Ep. 11 - Allana Milan Jackson: A Peek into Sixth-Grade Life, Love for Japanese Culture, and Her Creative Writing Journey
Nov 29, 2023Season 1Episode 11
Allen Jackson
What can you expect when you invite an eleven-year-old to chat, especially when she happens to be your daughter? Welcome to our latest Two Cups Cafe episode featuring a delightful conversation with my youngest, Alana Melon Jackson. She peels back the curtain on sixth-grade life, from tackling homework to making friends, and her budding interest in Japanese culture. We also tackle the transition to in-person learning after the pandemic and the realities of school life through her eyes.
The conversation gets more interesting as we navigate Alana's love for global cultures. From the discovery of a Japanese snack box to unique fashion ideas, and her concerns about a beloved anime's live-action adaptation—there's never a dull moment! We also discuss her penchant for storytelling, her dream of having pets, and the responsibilities that come with it.
Get ready for a whirlwind of creative exploration as Alana talks about her book-writing journey. Combining the classic Cinderella story with elements from Crazy Rich Asians, she offers a fresh take on storytelling. We also venture into her experiences as an aunt, strategies for dealing with distractions, and the importance of hydration and self-care. Join us on this heartwarming episode of Two Cups Cafe and share in the joy of our caffeinated conversation. Remember to subscribe and spread the word about our podcast!
What can you expect when you invite an eleven-year-old to chat, especially when she happens to be your daughter? Welcome to our latest Two Cups Cafe episode featuring a delightful conversation with my youngest, Alana Melon Jackson. She peels back the curtain on sixth-grade life, from tackling homework to making friends, and her budding interest in Japanese culture. We also tackle the transition to in-person learning after the pandemic and the realities of school life through her eyes.
The conversation gets more interesting as we navigate Alana's love for global cultures. From the discovery of a Japanese snack box to unique fashion ideas, and her concerns about a beloved anime's live-action adaptation—there's never a dull moment! We also discuss her penchant for storytelling, her dream of having pets, and the responsibilities that come with it.
Get ready for a whirlwind of creative exploration as Alana talks about her book-writing journey. Combining the classic Cinderella story with elements from Crazy Rich Asians, she offers a fresh take on storytelling. We also venture into her experiences as an aunt, strategies for dealing with distractions, and the importance of hydration and self-care. Join us on this heartwarming episode of Two Cups Cafe and share in the joy of our caffeinated conversation. Remember to subscribe and spread the word about our podcast!
Follow Allen C. Jackson - @2cupschronicles
Speaker 1:
I'm so grateful for another day to help stimulate the mental Time to strategize. Cuddle up with your sickle. I can feel the movement radiating through the convo. Talk is cheap. Turn your faith into work. I drink my second cup and put my hands in the dirt. Two cups drinking straight drip from the earth, caffeinated conversation. You heard him here first. One fuck the wake up. One, fuck the wake up Two, fuck the word. Caffeinated conversations. You heard him here first. Welcome back to Two Cups Cafe where I'm your host. Alan C Jackson, who I have coming through today for high quality caffeinated conversation, at least on my end, is none other than my youngest, my baby Alana Melon Jackson. Ola, he said, ola, how you doing. Spud, good, good, good, I'm so glad you came and joined me today. I know you have day off of school teacher's work day. That's what it was.
Speaker 2:
In service.
Speaker 1:
Teacher's in service day, so we just had an opportunity come and we're going to do the podcast and then probably go get a little bite to eat later, what you want to eat.
Speaker 2:
We haven't been to BJs in a while.
Speaker 1:
BJs. Okay, we'll see. We'll see what you like about BJs.
Speaker 2:
Like desserts. Okay, the food.
Speaker 1:
The food all right, all right. So how old are you, Alana? Eleven, Eleven. What grade are you in?
Speaker 2:
Six.
Speaker 1:
So tell me the hardest thing about being a sixth grader.
Speaker 2:
Homework.
Speaker 1:
Homework, what's?
Speaker 2:
the students.
Speaker 1:
What you mean by the students.
