EPT
Fast forward to this weekend - through the recommendation of Kennigit, I was able to land a job as a translator for IPL 3 at Atlantic City, and... it was just amazing. The first night I got there, I was immediately called to the lobby and told that Slayers was about to pull in, so I needed to be there to help them get checked in and settled. I was really curious as to how I would react when I saw them in person - would I be starstruck? Would I be nervous? Would the fan in me explode and make me all giddy? This gigantic limo pulled up and they all filed out (minus Jessica and Boxer cause they had arrived earlier separately), and it was immediately work-mode - I was too distracted with trying to handle the different tasks so I didn't have the giddy fan reaction, but I did maintain a slight amazement at what was happening around me - I was surrounded by progamers, the players that I had been watching through an online stream. It was a surreal feeling that never left the entire weekend - I would sometimes just stop what I was doing and feel that wave wash over me, "god, I'm here, I'm RIGHT here..."
The first two days, there were so many technical difficulties that went on, primarily for two reasons - the computers were old computers that would heat up easily, especially in the booths where there was no air circulation, so this would cause lag during games and they were constantly being replaced with a new set of computers to try and fix this. The other, much bigger problem was that a truck crashed into a pole, messing up a fiber wire that effectively shut down all the internet of New Jersey. We tried to use the internet at the hotel instead, but it was shitty and all the players complained of lag and were obviously very frustrated. I felt especially bad for Group C (hero, sleep, select, thorzain) - not only did they have to wait around forever, the lag obviously affected their gameplay and frustrated them so much - having to deal with a situation like that during a live tournament setting is so trying on the mind when you're already tense because of normal stage nerves. At this point of the tournament, I started really wondering how IPL was going to continue running - we were over half a day behind schedule, and at the time Comcast was still trying to fix the issue with us having no idea how long it would take. The entire tournament was put on hold for a problem that we couldn't do anything about - all we could do was wait and see.
This is where I have to mention how amazing all the staff at IPL were - despite all these issues that were stressing everyone out, everyone maintained their composure and there was never a sense of frenzy or panic. All options to try and tackle the problem were carried out, and if it didn't work, other alternatives were discussed with no voices raised or sense of alarm. Everyone was on their toes, always ready to get up and carry out a task with no sense of reluctance. It was just amazing - despite the fact that we were faced with this incredibly shitty situation, people still maintained an optimistic mindset - "how can we fix this?" "have we tried this?" "okay, let's try doing this instead".
And then finally - the internet came back up, and the next two days ran so, so smoothly that it was like this breath of fresh air. God, it was so amazing just watching the wheels of this machine that had started out shitty and rusty run so smoothly. If there were ever any other issues that arose, they were all so minor and easily fixable - as I worked the last two days, I could feel this incredible sense of satisfaction at watching the tournament continue to flow despite everything. All staff stayed on their toes and worked hard, and this time we were seeing the results of our efforts through the smooth flow of games and schedule - such a stark contrast to the first two days.
Spending four days constantly talking to the Korean players, I became closer to a few of them, namely MC, Sleep, Ryung, Alive, STC. Most of them were younger than me, so after the first two days they called me "noona" (which is korean for older sister) and we were on a comfortable talking basis. MC was so, so chill. He's just as he is in interviews - outgoing, honest, and just awesome. It got really cold backstage so one time as he was waiting to go shake the hand of the player he was about to face, he took off his jacket and said, "wear this" and then casually went out for the handshake, then proceeded to roll over his opponent. Sleep was really chill and super manner too - he cracked me up because all he did was drink coke and coffee the entire weekend but he was still ALWAYS so tired, so indicative of his username lolol. Out of the slayers players, he has the least knowledge of english so watching him have english conversations was so funny haha. Ryung would troll him so hard every time he spoke english hahaha. STC was so, so manner - if you guys didn't notice, he would bow about 10 times whenever he was out on stage to the audience. Just incredibly humble and nice. Ryung was interesting because at first he was super reserved and didn't say much of anything, but he began to ease up a bit toward the last few days and he's actually a really funny guy haha, has that dry humor. Alive is so freaking cute - his answer to all english questions are "okay" and "I don't know". All the korean players knew how to say "you chobo" "me gosu" and other hilarious, short sentences haha. It should also definitely be mentioned that Mr. Chae (GOMTV) was freaking AWESOME. My god, that man just went around talking to everyone with such high spirits.
