Laura Kiehl's 'foreigner' Accent Is A Short Period Of Our Long Study Of Differences

Cinta Laura Kiehl (Source: Personal documentation to VOI)

JAKARTA - When Cinta Laura Kiehl first appeared in the soap opera Cinderella: Is Love Just a Dream? In 2007, Cinta's foreign accent became the subject of many Indonesian public jokes. We remember that very well. What we may not have realized, the response of many Indonesian publics at that time was actually a short period of long learning that this nation has undertaken for decades to understand differences.

At that time, Cinta was only a dozen years old. He could not interpret whether the joke was a form of liking or sneering. In his eyes, it was a form of bullying. "Just think about it, for a 12 year old child, who has not yet determined his identity, and is then verbally bullied, he will certainly feel hurt," said Cinta Laura during an online conversation with VOI, Wednesday, January 13.

"Before I didn't understand that many people liked my accent which was comforting. As a kid I thought people wanted to hurt me. Is it my fault that I had to be insulted like that?"

However, the bullying turned out to have a profound impact on Love, even for ten years. In 2020, Cinta admitted that she could only forgive those who insulted her. "I haven't completely let go of that problem. Now I can just be fine, I don't care, I don't feel like my confidence is being threatened."

Luckily, this beautiful girl has a high competitive spirit. The energy of anger and disappointment over the bullying he receives is transformed into motivation to struggle to prove one's worth.

"When people hurt me, I take that negative energy to prove to be one of the best students, become a leader in school organizations, and enter the best university in the world. Instead of being sad to think about bullies, I chose to prove I can be successful. how to keep bullies quiet when what they say is negative. Focus on being a better person, being successful and being good for others. "

Now, Cinta feels grateful that she has been bullied, either verbally or cyber. "So learning is good for everyone. Even those who like to bully I am now a fan. They realize what they are doing is not good. So learning (for me) later as an adult can teach children, whatever it is, bullying is not true and not good."

Cinta Laura (Source: Personal documentation to VOI)

Whether we realize it or not, the emergence of Cinta Laura is a short period that is part of our long process as a nation to learn to accept differences. "Honestly, I don't feel any different now. Maybe ten years ago I was considered different because at that time not many people entered the entertainment world, who had a thick English accent like me. I also have very little Indonesian."

"If you pay attention now, yes, many native Indonesian children whose parents are not of mixed nationality, they speak English. Even though parents ask questions in Indonesian, the children answer English."

Love realizes all of that is just a matter of dealing with differences. "In the past, there were not many people like me. But now I see that many children speak English. I grew up in an English environment, a school with English as a medium, this is who I really am. People finally accept."

Cinta Laura (Source: Personal documentation to VOI)

Returning to Indonesia after graduating from Columbia University and signing several contracts in Hollywood, Cinta wants to prove that nothing can stop her from studying, including the matter of boundaries. Never has that been a barrier to Cinta's career.

"I think now we want to live anywhere we can have a successful career in Indonesia, Asia, even the world. It's time for us to think innovatively. It doesn't mean that we live in one country and then work is limited to one country. Now we live in an era of globalization, we are very lucky. can meet and collaborate with talents from other countries. "

Since June 2019, Cinta has returned to Indonesia and made Jakarta her home base. "Yes, I will be dominant in Indonesia. But that does not mean that my outside projects have stopped. Until now, I am still in contact with my manager in LA. Until three days ago I was still making online taping of audition videos," he explained.

Love wanting to reverse the perception that one's career success must be marked by living abroad. He wants to show Indonesia's wealth to the world by staying in Indonesia.

"I want to do what I can to contribute to developing the world of entertainment in Indonesia in terms of film and music. I thought that if I could support the entertainment world by making Indonesian films and Indonesian music, I could go international. So it's not just people who go international. "There are many Indonesians whose achievements are worldwide. Now my job as a young person is to do what I can become even more. Not only taking part in external projects, but how Indonesian products are appreciated to the outside," he said.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many business sectors have slumped, as well as the entertainment industry. However, Cinta Laura did not want to be dissolved in that difficulty. Adaptation is key.

"The year 2020 can be said to be very difficult for everyone. But I feel that 2020 is blessed by God. The year 2020 allows me to grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually."

Cinta feels very blessed because in difficult times it is given the opportunity to always work. At the end of 2020, Cinta got a lot of work. Starting from shooting movies to commercials.

"November-December I filmed a film in Jogja for a month. It's really fun with a fantasy genre, I can't tell the story right now. Planned to air in 2021," he said.

After filming, Cinta only returned to Jakarta for two because Cinta had to fly straight to Dubai to shoot a commercial. Cinta only leaked this ad for an international brand, but it was still a secret again.

