My recent trip to Ukraine

[jone]

Girls are given $5 per hour from the terps $15-$20 per hour fee, plus dinner (or whatever the date is) and taxi ride money home. Tipped the terp? That money is shared later sometimes. Women that are listed on Adate need to show up once a guy actually does fly out or the agency and terp can get in trouble. Women can meet guys as there is a chance he is a big spender for a shopping trip or black book for future vacation.

Not saying this is you but the way it usually works. I would reread what you wrote about the first woman. It is pretty apparent what needs to be done there.

You don't know squat about ADate or local agencies.  How would you know? 

Now that I have besmirched my good friend Sasha, you should take him at his word.   He is married to an ADate chatgirl/interpreter. 

It sounds as if you have decided to move forward with woman number two.  Should you decide to do so, get Skype and add in the addon 'ClownFish'.   It allows instant translation from Russian to English.  You will not need an interpreter to be involved in the Skype sessions and you'll pick up a smattering of Russian words as well. 

Just because there may be initial resistance to go to Skype, if she is sincere, she will make the move eventually.  The agencies keep a pretty tight reign on their women, sometimes even submarining a relationship if they think they will lose a woman from their stable.

[Faux Pas]

  Should you decide to do so, get Skype and add in the addon 'ClownFish'.   It allows instant translation from Russian to English.  You will not need an interpreter to be involved in the Skype sessions and you'll pick up a smattering of Russian words as well. 

I'm an old guy. I heard of Clownfish numerous times but have never found where or how to add it to skype. Can you enlighten me?

[alex330]

He is married to an ADate chatgirl/interpreter. 

I also fell into their trap with the first girl I went to visit.  She did not meet me at the airport, had a busy schedule, and was distant on our first date. I gave her taxi fare home (funny how they live the next city over or on the outskirts of town) and blew her off shopping for dresses the next day.

My wife ran down the street to borrow her neighbors hair dryer when she heard I was in town, spent as much time as she could with me, and lost her day job so she could see me off at the airport.

Like Jone says, start talking to the second woman on Skype and see what happens. If you have already have tickets booked for May line up some other women from the sites everyone recommends and hire your own independent terp.

[calmissile]

I also fell into their trap with the first girl I went to visit.  She did not meet me at the airport, had a busy schedule, and was distant on our first date. I gave her taxi fare home (funny how they live the next city over or on the outskirts of town) and blew her off shopping for dresses the next day.

My wife ran down the street to borrow her neighbors hair dryer when she heard I was in town, spent as much time as she could with me, and lost her day job so she could see me off at the airport.

Like Jone says, start talking to the second woman on Skype and see what happens. If you have already have tickets booked for May line up some other women from the sites everyone recommends and hire your own independent terp.

+1

My date (now wife) also made an extra effort to make sure we could be together.  As reported in my trip report, she drove out to the airport and raised hell until my lost luggage was found.  Not only was it a great first impression, it lasts to this very day.

[jone]

I'm an old guy. I heard of Clownfish numerous times but have never found where or how to add it to skype. Can you enlighten me?

Right.  Old guy.  LOL.  With that young filly you married, you will be young into your nineties.

Pretty easy stuff, here it is:  http://clownfish-translator.com/download.html

I know Calmissile has used it with his wife for quite awhile.  We have Skyped and everything turns into Russian that he says. 

[calmissile]

Right.  Old guy.  LOL.  With that young filly you married, you will be young into your nineties.

Pretty easy stuff, here it is:  http://clownfish-translator.com/download.html

I know Calmissile has used it with his wife for quite awhile.  We have Skyped and everything turns into Russian that he says.

Only because I am afraid to turn off the translator.      I have turned it off and then do not get the translated messages we leave for each other when not on line.

Seriously, Clownfish is one of two translators I use.  It is a long way from perfect or even desirable, however if you have a loved one that you want to communicate with, it is probably the best one for Skype in real time.  Fortunately, after 6 months of English lessons we are now chatting in English more often than not.

I have noticed that when chatting with someone that is fluent in Russian or Ukrainian, it drives them nuts.   

