R

eturning home for the summer holidays, Cinta Laura brings with her a new song and a story of life in New York City.

After living abroad for around a year, the 18-year-old looks much more mature and happier.

She beamed with happiness when discussing her exciting experiences living by herself as a student at Columbia University in New York City.

Like a free bird that flies to a destination, she tries to be an independent individual who makes decisions and takes care of herself.

“I was completely away from my parents. I lived in a dorm, did my own laundry, cleaned my room, went everywhere by subway. I just lived the life of a normal person. Finally, after four years… I love being normal again,” she says.

For her studies, the teenage star is now away from the comfort of her German father and Indonesian mother, who live in Indonesia.

Her mother, Herdiana Soekarseno Kiehl, said she and her husband went to New York for a month to accompany their daughter but could not stand the hustle and bustle of the city and immediately went back to their sanctuary in Bali.

The prejudice she received back home, especially related to an accusation that she faked her accent, once made her depressed, but she apparently has overcome that, saying that she never feels homesick in New York.

“I feel free there [in New York] because I become an ordinary person, not a celebrity. I can go anywhere without having people staring at and judging me.”

The singer-actress – just like some other hard-working university students who work on holiday – made the best of her holiday by launching her latest single, “Tulalit” (Stupid).

The song tells about a girl who is attracted to a guy but then loses interest after finding out he’s stupid. The single will be a part of her second album, Hollywood Dreams, which will also feature a duet with an international singer.

Back to Jakarta, Cinta said she still likes the capital city despite its worsening traffic and pollution, raising hopes that Jakarta can be greener and its leaders can somehow find a solution to traffic jams with better public transportation.

“Subways in New York are a little bit dirty but it’s still efficient and a lot of people use it. It’ll take years for Indonesia to be like that. Whoever becomes the governor of Jakarta, I hope he can do something about this very soon.”

Cinta lives a busy life as an ambitious university student without leaving behind her acting passion, social life and campus activity.

The graduate of Jakarta International School (JIS) devotes her time to studying as she is pursuing two majors – psychology and political science – and has set a target to graduate in three years by taking six to seven subjects per semester.

“It’s hard, but I am passionate about school. To me, it’s important to become a knowledgeable person, so although I barely have free time, it’s okay. I am sure I will reap good results,” she said.

She is also an activist and a board member of Columbia Humanist Society, a new student organization for humanists and freethinkers that serves the community. Their activities include cooking and serving food to homeless men and women with volunteers of Obama for America and having political debates.

But the entertainment industry runs deep in her heart.

On her days off, Cinta still takes acting courses and sometimes flies to Los Angele by herself to join some casting sessions provided by her artist management agency.

Cinta said that she used Skype for some interviews and sends her video portfolio over the Internet to save time.

“I only do auditions in LA on my holidays. I decide which roles I want to take.
I never join auditions for TV series, because they will be extended if they receive good ratings,” she said.

Last year, the star of local film Oh Baby (2008) secured a part as Utami in the upcoming Hollywood film, The Philosophers, directed by John Huddles. She brushed shoulders with James D’arcy and Bonnie Wright in the film, which was shot in locations in Indonesia, including Jakarta; Belitung in Sumatra; Bromo in East Java; and Prambanan Temple in Central Java.

The film tells about 20 graduates from an international school in Jakarta that are challenged by their philosophy teacher to choose 10 who would receive places in an underground shelter and reboot the human race against a nuclear apocalypse.

Cinta smiles when asked about her future plans after graduating from the university.

“Now, studying is my priority. I don’t want to miss my bachelor’s degree. I am open to all opportunities after the college. I may follow a singing career, but if there is a successful audition, then I will focus on acting.”

If she does not have a career in the entertainment industry, she will try to get a job that allows her to travel around the world.

Cinta, who has lived in various countries such as Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Singapore and Germany, said she wanted to work for the United Nations so she could help people and continue moving around the world.

“I truly feel that I am an international citizen and I am really into social work, helping those who need it,” she said.

Cinta says that while working in the UN is something she really wants to do, working at the World Bank and reaching a prominent position like World Bank managing director Sri Mulyani Indrawati has become her ambition.

For a start, she will meet the former finance minister and deliver a speech to represent young Indonesian high achievers at the first Congress of the Indonesian Diaspora in Los Angeles in July..

“Maybe I can become like Ibu Sri Mulyani one day. I don’t know” she said, giggling.

The future seems to be far, just like the distance between Jakarta and New York. But for the singer, it’s just a start.

Cinta said she never regretted the hardship she had to endure as a teen star and an ambitious student.

“I became a celebrity when I was 13, the time when other teenagers play and explore. I could not do that and I was annoyed. But my experience in the entertainment industry has been priceless.”