Speaker 2:
Maybe it's because I don't like to socialize that much, but I just don't, you know. They just not.
Speaker 1:
You're not really clicking right now.
Speaker 2:
No I don't know.
Speaker 1:
It seemed like you were a lot more social this year than you have been in the past years. I remember when we went through the pandemic, though, and then you had to do the online school, and then when they went back in person and we kept you at home for a little longer time to the end of the year, I know it seemed like you kind of was hesitant a little bit about going back into the classroom. What you think that was about?
Speaker 2:
Probably because I didn't know what people were like, because I haven't been around them in a long time.
Speaker 1:
So you feel like gave you a little bit of I don't want to say anxiety, but just a little bit of nervousness about being around the kids again.
Speaker 2:
Yep.
Speaker 1:
Okay, so what do you think that's helping that this year? Because I'm telling you it's night and day to how you have been.
Speaker 2:
I think it's more experience. More experience, okay, I know how to handle their personalities more.
Speaker 1:
All right yeah, because I remember you was having a hard time, like when kids talk while the teacher talking, or when it's quiet time. They weren't being quiet and it was kind of like really like you was trying to really understand, like why they didn't get more trouble or why the teacher didn't put them out or why they didn't go to this school. Yeah.
Speaker 2:
You got disciplinary systems for a reason.
Speaker 1:
But everybody don't fit the mold. Sometimes you got to learn how to interact with kids in a certain way.
Speaker 2:
I think so All right.
Speaker 1:
So tell me some of your interests. I know you. Let me tell you this Before you tell me all of them. Let me tell you one thing that's intriguing to me about you is that you've been getting really into Japanese culture. Where do you think that came from?
Speaker 2:
I really don't know. To be honest, I think one day I just liked it.
Speaker 1:
So what was the first thing that stood out to you about it?
Speaker 2:
The food.
Speaker 1:
The food. Okay, yeah, I remember we used to get the international snack box and we used to do like we used to taste the snacks and stuff like that. But now you're saying that you want to do one just Asian snack base.
Speaker 2:
Oh yeah, I found this one thing. It was just for, like, japanese sex, it's called Baksu.
Speaker 1:
Baksu, it's not an ad. It's not an ad. Okay, what kind of stuff Baksu have.
Speaker 2:
It has like just purely Japanese snacks. Okay, it has like all these, like I know what the start back has in it. You don't need to know that right now, though.
Speaker 1:
All right, All right, and also what you really it was funny to me that we went to Hawaii a couple years ago and you really got into the local food and one food in particular that most people and when you came home and you were really talking about it, they really couldn't get on board. What was that?
Speaker 2:
Musubi.
Speaker 1:
Musubi, and what's that made of?
Speaker 2:
Spam and rice.
Speaker 1:
Spam and rice and what else. One more thing, Seaweed Yup. So you came back to talk about Musubi and what the kids at school were like.
Speaker 2:
They thought spam was mystery meat or something. One kid called it sushi.
Speaker 1:
Sushi. Okay, yeah, so you like Asian culture, and another interesting thing about you is that you like fashion and art, so tell me a little bit about your inspirations for that type of stuff. Which one Fashion or art, which everyone you want to talk about.
Speaker 2:
Okay For art. I think that ties in, because I just like making shapes. Really I like making shapes in detail.
Speaker 1:
Okay.
Speaker 2:
So I'm also on for fashion. I just like I don't know why I like fashion really.
Speaker 1:
I notice you do a lot with the different eras. You try to put together like fashion from the 50s, from the 60s. What was your favorite era right now?
Speaker 2:
Can it be like behind the 1900s, like the 1900s?
Speaker 1:
It's your era, okay.
Speaker 2:
Probably like one of the 50s. I notice all the 50s in the 19, 18, and 17 are kind of similar because, they all had the same silhouette. And even though they were a hundred years apart they did, yeah, each year, because you know the 50s they had the petticoats and stuff, and then with the 1850s they had that, but longer and with off the shoulder sleeves. That's the evening gowns, and it was the same thing like that with the 1750s.
