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For those of you who don't know, I planned on teaching abroad starting around March. You can read up on it here: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/451994-teaching-abroad-in-south-korea
So with that out of the way, I wanted to make a blog just to put my thoughts on 'paper' and see if anyone could provide insight or anything.
Well, I originally wrote like five paragraphs trying to sum up my feelings but the TL;DR is: what am I giving up if I DO go to Korea next year, and what am I giving up if I don't? Are there any compromises to be made?
Do go to Korea: Finally get to live in another country/visit new places/experience new things. BUT I give up a lot of casting/e-sport stuff. Maybe I can cast something here and there or stream, but I have to imagine the possibility of getting 'real' casting jobs (y'know, flying us out to Redbull type deal) goes to 0% when they have to get someone from Korea AND work with my schedule.
Don't go to Korea: Continue with this fabulous opportunity to interact with fans and awesome people and maybe one day get the opportunities to travel/stay in teamhouses/work behind the scenes/etc. But pretty much give up on the idea of going to Korea long-term, unless an absolutely perfect opportunity comes up (like casting for a Korean organization or working with a team over there which is like really, really rare). And I say giving up because if I can't do it now when can I ever, unless I plan on being shunned by the e-sports community soon. Or do I want to ride this wave until maybe my late-twenties or longer and THEN go to Korea?
The compromises I've thought of: Finding a decent six-month working job. Six months isn't nearly as bad as a year, right? Or working in a summer/winter camp, which lasts like six weeks but is obviously a camp so it's not really like ~living~ in Korea.
Or maybe I stop trying to have everything and stop crying and be glad I'm in the position I'm in and just continue with my #passion for Starcraft 2.
So that's where I'm currently at, yeah. Right now, things are looking bright for BTTV's future and we're kind-of-sort-of-maybe making okay money. The desire to broaden my horizons is really strong however, as I feel sort of 'stuck' living the house I've always lived in, casting to my monitor everyday. But maybe soon I'll be able to move out/afford to travel on my own/stuff. There's so many things I don't know about the future for both options. ;;
 
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go all in and just win gsl and spotv league
gg
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Hey ZG,
I've never been where you are with the Casting and the great opportunities at BTTV. But, I have had chances multiple times to be an Ex-Pat take jobs outside of my comfort zone and country. I've spent about a year and half total living outside of the US. (Born and raised just outside of Washington DC) and the list of countries I've touched down on is over 50, but only two have I "lived " in. (Switzerland and Hungary).
Both times before I left I was feeling exactly as you are, there is so much you sacrifice to move your life, and at the end of the day none of us can give you the answer or decide (as you know) but below are my experiences.
Living Abroad made me a Better Man in more ways than I can articulate. The lessons and experiences I would randomly have by meeting some one new and spending hours having new adventures with new people gave me a love for life and a passion for excitement.
Living abroad taught me strength, being overwhelmed in so many different ways and being so cut off from friends and family yet getting through it. I don't fear for my future anymore, because I've seen what I've come through and I know I can anything.
But Most importantly living abroad taught me that you measure friends by the time you spend together, and not apart. The world doesn't get put on hold when you leave... But it doesn't end either... No one will forget you and your relationships don't need to decrease. Just because you choose one over the other doesn't shut the door on the other forever.
As much as I love BTTV and what you bring to it... My advice is honestly to do what makes you most uncomfortable... Which one scares you more? Odds are that has the more chance for growth.
Cheers,
Soproni
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Just go to Korea, and if you don't like it, come back. That's what Ret did.
+ Show Spoiler +On November 03 2014 04:47 ZombieGrub wrote:
Decisions are hard
THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/LhYgmXK.gif) ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/SEcz46e.gif)
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Compromises suck. I say go all in one way or another (kappa).
Teaching abroad is an opportunity that seems like it would be around more often than being on a rapidly increasingly popular E-Sports channel with numbers in the thousands, but at the end of the day it's E-Sports -- it's unpredictable and it's anything, but stable.