I started watching starcraft 2 through MMA winning Columbus, and Milkis had told me that he's awesome and so mannered, and he was exactly that. The last night, it was sad because the most of the korean players were under 21 so they couldn't come to the after party. The twitch.tv afterparty was awesome - open bar which made it even better. There were some pretty amazing performances that night - sadly I missed temp0's performances but I was able to see the amazing and beautiful Anna Prosser sing a few songs (she really is so, so nice and wonderful) and even had the honor of singing Dan with temp0 haha. Other notable performers - David Ting, the man who made IPL3 possible, HD and Flamewheel roflrofl, Select (missed this but apparently he was amazing) - it was definitely a good time. Afterward, Rekrul, Waxangel, Nazgul and I were headed back to the bar that everyone frequented over the weekend and ran into the Slayers players so they happily joined us and it was just an amazing time haha. MMA is a weak drinker so he had one cranberry vodka. Ryung and Sleep also had one beer each, and Sleep had the cute asian glow going on. TSL's Alive actually drank a lot, but it was okay because he didn't have to leave at 6:30 a.m. like the other Slayers players. They stayed until about 6 a.m. and then they unfortunately had to leave to pack and whatnot. The rest of us stayed until about 8 a.m. and then I had to leave as well to crash.
God, there are just way too many stories from each night and this blog is getting long enough as it is, so I'll save those for next time...
To conclude here are some messages -
Susie - I ruv you so much. So glad I was able to see you again and I can't wait for IPL4 haha. You know you are my unni for life <3
Megumi - so good to meet you, thank you for the clutch meals when Susie and I were dying of hunger T_T Savior frealz.
Anna & Rachel - you guys did such an amazing job this weekend, definitely deserve more credit and love. There were so many times that you had to do things on the fly because we needed filler time for technical issues going on and you guys just pulled it off effortlessly - so professional <3 Would love to see you guys again at future events
All the IPL staff - you guys are all SO chill and awesome, and made working this event that much more amazing. Sumi, I didn't get to see you as much as I would've liked but T_T next time~ Ajay - you constantly made sure we were okay and <3 All the staff I met - Ryan, Ken, Adrian, AConn, Ron, and so many other people al;ksdjfd; I'M SO GLAD WE DID IT!!! Ahhhh
TL friendz - you know who you are, you guys are all awesome, just so glad to be able to share this experience with all of you!
Rek - oppa you know you are my big bro 4 lyfe, good seeing you again
DJ Wheat/Apollo/Painuser - you guys were amazing, and god I'm saying that a lot in this blog but it's so true, and I'm sure you guys have been receiving a lot of love as well
Wheat you are so chill and I was amazed at how approachable you were despite how big of a figure you are. Apollo it was good seeing you again after 2 years!! Keep up the killer work mate Taylor it was awesome meeting you as well!! I'm glad we got to chill a bit despite all the busy-ness! Hope to hang more at future events!Everyone else I met and talked to - thank you for making this weekend just... so incredible for lack of a better word because it's 1:30 a.m. and I'm so tired. I hate this blog recap because it barely scrapes the surface of all that went on behind the scenes but I figured a post was due.
Here are some pictures from over the weekend that I took -
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/uQiOM.jpg)
Flamewheel and Susie!
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/5U6Ke.jpg)
R1ch!
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/FJBvq.jpg)
Susie and I love R1ch!! hehe
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/c5ywb.jpg)
Me, Mango, Hot_Bid, and Intrigue!
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/bNcWE.jpg)
Ret and Hot_Bid!
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/bBqpW.jpg)
happy heyoka? haha
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/hM8YN.jpg)
Sorry, but who eats pure spinach the morning after a long night of drinking? Rofl flamewheel
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/mMiGU.jpg)
The jacket MC let me borrow haha
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/kkZeK.jpg)
Sleep and Mr. Chae wanted to see the ocean and loved it haha
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/2j5c1.jpg)
Random IPL guys came up to Mr. Chae and Sleep and asked if they wanted to play frisbee, and despite never having played before, Mr. Chae goes, "Sure!" haha
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/cSSpQ.jpg)
djWHEAT trolling stc hahah
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/CSEbm.jpg)
So much bromance between MC and STC. Actually MC was just super bromancey with everyone haha
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/E5x36.jpg)
After Lucky beat MMA - still so friendly and awesome.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Qj3KD.jpg)
Flash cards I made on the right, Flash cards Hot_Bid made on the left LOL
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/3O9DM.jpg)
Bromance between Apollo and MC. Rekrul is not amused haha
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/SnqdW.jpg)
Sleep talking to Thorzain. Ryung was making fun of Sleep so badly for speaking bad English haha
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/RQnFq.jpg)
Thorzain napping T_T so cute. All the players napped at one point or another - so tired TT
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Ig59t.jpg)
Sleep and Thorzain hahaha so cute
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/7t3dM.jpg)
me flamewheel susie at afterparty (stole it from you unni! kekkke)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/taCR3.jpg)
me and temp0!! (stole from your fb album ^^)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/c0sms.jpg)
With MMA!
It was an amazing weekend - thank you all for your love and encouragement despite it being my first time doing something like this!! It was such, SUCH an honor to be involved in an event of such caliber - I'm sure I can speak for everyone when I say my heart was positively glowing by day 4 with how awesome everything turned out. There's so much more I want to say but it's been a long day and I have a test to study for tomorrow morning - back to being a normal college student T_T
ESPORTS! <3
. Also typical hot bid, lol'd so much at the flash cards