Speaker 1:
So it's fashion, something you want to work with, or it's kind of just an interest, because I know you like certain animes too, right?
Speaker 2:
Yeah, the one I'm trying to watch more of right now is probably One Piece.
Speaker 1:
One.
Speaker 2:
Piece. Yeah, like One Piece.
Speaker 1:
Okay.
Speaker 2:
And I'm also so mad that they made that live action, like that's the main part of One Piece, like it's the art style.
Speaker 1:
Okay, so what kind of like? So one thing that tripped me out when I kind of sometimes peeking in on you watching the YouTube, it's like you're watching the YouTube but it's a story in the background that don't go with what they're doing.
Speaker 2:
You mean the food story time?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, so what's that all about?
Speaker 2:
Why do you have to come up with my YouTube?
Speaker 1:
No, I'm just trying to understand as being you know, somebody that sees something and then the story or the video usually goes with the what's going on. So tell me how that goes like. When did you get interested in that I? Really just, and you could have just explained it for the people that never, that's kind of my age, that I don't know what I'm talking about.
Speaker 2:
So it's kind of like depends on what you're watching, because some of them are like food story times, nail art stuff like that, and then it has them like doing the stuff and then like a story in the background.
Speaker 1:
But the story has nothing to do with the art or the cooking.
Speaker 2:
It's more like sensory stuff. You can like wash the recipe while you have somebody telling a story.
Speaker 1:
Right. So I noticed that you like telling stories too. I'm not talking about telling tales, I'm talking about you like making actual stories, even though sometimes you can't make stuff up.
Speaker 2:
But I'm just saying yeah, I'm also trying to write a book right now, but what do you mean by like telling stories?
Speaker 1:
No, you like crafting stories like far as. Like you talk about how you're gonna make your own superhero, or you talk about what's a good occupation for somebody and he's gonna make $50,000, and stuff like that.
Speaker 2:
Over $50,000. Because, like about the over $50,000 thing, because I have this book, she's supposed to have a lot of pets, okay, and so I added all the expensive expenses up and it's like almost $50,000. So I have to make character like over that.
Speaker 1:
Over that, like far as like, so they can save. Yeah. Have retirement plans yeah.
Speaker 2:
Have a good house. Good expenses for pets.
Speaker 1:
That makes sense. I know you want a pet, but I don't really do pets, so tell me about that.
Speaker 2:
What do you mean? Tell you about that.
Speaker 1:
Tell me about the pets you like.
Speaker 2:
I'm. I like chinchillas dogs. My favorite dog, one of them is probably Akita American. I like American and Japanese Akita. I don't know I explain it, but American Akita just look American to me. I don't know how to explain it. It just do, that's funny. Yeah, because I don't know, I don't know he look like he got eyebrows. He doesn't even have eyebrow markings.
Speaker 1:
Wow. So I know you have. You would want a dog if you were allowed to have a dog, but my thing with dog is that it's a lot of work. It's like having no child.
Speaker 2:
And I also like sea bunnies.
Speaker 1:
What's that?
Speaker 2:
It's like a sea slug, but it looks like a bunny.
Speaker 1:
A sea slug. Yeah, and it's like fingertip big. No, that's something that you could have or no, but I would want to.
Speaker 2:
It has, like it looks like fur, but it's actually stingers.
Speaker 1:
Okay, wow. So if you have a superpower, what would it be?
Speaker 2:
Like what are the restriction?
Speaker 1:
It's your superpower. What?
Speaker 2:
are the restrictions?
Speaker 1:
I can't put it in the box.
Speaker 2:
Materialize a different superpower every day.
Speaker 1:
You say to do what?
Speaker 2:
To materialize a different superpower every day.
Speaker 1:
Oh, so you're going to cheat and try to get it.
Speaker 2:
That's why I ask for the rules. That's exactly why I ask for the rules.
Speaker 1:
So you would want a different superpower every day? Yeah, okay, but what if you needed one that you had yesterday for today, but you got to get it different?
Speaker 2:
Well, figure it out then.
Speaker 1:
Okay, okay.
Speaker 2:
Yes, you don't need that one today.
