Moi!

My name is Aliva. People back home usually call me Liva. I’m a mom of two. We’re originally from Bandung, Indonesia, but our family moved around a little bit. After Jakarta, Serpong, Stockholm, Bandar Seri Begawan and Oulu, we currently reside in Helsinki.

A few years back, I decided to return to school, more than a decade after graduating with my bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering, and more than five years after I resigned from my last job in data analytics. I studied Education & Globalization for my Master’s and then pursued another in Cognitive Science. I’m currently doing my PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience, where I study how the brain and the body work together to support this core learning mechanism called statistical learning. This blog is to document my learning journey throughout this rather curious adventure.

I just want to share my perspective that it is possible to get “back in the game” even after a lengthy hiatus. I believe that the blessing of motherhood is compatible with the joy of pursuing your own personal dreams, whatever they may be.

PS: the beautiful northern lights picture on this blog, it was an acrylic painting made by my talented friend @amg.artworks