Steem Mini-Meetup in Korea: interview with @scrooger

I first noticed Hive account@scrooger’s name, when we both submitted our proposals to Hive account@papa-pepper’s contest for new contest ideas. I thought his idea was cool and should be implemented. Then we both won 50 SBD from Hive account@papa-pepper and made our respective ideas into reality. I participated in Hive account@scrooger’s ‘Steemit Knockout Contest’, because it was fun. I even managed to take the third place twice, in two of the contest’s seasons. I made other friends among the contest’s participants along the way.

I began reading Hive account@scrooger’s guides for new Steemian. The visual quality of my posts improved drastically shortly afterwards. My curation became smarter and more strategic. Hive account@scrooger and I became sort of online buddies on Steemit.

We did a few collaborations on Steemit and we have this friendly race for the greatest number of followers going on between us.

Still, if somebody told me even a month ago that I would be meeting this guy in person, in a distant country in East Asia, I would shake my head in disbelief at such ridiculous idea.

Still, as I was traveling through Busan in South Korea this past weekend, I found myself face-to-face with Hive account@scrooger, who came from a nearby town where he lives, specifically to meet me and talk in person.

How did that happen? The magic of Steem!

I decided to use this occasion to do Hive account@scrooger’s followers a service and show them the man behind the guides, the analogies, the Knockout Contest, and the ‘100 Days Challenge’.

(Of course, he had to steal my brilliant idea and turn it against me. You can find the interview that Hive account@scrooger conducted with me here.)

Ladies and gentlemen, comrades, fellow Steemian, I proudly present to you

The Interview with Hive account@scrooger!

Hive account@scrooger feeling ridiculously happy with the honour to hold one of my Steem-cards

Oleg: We meet today in a country that is far from our both respective birthplaces. What brought you to Korea in the first place and how long have you been living here?

I arrived in South Korea in March 2015 and have been staying here this whole time. Back then I wanted to try something new and see the world, so through contacts on Facebook I found a job teaching English in Korea. My first job was a bit rough, working 9-10 hours a day. This year I got a new job and I'm extremely happy with it, as I usually work about five to six hours a day.

Interesting. And what did you do prior to that?

I studied Marketing and Management in South Africa, waiting tables as an extra job during all four years of college. Then I worked in real estate for a bit, as an agent-in-training. After a year and a half of that I realised it wasn't for me. I then tried Forex trading for about a year, while looking for some other job. The Forex was really fun and educational, although I didn’t do to bad I realised I will need a much bigger account to finally make some money. That is when I looked for some other opportunities abroad. I traded cryptocurrencies as well, but I don't do it anymore.

And what about life in Korea made you decide to stay here?

I fell in love with the country...and KIMCHI! . Life is safe, I love my job and spicy Korean food. Teaching and interacting with the kids have taught me to be a lot more patient and friendly. There aren't enough well-paying jobs back in South Africa.

How and when did you discover Steemit?

About two months ago, while randomly browsing the Internet and reading up on crypto. I liked the idea and registered right away. Thought I could make hundreds of dollars right away! Boy was I wrong! I gained something worth way more than that. Friends, a friendly platform and so sobriety.

What motivates you to keep steeming?

Responses I get from people. My more successful posts (guides for new Steemians, analogies to help explain Steem to newbies) generate interesting interactions and discussions with people. I also like discovering the inner workings of Steem: it's like a puzzle game to me. I enjoy learning about and utilising its different mechanics, dynamics and tools, and even building my own.

You and I started interacting on Steem first when we both won Hive account@papa-pepper’s contest of new contest ideas. How did you come up with yours?

It was actually Hive account@papa-pepper himself who inspired me with his “Steem-pocalypse” series. I liked the idea of getting knocked out if you haven't acted quickly enough. That's how my Steemit Knockout Contest got started.

What's happening with that contest now?

Season 1 was a great success, then the rest of the series just saw fewer and fewer users. It will continue, in a new and improved form. Actually, most of my friends on Steemit – including you – I met through that contest.

Well, we're about to wrap up our interview. My last question for you: what are you working on currently? Is there a new exciting project from Hive account@scrooger in the pipeline?

Pay4vote? Tired of paying for Hive account@randowhale, Hive account@booster, Hive account@bellyrub and Hive account@discordia? What if I told you you didn’t have to pay and still get similar upvotes… We go live on Tuesday, keep an eye on my feed! =)

Well, I hope you enjoyed learning a few interesting personal facts about the man and my new friend known on Steem as Hive account@scrooger. I don't know about you, but I'm definitely feeling excited to discover what he's going to present on Tuesday! I have a hunch it's gonna be great! ;)