Speaker 1:
So now you have a new thing you picked up no-transcript.
Speaker 2:
It's complicated really, because I've been getting finger cramps of how far away them, them things are go like skip one, skip one, button for button.
Speaker 1:
I don't know so now, do you like music? Yeah, sir, music sir, music, what do you like me? And they would play music.
Speaker 2:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, cuz I used to play the trumpet. When I was your age, probably like fifth, sixth grade, I used to play the trumpet, but unlike you, I had oh.
Speaker 2:
Three, three valve, three valve.
Speaker 1:
Compare that no, no, no. You had to be slick with them valve to be able to get all them sounds. Oh yeah, I didn't. Three different combinations. I Got a friend that played trumpet. He really want to argue with you about that. Okay, Okay what you like, let's go okay so.
Speaker 1:
But Unlike you, when I was little, we had you know it was all about work. So I had a trumpet and I was taking lessons. But one day I came home my trumpet was gone and my granddad said that horn ain't gonna paint no bills, cuz it was, it wasn't. It wasn't a trumpet day. So I came home a ticket to get back to the rental store and it was over with. But how do you feel like? Do you feel like you have parents that encourage you, your creativity, creativity you want to talk about it.
Speaker 2:
Like you put, you're trying to put me in a lot of art classes.
Speaker 1:
But what's the what's the pushback to that?
Speaker 2:
because I Want to do my own style and they're gonna try to just teach, but everyone else is doing yeah, but sometimes you gotta learn foundation so you know how to freestyle off of it.
Speaker 1:
You don't think so I?
Speaker 2:
Already like art studies by myself, though.
Speaker 1:
So you feel like can't nobody teach you nothing? Or you feel like you just don't want to be in the class.
Speaker 2:
I really don't want to be in the class.
Speaker 1:
Mmm. Okay, so you know what sometimes the class, what it does, is it helps you be in the setting with others and learning. That way you can get used to being, you know, in social situation, unless you're gonna make some Some crazy van goes or something and you could just be in isolation. I don't know.
Speaker 2:
Oh no, so did you know. Van go only sold like one painting before he died. No, I didn't know that he sold one and I think I don't know if it was another one, but another artist I think we know that was Van go. Yeah, Van go he. You hear a story about he cut off his ear.
Speaker 1:
Mmm.
Speaker 2:
I mean a different one.
Speaker 1:
I don't know, so I'm not.
Speaker 2:
There's this one artist that cut off his ear. He had this one disease where where he like Like blacked out, but he was still like conscious. He just didn't know, couldn't remember what he was doing. So in one of those fits he just like cut off his ear. It was, it wasn't as old. Your like your lobe.
Speaker 1:
Okay, okay, so me ask you this like in your age of YouTube ready information, how difficult is it for you when you come up with a lot of the facts that you have and then me and your mom have like different take on it?
Speaker 1:
I don't, really don't know so cuz sometimes you feel like if it's on YouTube then it must be right, huh? You want to give you an example? Yep, okay, so I'm gonna give you a rough example. So say, like, if you say it's something off YouTube that me and mom knew Was incorrect and we told you the incorrect, who would you more likely to believe? I?
Speaker 2:
Depends on what the thing is.
Speaker 1:
Just give me like a solid example okay, I'm gonna have to get, I'm gonna have to pull one up. I don't have it off hand, but I remember me and you and mom had a heated debate one day and I can't remember what the topic was about Was it me and her new for a fact that your youtuber was wrong, but you just kept on like you was getting a little heated.
Speaker 2:
It was about the Cleopatra thing could have been. It could have been why you keep on saying could because I can't I'm Literally can't remember right now. Well, the Cleopatra thing was when I said, like Cleopatra was Macedonian. And for people who don't know what Macedonia is, greek okay.
Speaker 2:
Cuz, her dad was a Greek Emperor, I think her governor, somewhere like that, and as she went to Egypt, okay, and then other people think because and her like art, she had like fuller lips and the broad nose that she was Egyptian okay, so I think I'm a had to defer to your uncle, calvin, who is.
