I prefer to be a doctor than an artist: Lula Kamal

I prefer to be a doctor than an artist: Lula Kamal

Starting her career as the None (Miss) Jakarta winner in 1990,
the 30-year-old Lula Kamal is now a familiar face as she appears
in ads, hosts TV programs and stars in a televison soap opera
sinetron.

She is a physician -- the former head of community health
center in Kenari subdistrict in Central Jakarta -- who is now
practicing at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) and
Grogol mental hospital in West Jakarta. The graduate of Trisakti
University now studies psychiatry at the University of Indonesia
and has just got married to a physician Ismail Khan last month.
She shared bits and pieces about her life with The Jakarta Post's
Mohammad Yazid.

Question: You are known as a physician and an artist. If you had a
choice, which one would you prefer to be known as?

Answer: If it is possible, I want to be both doctor and artist as long
as the two of them run well alongside each other. If my
activities as an artist ever disturbs my work as a physician, I
will leave it. I prefer to be a doctor than an artist. I consider
my profession as an artist to be only a side activity.

Q: What makes you tick?

A: I am an independent woman just like my mother taught me to be.
However, since I got married, I share everything with my
husband ... I consult everything with him.

Q: Which traits do you most like about yourself?

A: I am a curious person. As a physician, when I see other people
having problems, I really want to know what the problem is. Who
knows, perhaps I could even help solve it. I am also an open-
hearted person. When I talk, I always get to the point. I think
these characteristics make me a communicative person.

Q: And deplore?

A: My curiosity often boomerangs. People sometimes misunderstand
me. Maybe, I am not a patient woman. For example, if I do
something, I want to complete it fast. I know that every job
takes time to do and besides, I still feel I have a lot of things
to complete which are waiting for me after I finish the next
job...

Q: What characteristics do you dislike in others?

A: I don't like liars and those who do not talk straight to the
point.

Q: Whom do you admire?

A: I easily admire others, especially when I see good people.
Anytime I see good people, I keep wondering whether I can be his
or her student. Anyway, as a Muslim, I mostly admire prophet
Muhammad. After that, I think my mother, Alawiyah. I admire her
because she is a patient woman. She, as a doctor and
businesswoman, lives the way she likes. She looks like someone
who does not have any problems at all.

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?

A: Traveling. I have traveled to a lot of places. I have visited
almost all the islands in Indonesia except Irian Jaya and
difficult places that I can't easily reach such as Aceh.

I've also traveled as far as Europe, the United States but I
haven't yet got the chance to visit Japan yet. The most
interesting place I have visited is an offshore island in
Balikpapan. To be there, I have to take a helicopter and a boat.

Q: What kind of clothes do you like to wear?

A: I like simple clothes which are casual, for example jeans and
skirts.

Q: What items do you carry with you at all times?

A: I always carry my praying gear, canvas shoes, sunblock cream
along with a cell phone. I never feel I need to carry a laptop
computer. It is easy now to find a wartel (telephone kiosk) or
warnet (internet kiosk).

Q: What books are you currently reading?

A: Now I am reading two books Quantum Learning and Quantum
Teaching. The books are very interesting and topical. The first
one is on how to learn correctly and efficiently, and the second
one is on how to teach properly. The essence of the books are
that whether a person wants to be a student or a teacher, he or
she must be active.

Q: What was the last movie you watched?

A: Bedazzled starring Elizabeth Hurley and Brendan Fraser. It is
a bad film. Hurley does not show too much character in the movie.
I watched it a few weeks ago at Plaza Senayan. I previously
watched Autumn in New York. I think it's also bad film. It is far
too sentimental. Actually, I like horror, mystery and action
movies, especially if the antagonist is played by a good actor.
They are usually very interesting.

Q: What's your favorite food?

A: Karedok (raw vegetables mixed with peanut sauce), it is easy
to make and uncooked vegetables contains more nutrition than
cooked ones. I eat it almost everyday during the fasting month,
but not during sahur (predawn meal) time.

Q: Do you have a favorite song?

A: My favorite song is Yang Kutunggu (The One I've Been Waiting
For). It's a song by Anggun C. Sasmi.

Q: Your favorite music?

A: I enjoy all kinds of music. But, I am really impressed by
Balinese flute music. It sounds almost the same as Sundanese
flute music.

Q: What makes you angry?

A: When I am betrayed and considered unimportant. That happened a
long time ago. Now, I don't see any use in being angry.

Q: What makes you laugh?

A: Many things can make me laugh. Sometimes, I laugh at myself.
For example, this morning when I went to my campus, University of
Indonesia, I was trapped in a traffic jam at the toll road ... I
couldn't move my car and I was panicking and blowing the horn.
Suddenly, I was aware how stupid it was for me to be acting in
such a manner, so I laughed.

Q: And cry?

A: When I am really upset and when I have good plans but cannot
carry them out, or when other people misunderstand my plans.

For instance when I was about to get married... At that time,
we did not have much time to prepare so we had to rush. But it
was then I realized that getting married requires plenty of time
and energy. It's not easy. I got confused because there were lots
of things to get done. Then, I was really upset and cried.

Q: What makes you ashamed?

A: When I insist that I am right but later I learn that I was
wrong.

Q: What makes you frightened?

A: Frightened? I don't think anything. I submit myself to fate.
For me, the most important thing is to try and do my best. When I
fail, I believe that everything has already been arranged by God.

Q: Have you had, or would you ever consider plastic surgery?

A: I am not against plastic surgery. If it is useful, why not?

Q: If you had to go to a desert island for a year, what three
items would you take with you?

A: My husband, oases, a tent with a set to cook. So I have a lot
of children (laughing)...

Q: How would you like to be remembered?

A: I want to be remembered as Lula Kamal, an ordinary person.