[theguide]

 I did not pay anything for the additional dates I went on, just for a translator. They were sorry that I could not spend more time with her and did it to make things right with me.The translator I had for most of my trip, did not charge me for time translating in the cab, which generally added about another hour to every date. If they did get $5 for a date it was most likely used for cabs, wich I really have no problems with. It seemed like most of the cab rides cost between 30-50 hyrvanas.
 I think I may have painted a bad picture of girl 1. She was kind and sincere, all I really meant was she was not all that gregarious on the first two dates. That kind of went away on date 3. She was very respectful of my money situation, and even offered for one of our dates to be at Mc Donalds. I of course did not let that happen. She made it clear to me that she has a comfortable lifestyle in Ukraine, makes enough money to live, but is busy all the time. She makes a living on commission.
 I met girl 2 on my second to last day there. The first date was at a nice place for lunch. She skipped out of work for an hour lunch, which quickly turned to 4 hours. In the cab her boss called and I could hear him yelling at her to come back. She took me to one of her favorite places to go in the summer, by the sea anyway. We met again on my last day and spent quite a bit of time together again.

[theguide]

I forgot to mention about girl one that she is aware that so few men actually show up that she never really believed that I would show up. She explained to me that she spaced herself emotionally from the relationship to prevent a let down if I did not arrive.

[CDW]

I forgot to mention about girl one that she is aware that so few men actually show up that she never really believed that I would show up. She explained to me that she spaced herself emotionally from the relationship to prevent a let down if I did not arrive.

Just show her your flight ticket before you go.   Personally, I think it is rude that someone doesn't show up especially you made a very long flight!

[Gator]

I forgot to mention about girl one that she is aware that so few men actually show up that she never really believed that I would show up. She explained to me that she spaced herself emotionally from the relationship to prevent a let down if I did not arrive.

You swallowed this line? 

Some sincere FSUW may be distant if they feel you are meeting other women during the same trip. In your case, however, 
you had been communicating with her for four months.  She invited you to visit her.  She said that she will meet you at the airport.  She knew that you were coming to Ukraine to meet only her.  Yet, she fears that you will not show. 

You do show, proving her fears were unfounded.  And she still distances herself.   It does not pass the smell test. 

You had communicated with her long enough such that the two of you should have developed some positive feelings and a basic level of trust.  The only way I can believe her is if you were reticent to talk seriously during the prior four months.  Possible?

In any event, you had a good meeting with the second woman, and you contemplate a second trip.  Be sure to have some serious conversations before deciding to  meet her again.    Meanwhile, contact some women from a reputable agency.  This will open your eyes. 

If a sincere FSUW likes you, she will not distance herself from you.  She will not play games.  Many will go "all in." 

[Gator]

I did not pay anything for the additional dates I went on, just for a translator.

This sounds as if the local agency office was reputable.  Getting paid for dates with new girls is an important source of revenue for local agencies (pre-meeting communication being the largest revenue generator).  Did you buy a special membership?

What you say about taxi fares and interpreter fees also says that the agency was not trying to bleed you dry. 

[alex330]

This sounds as if the local agency office was reputable.  Getting paid for dates with new girls is an important source of revenue for local agencies (pre-meeting communication being the largest revenue generator). 

Who knows. Keep in mind that once a guy flies out, the agency and terp is put on the spot and needs to produce a date or risk being fined by Adate for the no show. If my wife acted as a terp for one of "her girls" (her friends or signups within her agency) she would make the entire $15 or $20 per hour acting as the terp minus the $5 per hour for her friend. If the date lasted four Hours she would make $60, eat dinner or go dancing in a nightclub, and most guys will tip the interpreters at the end of date. Not bad money in Ukraine, when she was making $200 a month as a preschool teacher.

Not saying this is what happened to you theguide. I don't know you and was not there. If the guy is younger, or good looking, reasonably cool, or does not appear to have deep pockets the women may not rake him over the coals. You may get lucky and meet a terp feels a bit guilty about what she is doing when a guy actually does put the effort in and fly out. Or maybe the woman was interested.

Most of the younger women on Adate will have boyfriends or husbands. I don't know of any single woman amongst my wife's friends or ex coworkers.

[alex330]

I forgot to mention about girl one that she is aware that so few men actually show up that she never really believed that I would show up.

Some women will meet five guys a week. Some good looking women will never have a single guy visit.