"I will become a spokesperson for a brand that requires me to fly to Dubai. The team flew from other countries, met in Dubai. This was very exciting," he explained.

The beginning of 2021 started with positive momentum. Love is actively working again. "I'm getting ready to make an OTT film, so it's not a film for the cinema but an online platform. I'm going to create a new YouTube platform, lots of cool projects."

Cinta Laura (Source: Personal documentation to VOI)

Cinta Laura's enthusiasm for returning to Indonesian cinema is very high. According to him, many changes have occurred after 8 years of Cinta returned from the United States (US).

"We talk about the positives, yes. I am very happy with the development in the Indonesian entertainment world. Musically, many young people are more exploring new genres, dare to show good music internationally. In films I see PH cares more about working hours, discipline on set, players' food. . The way it works is better. "

Cinta hopes that Indonesian cinema will progress. "I am optimistic that Indonesia has more developed laws for its film production. So it's not just quantity but also to work happily. Many Indonesian films have also entered good international festivals."

Apart from being active in the entertainment world, Cinta has been the Ambassador for Women and Children Violence since 2019. According to Cinta, this is a very important issue for Indonesia's future.

"If we read the news, the conditions around us, many women and children who experience violence do not get the justice they should get. Moreover, during this pandemic, violence continues to increase. There is still a lot of stigma in society that makes victims afraid to report," he said.

Cinta Laura (Source: Personal documentation to VOI)

Cinta explained that the conditions of violence against women and children in Indonesia are very sad. "Imagine, one in four women experience violence, usually people who experience trauma can sometimes become someone with low self-esteem. This makes them unproductive, not brave enough to achieve their dreams and the long-term negative impact not only that person but also to them. If everyone is not confident that they can't achieve their dreams, we can't depend on the men in our country.

Love wants to be living proof that women can be successful, can achieve dreams without depending on other people. "My goal is to raise awareness. We are analogous to a third child being asked three plus three, how can he answer six if he can't even count one two three children."

Cinta thinks that most Indonesians don't know what violence is, what to do if you experience violence. "How people will understand and help if they don't know the concept of violence. That's why everything starts from education, from childhood children must be educated on gender equality. How to respect each other. And women are educated to be confident in advancing."

Departing from this thought, Cinta Laura is preparing a new project this year, which is to create a platform on YouTube that is both entertaining and educational. "If the children are not aware of this issue, in 10 years it will be very dangerous. There have been many institutions moving. If I help, the more people who help the better. I will do it in my own way," he said.

This wish is in line with the long dream of Love in the future. He wants whatever he does is always positive value for those who see him. "I don't want to be selfish, I don't want a career to be famous, doing advertisements just to make money, whatever I do to make people progress, people can learn from me."

Empowerment is the key word that guides Cinta Laura. He wants to hold on tight even to the end of life. "I want to strengthen the people around me. In terms of entertainment, I want to remind children, especially women, to encourage them to believe, be confident and encourage them to pursue their dreams. I want at the end of my life whenever I can see a more equal, respectful, Indonesia Indonesia. and care. I want Indonesia to care more about gender equality, "he explained.

Cinta Laura (Source: Personal documentation to VOI)

With so many activities and goals in life, then when did Cinta Laura have the chance to make love? Is there a man close to her? When will Cinta Laura be married? VOI of course asked it to answer curiosity. And this is Love's answer.

"I'm the type of person who feels it's important to limit the private and public world to maintain mental health. I feel that exposing my private life is meaningless to society. What can be learned from my private life? Nothing, right. And again it's not their business, "replied Love.

Cinta understands that in Indonesia people are very interested in the private life of others. Even if it could distort people's careers, Love didn't want that to happen to her. "I don't want people to read news. I focus on my personal life. My private life is my life, it's my right to keep it as something private."

The clear line that Love draws between career and personal life is also aimed at changing the habits of people who consume media. "I don't want people to consume about people's love, people's families, because what can we get from that? Nothing. If we want Indonesians to progress, the way of thinking of young people must be more critical by providing works that are not only entertaining but also educated."

Even so, Love still has the goal of getting married. He just didn't want to share it with the public. "As young people when one day we want to get married, we are not married to divorce, we are married to be able to live forever with our partners. So we can't rush to know in three months, unfortunately - unfortunately we continue to be sure that we will continue to be happy, we can't be stupid That's it. Must be realistic. "

So when will Love get married?

"Don't be in a hurry, make sure you are ready, your partner is ready to do it. Getting married is not forced by other people, you have to be on your own. If you meet your partner later, you don't want to want to marry and divorce."