's like, I don't like it, and she doesn't. I we had like a full meltdown this morning, and I was like, Can we just get out of the house? Like, I was like, Oh my gosh, okay, I can't have any more kids. This is just too much. Seriously, two girls getting dressed. I'm like, and they're seven years apart. Oh my god, yeah. I'm like, okay, we're done. Like, I'm just putting everyone in clothes, and this is it. Like, I don't care if it matches, just wear a thing. Like, she wears a mix style, but well, my ones who wear like black socks, like black Nike socks with like his shorts. And I'm like, no. Why? What about that? I don't know, like black socks when you're wearing shorts. Yeah, mine put on jeans today and Grace Jason. She put on a white shirt, a purple, like baggy pants. Looks so cute. I actually picked it out because we went through four other outfits. Um, at one point she wanted to wear a crop top and this little skirt, and I was like, absolutely not. Okay, because by the way, Fridays they can wear whatever they want. I was gonna say about like casual day. So Fridays they can wear whatever they want. Every Friday, it's like a battle. Every I like I wake up on Fridays like I should start picking battle.

It doesn't work. We've tried. Okay, don't even get me. I have like the thing that has the Monday, Tuesday, whatever. I have that too, yeah. It doesn't work on a Friday. She's like, eh, Friday. Um, it's like the worst day. Now she starts saying Fridays are my worst day. Because it's we always fight because it's just like get ready. But um, yeah, it's it is a battle, and so and then she put on gray socks with sandals. I was like, Are you insane? I was like, you're not wearing that. And I said, I always tell her, I say, you're not allowed to wear those shoes because if somebody comes into the school and you need to run. Shut down. Shut up. I don't know.

Oh my gosh. You have to run. Yes, you do have to run. My kids are getting cut down in like Crocs or something.

Um all right. Well, on that note.

Well, do we have anything else? I don't know. Um, we didn't get any new comments. No, we didn't. We didn't get any new reviews.

I mean, we got more f we got a few new followers on Instagram, I saw. We went on YouTube now. Yes, we're officially on YouTube, so you can listen to this episode on YouTube. We're still working on getting video. Yeah. So you can actually like see us. Um we'll see that maybe after Christmas.

Um, but Chantel, thank you so much for taking the time to come here today to talk with us. It was so funny. Oh my god, so fun. Just learning more about you and your story is cool. You know what I mean? Like, I think it's interesting and it makes you unique and fun and awesome. And no, it's just fun to listen to different people on their life experiences. Yeah. Thank you for having me. No, I love, I mean, we'll all do is talk. So, yeah.

I love talking, so I said, Carly, are you sure you want me on here? Because I'm scared you're gonna lose every single follower because they'll say this girl is wild. And I'm like, I don't think you want that. She was like, No, it'd be so entertaining. Yes, yeah, it is.

Yeah, it's fun. So, I guess. All right, well, I think we're good here. We're ready. All right, thanks for having me. Yes, of course. Thanks for being coming in, and we can't wait to keep following you. We can't wait for the opening party and all that. Yeah, the grand launch. That's gonna be amazing. Yes, so excited. It's gonna be so great. So we'll see you next time on Between Neighbors. Good night.