[LAman]

Some women will meet five guys a week. Some good looking women will never have a single guy visit.

Some men will meet 5 girls a day.

[LAman]

I did not pay anything for the additional dates I went on, just for a translator. They were sorry that I could not spend more time with her and did it to make things right with me.The translator I had for most of my trip, did not charge me for time translating in the cab, which generally added about another hour to every date. If they did get $5 for a date it was most likely used for cabs, wich I really have no problems with. It seemed like most of the cab rides cost between 30-50 hyrvanas.
 I think I may have painted a bad picture of girl 1. She was kind and sincere, all I really meant was she was not all that gregarious on the first two dates. That kind of went away on date 3. She was very respectful of my money situation, and even offered for one of our dates to be at Mc Donalds. I of course did not let that happen. She made it clear to me that she has a comfortable lifestyle in Ukraine, makes enough money to live, but is busy all the time. She makes a living on commission.
 I met girl 2 on my second to last day there. The first date was at a nice place for lunch. She skipped out of work for an hour lunch, which quickly turned to 4 hours. In the cab her boss called and I could hear him yelling at her to come back. She took me to one of her favorite places to go in the summer, by the sea anyway. We met again on my last day and spent quite a bit of time together again.

theguide...... you are not feeding the wolves here what they want to hear!!!  Throw in some xtra charges like, wiping your a$$, incidental  fees for apt, fancy restaurants, double fees return to airport!!! They will feel much better!!

[LAman]

Who knows. Keep in mind that once a guy flies out, the agency and terp is put on the spot and needs to produce a date or risk being fined by Adate for the no show. If my wife acted as a terp for one of "her girls" (her friends or signups within her agency) she would make the entire $15 or $20 per hour acting as the terp minus the $5 per hour for her friend. If the date lasted four Hours she would make $60, eat dinner or go dancing in a nightclub, and most guys will tip the interpreters at the end of date. Not bad money in Ukraine, when she was making $200 a month as a preschool teacher.

Not saying this is what happened to you theguide. I don't know you and was not there. If the guy is younger, or good looking, reasonably cool, or does not appear to have deep pockets the women may not rake him over the coals. You may get lucky and meet a terp feels a bit guilty about what she is doing when a guy actually does put the effort in and fly out. Or maybe the woman was interested.

Most of the younger women on Adate will have boyfriends or husbands. I don't know of any single woman amongst my wife's friends or ex coworkers.

What if guy made his own apt rental. A-date knows nothing more than fees for letters/chats/calls, Yes? Only local agency knows of guy coming. No introduction fees, only translator fees if needed.

Alex, it sounds like you are making excuses since things did not go as you would have thought. The guy is young....the terp has a conscience.....
I have NEVER tipped an interpreter, why???? Also, why does terp need dinner and dancing. A drink or two is fine. I don't understand why men drag terps everywhere they go. Many terps are just dishonest.

[theguide]

Gator,
 I was a bit shaky about going and I did express that, to tell the truth I was ready to turn around the entire time I was at the airport. I just decided I needed to know the truth. In my correspondence with girl 1 I never pryed into her personal life, made gushy comments, or any of the like. I did this intentionally, It is awefully intimidating meeting a person, I am no exception, a tall strong Marine vet. She was very trusting of me, as I said before the majority of our time was alone in my apartment, getting to know one another.
 It seems like every one wants to talk badly of adate and their affiliates, I feel like I have to defend them. I have to say this affiliate was great, and I have recommended going to them to a friend, that is how good I was treated. They were ethical in every sense of the word.  They knew I was upset about being stood up and did everything in their power so I would leave a happy customer. My interpreter arranged the dates with women he knew that were looking and seemed serious. My terp was good, I tend to joke wile talking and he expressed the point well. this is why he got a nice tip, and he did not want to take it. There were no incidental fees, and everything was done right.  They told me they had to be careful because if things were notdone right they could get in trouble with adate and stand to loose too much. In my correspondenc I also told girl 1 that I was not rich, and actually have a below average income. They knew before I got there I was not a cash cow.
 Before I went I did research on adate and found many bad reviews of the  product. Most of the things that have been brought up I have heard before, and was looking for.
 I am not a stranger to eastern European culture. I work and lived with a girl from Volgagrad, a girl from Smolensk, and a guy from Moldova. we all lived together for 4 months this summer. I am no expert, but I had an idea of what to expect and talked to them about this before and after I went