Speaker 1:
He taught ancient civilization, so we had to have a conversation with him because, to be honest, I don't have that as in-depth knowledge about it as you do, but you know, we always taught that. You know Cleopatra was Egyptian.
Speaker 2:
Well, her nationality was Egyptian.
Speaker 1:
That's what I know okay, okay, let's see who you coming from. So next week grandparents day, I Tell me about it.
Speaker 2:
I have to represent a flu and I'm not going to be the one talking. One of my classmates, her name is Zanora, so she's going to be the one talking about the flu. So that's about it, and then we're going to sing to all of my water.
Speaker 1:
Okay. So it's a big deal for your grandma because it's going to be your last grandparents day, nothing. You are the youngest grandchild, but then you know she has great grandchildren, so there's a big deal for grandma. So you know, y'all going how you feel about her coming.
Speaker 2:
Um what do you mean by that Elaborate?
Speaker 1:
Just how you feel about your grandma coming to grandparents day.
Speaker 2:
What does that mean? Elaborate? I can't think for you.
Speaker 1:
I can't. Good, okay, see, there you go. That's all you have to say. What the trick question.
Speaker 2:
It sounded like one.
Speaker 1:
So you feel like people try to try to get you riddles and stuff? Yeah, why you feel like that?
Speaker 2:
It. Just it don't make sense. Like cause a lot of my classmates they asked me like, not like it's not not that smart question.
Speaker 1:
Okay.
Speaker 2:
So I'm just like I don't know how to answer them. That's all right.
Speaker 1:
You know, one of the biggest reasons why I got you on this podcast today, what? Because I was having a conversation with somebody and I was telling them this person, right they, they would be more suited, suitable as a friend I grew up with, suitable for like an after dark conversation, after air conversation, because they talk a little spicy. So I said that it's a family podcast. And you said, if it's a family podcast, then why haven't been on the podcast? Remember that. So what made you think about that?
Speaker 1:
Well, because the accent faint, questions Well why don't you give me an answer to a question that you want me to ask?
Speaker 2:
Can you ask my book real quick? Ask about my book, okay.
Speaker 1:
So I heard you were writing a book, right? Oh yeah, so tell me about the book.
Speaker 2:
Okay. So it's kind of based off like it's kind of like a Cinderella story, like Cinderella Crazy Witch Asians plot, like for people who don't know what Crazy Witch Asians, can you explain that?
Speaker 1:
No, this is your story.
Speaker 2:
Okay, so it's basically hierarchy.
Speaker 1:
Okay, Social hierarchy like.
Speaker 2:
The hierarchy in my book or the movie.
Speaker 1:
Just your book.
Speaker 2:
Okay, so basically the hierarchy is like it's part of it set in Korea and part of it set in Tampa.
Speaker 1:
Okay.
Speaker 2:
I haven't settled on what part of Korea I want it to be set in but, I, know for America, tampa. Okay, so basically the main character. Okay, she is a. I haven't decided on her job either. So she has like five dogs and two chinchillas what?
Speaker 1:
It's not a lot of work.
Speaker 2:
Chinchillas aren't that much work Like. They're like five medium to big dogs.
Speaker 1:
Okay, so once you get your story out, what are you planning on doing with it? Just for something that's cool, that you like to do, that's something that you want to distribute, or I might try to publish it, but I'm not there yet, so so it's kind of like really just going through the process of how to create.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, and also I made the character design. So I tried to go like shape character design. I said like the more squares, the more like what's the word.
Speaker 1:
We're like symmetrical or something.
Speaker 2:
No, not symmetrical Circles mean like softer characters, and then triangles are usually like the more edgy character, like triangle based.
Speaker 1:
So let me ask you this Would you be open to getting tutoring or instruction on how to create a book, or is that something that you just got to be totally organic with it?
Speaker 2:
I think I know how to. I have like the stories in my head. I just and I have like the depth plot, but it just don't feel the same when I'm writing it.
Speaker 1:
Because you know you have like stories, have like tying the structures that they usually take you know, so is that? Are you following a traditional story?