In the end do whatcha gotta do. glhf
User was warned for this post
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Tough decision imo. I'd advise doing whatever is more stable + provides you more life experience. Waiting on things to pan out isn't a good way to live - in my opinion at least. You need to have some control over what your future brings you.
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go to korea and lose your passion? bad move. stay in your comfort zone.
this is a blog section robbery, everyone hand me all of your partoufs or you will die eventually.
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What do you realistically see yourself doing long term? If you want to be a teacher, I think it would be a great opportunity to teach abroad. If you want to stick to the e-sports scene, then it doesn't really seem like a horrible idea to be in Korea anyway for a short period of time. It sounds like you should go and enjoy the new experience. The market for casters is already quite saturated anyway, and there's no rule that says you can't commentate on games and tournaments if you're a teacher.
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I say go for it. Try it. Rifkin will still be there when you come back!
Pretty sure traveling to Korea will only strenghten your #passion anyways.
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I'm a big fan Zombiegrub. Keep up the great work!
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You have two wonderful opportunities to pick from. Don't let your decision be guided by what you could miss out on, but rather by what you could gain. And sometimes you gotta trust your gut — not your head.
Best of Luck with whatever decision you're going to make!
Zombiegrub Fighting!
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On November 03 2014 06:32 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:
What do you realistically see yourself doing long term? If you want to be a teacher, I think it would be a great opportunity to teach abroad. If you want to stick to the e-sports scene, then it doesn't really seem like a horrible idea to be in Korea anyway for a short period of time. It sounds like you should go and enjoy the new experience. The market for casters is already quite saturated anyway, and there's no rule that says you can't commentate on games and tournaments if you're a teacher.
I'm actually not going to be a teacher haha. I majored in media arts. Teaching just has the most possibility to actually GO to Korea, as opposed to hoping e-sports pans out that way, or getting an art job and hoping a chance pops up. I actually enjoy teaching but I don't plan on it being a career.
You're right, there isn't a rule, but it's just a simple time issue. No matter what I have to stay in the school at least something like six hours (not teaching the entire time but I don't think casting is allowed in school haha) during the weekday. Whether the hours are 'normal' as we know them, so like 8am-4pm, or at a private school from 5-10pm is unknown until I get job offers/choose one.
I certainly don't plan on dropping SC2 entirely at all, but the question is how much can I really do. Will I be casting 4/7 days, or 2/7? Will I only have time to make videos, or will I have time to stream? I dunno!
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On November 03 2014 07:27 ZombieGrub wrote:Show nested quote +On November 03 2014 06:32 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:
What do you realistically see yourself doing long term? If you want to be a teacher, I think it would be a great opportunity to teach abroad. If you want to stick to the e-sports scene, then it doesn't really seem like a horrible idea to be in Korea anyway for a short period of time. It sounds like you should go and enjoy the new experience. The market for casters is already quite saturated anyway, and there's no rule that says you can't commentate on games and tournaments if you're a teacher. I'm actually not going to be a teacher haha. I majored in media arts. Teaching just has the most possibility to actually GO to Korea, as opposed to hoping e-sports pans out that way, or getting an art job and hoping a chance pops up. I actually enjoy teaching but I don't plan on it being a career. You're right, there isn't a rule, but it's just a simple time issue. No matter what I have to stay in the school at least something like six hours (not teaching the entire time but I don't think casting is allowed in school haha) during the weekday. Whether the hours are 'normal' as we know them, so like 8am-4pm, or at a private school from 5-10pm is unknown until I get job offers/choose one. I certainly don't plan on dropping SC2 entirely at all, but the question is how much can I really do. Will I be casting 4/7 days, or 2/7? Will I only have time to make videos, or will I have time to stream? I dunno!
Fair enough  Best of luck! As long as you commit to one of your decisions (as opposed to half-assing either), I think you'll be proud and better informed regarding what you want your future to end up as
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I've taught abroad (in China), and it's a blast. I'd say it's one of those things everyone should experience at some point.