[Gator]

 It seems like every one wants to talk badly of adate and their affiliates, I feel like I have to defend them. I have to say this affiliate was great, and I have recommended going to them to a friend, that is how good I was treated. They were ethical in every sense of the word.  They knew I was upset about being stood up and did everything in their power so I would leave a happy customer. My interpreter arranged the dates with women he knew that were looking and seemed serious. ...... They told me they had to be careful because if things were notdone right they could get in trouble with adate and stand to loose too much.

I believe you.  Maybe Anastasia now realizes the importance  of making sure that the men who do make the trip have a good experience.   Maybe you just happened to find an agency with good people (such exist).  Maybe you are better at navigating this process than most men.  Maybe you are better than most men who make the trips (I recall one agency owner telling me that 25% of the men from the West should never have been given a visa).

Good luck. 


I agree with you about not making gushy matters in the correspondence phase.  However, if you are making a WOVO trip, you need to have a good understanding about the woman's personality, goals, values, etc. 

 

[alex330]

What if guy made his own apt rental. A-date knows nothing more than fees for letters/chats/calls, Yes? Only local agency knows of guy coming. No introduction fees, only translator fees if needed.

Alex, it sounds like you are making excuses since things did not go as you would have thought. The guy is young....the terp has a conscience.....
I have NEVER tipped an interpreter, why???? Also, why does terp need dinner and dancing. A drink or two is fine. I don't understand why men drag terps everywhere they go. Many terps are just dishonest.

Not making any excuses. I was not there, just explaining how it works with Adate, agencies, and possible scenarios. Things went exactly as I thought they would with someone using Adate from what the OP described.

It is customary to tip the terp and buy her lunch or pay her entry into a nightclub if she is accompanying you with your date. This is what most normal men do anyways.

[Hammer2722]

If you plan to stick with Adate, then good luck to you. You will most definitely need it. Stop making excuses for ladies behaviors. You were the victim of a bait and switch pure and simple.....

[LAman]

If you plan to stick with Adate, then good luck to you. You will most definitely need it. Stop making excuses for ladies behaviors. You were the victim of a bait and switch pure and simple.....

Hammer, not sure if you are speaking to me. I don't advocate any site, I have used A-Date before, I just never experienced much of what many speak about. Maybe it is because I am not foolish or fall in love with pics. What I do advocate is guys being realistic in their approach, it would put more emphasis on themselves as opposed to any site, agency or girl, Guys make the choice..... sites, agencies and girls only present options.

[Hammer2722]

Hammer, not sure if you are speaking to me. I don't advocate any site, I have used A-Date before, I just never experienced much of what many speak about. Maybe it is because I am not foolish or fall in love with pics. What I do advocate is guys being realistic in their approach, it would put more emphasis on themselves as opposed to any site, agency or girl, Guys make the choice..... sites, agencies and girls only present options.

Nope, why would I direct it at you? It was directed at the OP. It's his thread isn't it?

[LAman]

Not making any excuses. I was not there, just explaining how it works with Adate, agencies, and possible scenarios. Things went exactly as I thought they would with someone using Adate from what the OP described.

It is customary to tip the terp and buy her lunch or pay her entry into a nightclub if she is accompanying you with your date. This is what most normal men do anyways.

Not making excuses?? You were trying to explain why the OP did not get raked by coals!!!!
I understand your wife telling you on how A-date works for her and her agency and friends, not doubting anything you say, just didn't happen that way to me.

As far as paying for terps, if they are eating, I find it hard to interpret for me while they have food in their mouth. To me, they are not serious in their work. Their job is to interpret. I see no reason to take a terp to a night club with you, you practically have to be yelling to speak to each other or whisper into ears. Another reason to find a girl with a least some English skills.

[LAman]

Nope, why would I direct it at you? It was directed at the OP. It's his thread isn't it?

Sorry hammer.....it followed a post of mine.....have a good day!!!

[Hammer2722]

Sorry hammer.....it followed a post of mine.....have a good day!!!

No worries.....