for more formal ‘about me’ narratives, see:

http://www.public.asu.edu/~mlim4/ or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlyna_Lim

about me

Some people call me a professor, a researcher, or a scholar. My official title with the Arizona State University is a Distinguished Scholar/Professor in Technology and Public Engagement. But all in all, I am just a regular person, “orang biasa” who sleeps more than 8 hours/day. I watch some shallow programs on TV. Impossible to be a scholar with such life, huh? I am also an architect (by training) but no longer do any professional architectural work. I make sketchesand do some design works for some very special clients, those who volunteer to be tortured by my big ego. I am an uhm… wannabe artist (oh no… I don’t claim I am the one)…as I am into art and music, and like some artists I am, too, selfish, temperamental and can be eccentric, if I must I don’t call myself a singer, but I am crazy about singing. Used to be in choirs, vocal groups and bands. For years I sang in a serious *not fun* format, now I just do it playfully, selfishly, (un)professionally. I am not a musician but I like making noises with guitar, piano, harmonica…. and violin too (no, I don’t play violin, just bow and bang it!!). So, I am hyphenate. My personality? Well, I don’t really know much about myself, I confuse myself all the time.

current

Currently I am all that I mentioned above.

past

A (not so) while ago… I was a grad student. Now I have a post-student life but still carry my ISIC card, now and then I miss that golden age of being a student. In the very very past, I was a little girl with red ribbons who dreamed of being an architect or an archeologist (like Indiana Jones) or a scientist who does a laboratory research (but now I end up being an ex-architect, an archaeological artifact hehehe…., and a kind of scientist, a non-laboratory social scientist). When I was a kid, my parents had already called me a crazy artist because I often laid down the floor, got my face, hands and clothes dirty, making some sketches/paintings. Sometimes, they also called me an absent-minded professor because I forgot all small things. Guess now I am on my way on becoming a true absent-minded professor and still a crazy (wannabe) artist! That little me also always dreamed of flying so high and seeing the earth from above. And now, I still dream the same dreams.

future

I will be a famous pop singer or a movie star, and a Nobel prize winner. Hoahoehoeoioe (diabolic laugh) What a combo! Dream on, mer! But I am one step closer, now I am close to Holywood. Too close, literally. Oh no, that’s an old reality. Now I live in Tempe, work at ASU (=dog, in Javanese), and not far from Gila (=crazy, in Indonesian) river! Anyway, someday I believe someday my dream(s) will come true. Just kidding. Oh no, I am actually serious, seriously insane.

tempe, 200x

merlyna lim