HOWEVER
Casting E-Sports is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity. Like, of all the nerds out there in the world, so many would love to be able to do what you do. I think you can always travel later, but it might be best to ride the E-Sports bus for now. (This is me saying that without knowing any of the details of your financial situation in the E-Sports scene, though, so take it with a grain of salt.)
Honestly though, I don't think either is the wrong decision here. Weigh out the pros and cons, make a plan and stick with it, and you'll have a good experience either way. And I don't think you have to drop one to do the other - it's possible you can figure out a way to do both.
Whatever you do decide, best of luck to you! I have always enjoyed your casts.
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1001 YEARS KESPAJAIL22272 Posts
you can fix things you break; you can't redo opportunities you miss. if you feel strongly about having this experience, you'll always think about what you missed.
i say go to korea. go apply to cast code a/spotv or something in your spare time. don't commit to a long term contract just in case.
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My friend went to Korea to teach English. She actually still does from time to time. Depending on where you are, it's a great opportunity. (For example, she is into taekwondo - and now has her own business teaching it. Partially because, while teaching in Korea, she managed to visit one of the grandfathers of the style she practices. And that led to her training with that master when she could, and building a relationship with that master. He taught her a number of things that let her push past some issues she had with the martial arts school she attended in the US, and break out on her own.)
It was an interesting trip for her (she has very long blond hair and is fairly pale; apparently this made her not just a foreigner, but also a ghost, to most of the young kids she taught) and when it comes to opportunities like this - you can go NOW. You don't know what the future has in store, so if the opportunity for a new and relatively rare experience comes up you should grab onto it and go.
Plus, if you want to continue casting, it will be (depending on your school schedule) an amazing networking opportunity - go to GSL, Proleague, and if you can talk to Artosis, Tasteless, Doa, and anyone else over there, I'm sure that they have things they can tell you and talk to you about the casting life. Each one of them had to ponder this same decision, and had to take that step out of the comfort zone and into uncertainty. Who knows, with the new SpoTV individual league, you might be there at just the right time to go all in on your #SC2 passion. Even if that doesn't happen, you'll have an opportunity to meet a lot of people and experience a different culture.
TL;dr - Just Do It. Rifkin will be okay, BTTV will be okay, and it will be amazing for you. I once was offered a free trip to Ireland and I still kick myself for not going. Don't let uncertainty stop you from a great experience.
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Get over there, life experiences are super important and you'll remember your trip to Korea forever. You'll probably make some awesome friends not to mention catch those new korean SC2 tourneys as a spectator hnnnnngg....
I'm sure everyone would be more than happy to have you back when you're back, basetrade wouldn't be where it is without the other half of the combo and you can always still cast from Korea (if you're a night owl) 
gl hf
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So as someone who does Starcraft content with a full time job, I'll say it's possible. You can still cast and also teach, but you have to be really strict with yourself. Set up times where you are going to make content after you come home from work and stick to them. You're also going to be out in a new country so it's of course also important you allow yourself time to go out and actually "live" in Korea.
If you go to Korea, I don't think you'll be casting and creating as much content as you are now(though to be fair, your and Rifkin cast an ungodly amount of stuff right now), but you can still be fairly involved as long as you're dedicated and committed to it. You may not be able to do commentary at a Redbull or an IEM, but I think there's still a lot you could to do progress your casting career in Korea. Hell, there's going to be Proleague, GSL Code A, GSL Code S, SpotTV AND Kespa Cups. Apply to all of them and you never know what might happen.
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Not sure if anyone said it yet, but it is afterall, your own decision.
I certainly don't think I know you well enough to give you a suggestion.
It is however, important for me to point out that both options are great, it's a matter of which one is better.
So you should just do whatever you want and don't over gauge things or else you are going to keep remembering what you missed out.
best of luck!
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I wish you the best in whatever you pick. I love you for BTTV's though and hope you will keep some involvement in that even if you move.
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EPT
