Issue 2: Allora Vs. Alura
Topic: The Name Game
*Disclaimer* Allora Vs. is a series focused on my own opinions and the opinions of those I interview. I am in no way advocating for or against any of the topics discussed… most of the time. These are simply opinion based discussions about controversial and/or comedic topics in society.
A truly amazing coincidence happened to me this semester, and I NEED to share it. So this “episode” is dedicated to names, specifically my name… It is less of an opinion piece and more of an intrusive look into the lives of two individuals who just happen to be in the same place at the same time.
I have always been the odd man out in terms of having a name twin. My primary and secondary schools were filled with Sarahs and Roberts and Gabbys (one of whom is my best friend). Yet, there were never any kids with a name even kind of similar to mine. I always knew if I was being called on because there clearly were no other “Allora’s” around. That is, until my senior year of college.
I was scrolling through my school emails toward the end of this summer when I noticed a message sent to the LocoMag staff from… Alura? I had to double check. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. But, alas, I was reading it correctly. There was another Loco staff member with my name?? This girl chose Arcadia University, out of all the other schools in the world, and was taking the SAME CLASS? I was in shock.
Our first staff meeting came around, and I was in the presence of Alura, which was much odder than I had expected. I mean, people meet and interact with their namesakes everyday. But ME? Never.
I heard “Hey Allora/Alura” and automatically looked to whomever was speaking to show that they had my attention, but I was mistaken. That was the first time I’d ever heard my name called in a social setting (outside of my family) and it was not directed toward me.
So in light of this brand new experience, I decided to ask Alura about her name and personality to see what, if anything, we had in common. Here is our “Alloura” Q&A:
Q:Why were you named Alura/Allora?
Alura- I don’t think there was any reason behind my name other than my parents wanting a unique name that started with the letter A to match with my sister.
Allora- I was named after my maternal grandmother. My mom had always loved her mom’s name and swore she would name her daughter Allora. Although, I was almost an Ameila.
Q:Have you ever met anyone with the same name?
Alura-I’ve never met another Alura! It’s crazy!
Allora- Other than my grandma, no. Never. And I never really count her anyway because I didn’t call her by her name.
Q: How damaging was it to never find your name on a keychain or bike plate growing up?
Alura- That may have been one of my major life aspirations as a child. To finally have my name on some merchandise haha.
Allora- I’ll never recover. It was so intense at one point that I swore to myself I’d grow up and make specialty, made-to-order name merch.
Q: Is your name a constant conversation starter? Also, is your name the main thing people compliment you on?
Alura- I get a lot of compliments on my name and they’re definitely the majority of the compliments I receive. But, usually when people are like “ooo pretty name” i’m so used to it I just immediately reply with “oh thanks!” And that’s the extent of the conversation!
Allora- I get nervous when people ask about my name because I never know if they’re Italian, and I would rather not be mocked. (Google Allora) Or if they’ve ever seen Master of None.
But yeah, my name and my eyelashes are pretty much the only compliments I get. :,)
Q: Have you ever had nicknames? Please elaborate
Alura-I don’t think I’ve ever had nicknames as a kid, except for the weird phase I had in middle school, where I insisted my friends call me DJ RaRa™️
Allora- I’ve only ever had one nickname that stuck, and it only stuck with one person from my elementary school. I wanted to be called Ally for a minute, but my friend was the only one who caught on. Other people have tried to give me a nickname, but they just don’t stick. I’ve literally ALWAYS wanted a cool nickname.
Q: Have you ever wanted to change your name? If so, to what?
Alura- As a kid, I definitely wanted to change my name. (Mainly because the whole keychain debacle) However, I never thought of any other name, as it’s very much so a big part of my own identity, and I’ve grown fond of it as I’ve gotten older.
Allora- I wanted it immediately changed when I realized it was an Italian throw-away word, but that’s not my battle to fight. I like my name, so I’ve never thought enough about a different one to want it as my own.
Q: How many times has your name been pronounced wrong? Ballpark figure.
Alura-I get the very common “UHH-Lurr-uH” or “AY-LieRr-Uh” or “LoRE-Uh”… etc., etc…. so ya lot. Nine times out of ten I think.
Allora- My old neighbor used to call me “Uh-LaIR-Uh” and my brother “Jeremiah” (his name is Jeramy…), but mine is pretty hard to mispronounce unless you can’t sound out letters. I’d say three times out of ten.
Q: Do your family members sometimes spell your name wrong?
Alura- I’ve thankfully never had my name spelled wrong by family. Oh god that’s awful, I’m so sorry that happens.
Allora- I don’t think my grandpa ever actually knew how to spell it. I always got cards with “Alora” or “Allura.” My maternal grandpa, not the one who was married to an Allora. Important distinction.
Q: Overall, do you like your name?
Alura-Yeah, I like my name.
Allora- Yeah, I’m not mad about it.
Rapid Fire Q’s
Q: Chocolate or vanilla?
Alura-Vanilla
Allora- Chocolate
Q: Favorite color?
Alura- Red
Allora- Gray (Don’t judge me. I like gray.)
Q: Favorite band/song from any era?
Alura- Time in a Bottle- Jim Croce
Allora- Mine changes daily, but a good go-to is Blue- Joni Mitchell (a lyrical masterpiece)
Q: Fork or spoon?
Alura- Spoon (I’m just thinking of dessert spoons)
Allora- Spoon. Cereal. Ice cream.
Q: Tattoos?
Alura- No tattoos
Allora- I think I’m on number 17?
Q: Piercings?
Alura- Oh no… do ear piercings count?
Allora- Ears, nose, had my tragus done, then had it surgically removed in London. That’s a story for a different day.
Q: Height?
Alura- 5’3” barely but we’re there.
Allora- 5’6” ? 5’7” ?
Q: First celebrity crush?
Alura-I think it may have been Zac Efron. High School Musical era.
Allora- Sean Astin in the Goonies.
Q: Biggest fear?
Alura- I think my biggest fears are not knowing what the future holds, and being alone or disliked. Spiders or heights don’t really scare me, it’s the things I don’t know and can’t control that get me.
Allora- Drowning, loneliness, not living before I die, I guess.
Q: Biggest source of happiness?
Alura- I get the most happy when I get to create stuff. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a piece of art, food, or a paper airplane, it always make me feel content to be able to make things. Also, humans are cool and I find happiness from some, but puppies and cats are where it’s at.
Allora- My family and friends always bring me joy. They’re my sunshine, for sure.
