A lot of people have been asking me about this. Why am I back in the community? I’m not sure myself. It all started with Smix and Milkis who told me about a translator opening for IPL3. At the time, Smix and I were trying to plan another get-together and she suggested that I do this event even though I was uninterested during that time. "We can hang out in AC together!" she said and while giggling like little girls, I sent in my application.

I sure as heck did not expect IGN to hire and fly me out from London O_o

When I arrived in PHI, I saw that there was another girl waiting on the shuttle with me, eating her 3rd blueberry muffin for the day. On our 1 hour ride to AC, we got to know each other as we chatted up a storm - she introduced herself to me as megumixbear

Once we arrived at the hotel, we checked in as I waited for Smix to arrive - however, as soon we met up, we got a call from Ajay to come down to the lobby to help the SlayerS team check in, etc. We rush to the lobby and wait - and from this massive limo comes the team along with Mr. Chae whom I worked with when I was at GOM. It was a pleasant surprise to see a familiar face among a sea of new gamers.

After this was all a blur. Everyone met up at the Wild Wild West bar ($2 beers, $3 mixed drinks for 24 hours!) to celebrate our first night out. Knowing that I was on the Thurs morning shift, I went to bed (somewhat) early.

The way the translators were split was Smix and me on main stage duties while Wax and Eric were assigned to the qualifiers area. Regardless of our shifts however, Smix and I hung out and helped where we could, whether it was in getting the players' vetoed maps or just chillin' with them in the back rooms.

Once 5 or 6pm rolled around (since we were running late due to the black listed problem and server issues) I was officially off duty but then grabbed to do a dinner interview with Boxer, Jessica, Sleep, MMA, Alive, Thorzain and White-Ra at a steak house with one of the LiveU camera crews. After eating monster steaks and getting to know everyone, we headed back.

Friday morning I took MMA and Ryung shopping at the AC outlet mall for about 3 hours. During conversation MMA and I found out that we had actually met each other years before when he was on Dream.t)! With this knowledge our formal language became a lot more informal; they both started calling me Nuna (older sister) and our conversations became a lot more comfortable. Around 1pm we hurried back so that MMA could practice before his group matches but learned that the internet was out and just hung around the qualifiers area for awhile. They had an area where players could play other video games (maybe it was just FIFA11) but Ryung and MMA took to that and sat there for awhile playing each other to pass the time.

It was nearly 5ish? When things were up and running again, recovering from the internet outage. We had to play two games at a time, casting only one set due to time constraints. Overall, the evening ended somewhat on time as everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Saturday and Sunday went by way too quickly. Saturday evening my friends from home came to visit me (I’m from NJ originally) and I got to hang out with them for the first time in over a year. Drunkenness ensued, in the wee hours of the morning – Sunday merged with Saturday which ended up merging with Monday as well. My flight was at 6:15pm Monday luckily.

Gosh, I didn’t mean for this to become such a long recap. Overall, everyone I met through this event was simply awesome. I got to spend a lot of time with the main stage production staff, Anna and Rachel, even our hair and makeup ladies were awesome. I’m glad I got to meet several more TLers and the casters I only heard about as well as catching up with old friends too.

Does this mean I’m back into doing events? Maybe. Getting adrenaline rushes through being busy and running around backstage, doing player interviews and meeting new nerds was a refreshing change to my somewhat solitary grad school life. I had forgotten how it felt to be a part of the community and to contribute something. I’m warming up to SC2 now, I guess, but mainly because of the people – and the passion that I see in them. In terms of staff, no matter what issues there were, technical or whatnot, everyone pulled their own weight and went above and beyond. The players I met this time out were a blast to be around, and they each seemed to be enjoying their time abroad as well.

Smix, as you always said that I was the one who got you into BW, I might have to say that you’re the one who has brought me into SC2… <3

A big shoutout and thanks to everyone who made this happen (I don’t want to start naming names because I’ll forget someone and feel really bad) but you guys should know who you are.

I hope to see you all again at IPL4.

-------------- Mandatory Pictures: There's a lot --------------

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Boxer playing BW during the Internet Fiasco!

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Qualifier Area; people swarming around Boxer

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Ret, Ryung, Me and Machine

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Where the magic happened, Stage Right at CMAX

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Bromance <3

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Player booths from the back on Main Stage

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SC2 on one of the TV screens out on the casino floor.

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Wait, that's not SC!

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White Ra, me and DoA!

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Me and my little brother

In the staff cafeteria!

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More bromance <3

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Rek, me and Jathin at the WWW bar.

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After Lucky beat MMA -_-;;

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In the lobby on the last night when we found out that the Korean players and Stephano couldn't get into the afterparty because they were too young

Afterparty at the Blue Martini - the Karaoke stage where many talented performers gave us quite the show!

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The baller table.

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Smix, Flamewheel and me ... and that infamous blue drink...

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And I will leave you with this: the Atlantic Ocean at sunrise.

KwarK

United States43291 Posts

October 12 2011 13:57 GMT

Looks like you had a great time. Surprised they flew you out from London, the recruiting thing said NA only or I'd have applied. Jealous

. Glad you're back doing events and from where I was sitting (on the stream) you did a fantastic job.

ThyHate

240 Posts

October 12 2011 13:59 GMT

Your translating was very good, thanks for the story & pictures I just can't get enough of IPL 3 blogs !

turdburgler

England6749 Posts

October 12 2011 13:59 GMT

been a huge fan since seeing your old gom work with tasteless. if you come back are you going to break up the casting archon?!!? it would be like a love triangle from some cringy rom com, except with more starcraft.

Imbu

United States903 Posts

October 12 2011 14:00 GMT

Whaaa I'm so glad that you're back~~~

I was super surprised to see you on the stream (<-- no creeper >_>), just haven't seen you since GOM. You did an awesome job and the pictures are awesome as well. Hope to see you at more events in the future!

boesthius

United States11637 Posts

October 12 2011 14:02 GMT

--- Nuked ---

Fojji

United Kingdom217 Posts

October 12 2011 14:12 GMT

wait why was 2gd there? (3rd last pic)

Lexpar

1813 Posts

October 12 2011 14:12 GMT

Glad to see you more involved again Susie! Glad you had such an awesome time! Wish giant corporations would hire me and fly me across the world on a whim /jealous.

GTR

51503 Posts

October 12 2011 14:13 GMT

On October 12 2011 22:57 KwarK wrote:
Looks like you had a great time. Surprised they flew you out from London, the recruiting thing said NA only or I'd have applied. Jealous

. Glad you're back doing events and from where I was sitting (on the stream) you did a fantastic job.

yeh was surprised about this too =[