Speaker 2:
line, or I'm like the Cinderella storyline really, but not Cinderella Like it's more like I have this one plot just in mind, like a seemingly like side character gets brung to more light.
Speaker 1:
Okay, I got you.
Speaker 2:
I would tell you what that is, but I don't know if I published it yet.
Speaker 1:
It's okay. You have to get away All your secrets, that's okay. I appreciate that.
Speaker 2:
I already know the main character's name, though Her name is Lego.
Speaker 1:
Legos.
Speaker 2:
L-E-I-K-O.
Speaker 1:
Okay, I like that. That's a cute name.
Speaker 2:
It's a cute flower or something like that.
Speaker 1:
Okay, yeah, so tell me about being a TT. A-t.
Speaker 2:
It's complicated.
Speaker 1:
It's complicated. Why you say that it's only a three year old and a one year old?
Speaker 2:
That's the exact reason why it's complicated.
Speaker 1:
They have a lot of energy huh.
Speaker 2:
But, they locked me out of my own room.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, they do that. So anything you want to talk about before we get out of here.
Speaker 2:
School.
Speaker 1:
Okay.
Speaker 2:
So basically, it's a lot of stuff going on at school.
Speaker 1:
All right, don't incriminate nobody, but go ahead and tell your story.
Speaker 2:
What do you mean? Don't incriminate anyone.
Speaker 1:
I want nobody getting put on punch man until they see the podcast. Nobody watches, oh wow. They might watch it because you on here Nobody.
Speaker 2:
No, so basically that's it Next to one of the loudest boys in class. Okay. If, therefore, I get bothered a lot so I can't really do my work that good, so I'm just sitting up there like so I have to zone everything out, and sometimes the teacher be talking and I don't even notice.
Speaker 1:
Well, you know you got to learn how to deal with that adversity, because when you get a grown up, nobody, nobody listens to, like nobody. Your workplace is not going to be super quiet, your house not going to be super quiet. You know, you just got to learn different personalities, different characters. If you look at the people in your class like characters, then maybe you know they help you kind of understand, like oh, they're the villain in this story, oh, they're the popular kid.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I select few that I just don't really talk to. I've select few.
Speaker 1:
So let me give me so two cups is one for the weight, one for the work, right? So what's kind of like some big vision ideas you have right now. What wakes you up in the morning? What really gets your juices going?
Speaker 2:
What do you want me to answer first?
Speaker 1:
The wake. So all that's kind of like wrapped together.
Speaker 2:
Okay, so basically I'm gonna figure out how to state this, so just tell me what you want me to answer first.
Speaker 1:
Okay, so what's your big vision for the future?
Speaker 2:
Like I said, probably like writing my book, like. And also I told you I didn't tell you that we get a workbook promo this year, so I want to learn how to do stuff on that.
Speaker 1:
So do you think you're more into the writing than you are the art and the music?
Speaker 2:
No.
Speaker 1:
Okay, so you think that's all gonna come together.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, probably because you need like writing to help with art and stuff.
Speaker 1:
Okay. So I usually would say one for the work. But let me ask you this Like that usually means like what steps are you taking towards that goal? But I'm gonna ask it a different way, like is there anything that you need from your parents to help you get to your goal? I think I'm good I think you're good, you got it. You got it figured out. You just need some quiet. Yeah, anything you want to say before we go.
Speaker 2:
Drink water, Stay hydrated and go eat something.
Speaker 1:
Okay that's a good advice. I don't know if you're saying drink water, because you see me drink coffee most of the time.
Speaker 2:
Yes, go drink some liquid, iv or something.
Speaker 1:
Oh, that's funny. Well, once again, thank you for coming out. Thank you for joining us on Two Cups Cafe. We're gonna have you back as your story progresses. I'll be really interested, once you publish that book, that you'll come back here and release it on this platform for all my fans to see, and I appreciate you coming out and I'm looking forward to all the great, wonderful things you're gonna accomplish in life. Okay, okay, all right.
Speaker 1:
One for the wake, one for the work. This is your host, alex C Jackson. Come back again Like subscribe. Tell somebody about it. Grab some merch. Until next time, two Cups.