New member from U.S. had a great time!!

[Jesterjohn]

I just got back to the States. I went to Kharkov for 9 days. I  had a great time. If it wasn't for my interpreter, Mila, and her husband I would have been lost.  They helped me out immensely and were very caring, helpful people. Because of them, I plan on returning next year.  I highly recommend Mila if you want a fun-filled caring interpreter who speaks and understands English.  She will help you like she helped me from going to the supermarket buying food, help buying essentials, sightseeing and meeting nice women.   

[I/O]

What's the kickback for referrals?

I/O

[SANDRO43]

What's the kickback for referrals?

Yes, rather curious as a self-introductory post, right after 3 consecutive bad feedbacks on Mila - who is keeping mum about those public complaints .

Damage control ?

[Sculpto]

you guys are funny.. I thought I was suspicious!

maybe he saw others had a bad time and he had a good time so he is posting innocently.. (lol no comment on my own post)

maybe Mila bent over backwards to give him good service after the complaints and asked him to post?  no favors included?

maybe its a proxy Mila posting?

btw.. I am actually working.. not just sitting on the web all day.. listening to the Cure.. drafting.. pondering how to cram all this stuff the client wants into a kitchen that is 30% too small.. why do people "have to have" a built in coffee maker they will only use twice a year?

oh yeah good service.. working all weekend to make my client happy.. no extra charge.. pre-determined pricing.. no surprises..  

[SANDRO43]

ll.. why do people "have to have" a built in coffee maker they will only use twice a year?

Suggest one of these, fits anywhere .

[Sculpto]

Suggest one of these, fits anywhere .

I use mine every day.. but you know how rich people are.. they MUST HAVE a $2000 built in German made coffee maker so they can impress their equally shallow friends..

I do think Mila should address the complaints.. her posts here have always been helpful so I think it is in her benefit to rebut the accusations.

[SANDRO43]

I use mine every day.. but you know how rich people are.. they MUST HAVE a $2000 built in German made coffee maker so they can impress their equally shallow friends..

When I was about 13 and started buying Walt Disney's comics in the mid 1950s, I was startled by some ads there touting some worthless junk as: "It makes for a good conversation piece!" .

One that impressed me favourably, though, was a self-warming toilet seat, "To do away with that early winter-morning chill" .

[I/O]

but you know how rich people are.. they MUST HAVE a $2000 built in German made coffee maker so they can impress their equally shallow friends..

If you have a rich client and their choices annoy you because they are rich, go find a poor man to work for. 

I/O

[Sculpto]

If you have a rich client and their choices annoy you because they are rich, go find a poor man to work for. 

I/O

I/O.. I work for all kinds of clients.. rich ones.. less rich ones.. filthy rich ones.. and I do pro bono work for low income families which is actually my favorite because it is most appreciated.

Its just annoying when you get some really spoiled fembot from hell, you know, stepford wife type.. that thinks she is something special because she married a guy with a lot of $.  Such clients are exceptionally demanding and typically clueless about the process.  When it gets to be time to start installing stuff she will be standing over the shoulder questioning everything.. "is that the right kind of screw?  Is that done properly?  Why isn't it finished yet?"  I actually have a paragraph in my contract specifically for such clients.. in a nutshell it says.. "don't stand over my shoulder while I am working or I will charge you $50 for every stupid question you ask"

[facetrock]

   Jester, the best way to get some credibility would be to post a trip report. Tell us what you did and experienced.

[GoodOlBoy]

I do think Mila should address the complaints.. her posts here have always been helpful so I think it is in her benefit to rebut the accusations.

I agree Sculpto, BUT......Don't you think that when people say this or that on this forum that they should PROVE it?

Like when Az1 said he received a "rude" e-mail from Mila.

Shouldn't he be called to task and post it?

I mean really, should anybody be allowed to come on RWD and slander another member/service without proof?

Remember AV8or1 and his troubles on trip #23 or 24 (I can't remember which one).

He came on RWD and put the bad mouth on one of the agency/members and finally she answered here.

Next thing you know, everybody was choosing up sides and nothing (in my mind) was ever really decided.

I don't know if you can see my point, BUT....This can just go on and on, unless proof is put forth to the members of RWD.


GOB

[Sculpto]

yeah you are probably right GOB.. but.. there is one complication to that.. he could post anything he wants, true or untrue.. claim it is the letter and Mila can equally deny she wrote it.. so.. nothing gets proved one way or another..

It would be better if Mila just came and addressed the complaints.. If she does we should all really refrain from intense critique and just let the people involved spell it out.  We should be constructive and not critical.. jm .02

[CCowboy]

I don't want to rehash all that was said regarding my trip report, but I do want to make a couple of comments.  First, Mila is an excellent translator.  She's enjoyable to be with and I was very pleased with her as my translator.  I also liked the apartment, the location, and although the kitchen wasn't perfect and the bed usually made me ache, those were mostly irritants.  I think Mila didn't have a clue as to how much money was put on the PeopleNet account, since it wasn't her account, or how much time it would buy.  Hopefully, she'll learn that while PeopleNet is fine for short term stays, it will not work for someone like me staying for 4 weeks.  If all I utilized Mila was for translating and arranging for my apartment, I would have written a positive trip report and be recommending Mila for future clients.

But for both Az1 and myself, the problem was with the ad campaign, which I specifically came to Kharkov to untilize Mila's services.  I have no idea how many clients Mila has worked with or how many utilized her ad campaign.  But I made my decision to utilize Mila based on comments I read on RWD and specifically from the recommendation of a friend.  I lost trust in Mila because she seemed to be ignoring what we had discussed and I felt Mila was arranging meetings simply to make translating fees.  This is not something I can prove but is based on the women I was meeting.  I take responsibility for the fact that I should have apprioved the ad before it was placed and I did not ask specific information about a woman before I met her.  Bottom line: Since Mila and I had exchanged e-mails and discussed the ad campaign in detail on Skype long before I arrived, and again after I arrived, I trusted Mila to follow through with what we had agreed on.

I think Sculpto made an excellent post on Az1's trip report about the responsibilities of a translator.  There are still a few issues that he brought up that I don't have answers for that I'll comment on a little later.  Because I had lost trust and faith in Mila, I did not utilize her services during my last 11 days.  Mila did not send me rude e-mails, but they were definitly not friendly.  If JesterJohn just utilized Mila as a translator and to get acquainted with Kharkov, I'm not surprised at his positive comments.  I would like to know if he utilized Mila for an ad campaign and to write about his experience.  CC 

 

[lovelyannie]

I just got back to the States. I went to Kharkov for 9 days. I  had a great time. If it wasn't for my interpreter, Mila, and her husband I would have been lost.  They helped me out immensely and were very caring, helpful people. Because of them, I plan on returning next year.  I highly recommend Mila if you want a fun-filled caring interpreter who speaks and understands English.  She will help you like she helped me from going to the supermarket buying food, help buying essentials, sightseeing and meeting nice women.   

Are you going  to make up relationship with a woman who doesnt speak English using the interpreter? Truthfully, i dont understand, how it is possible, though there  are still thousands of happy marriages of that  kind. My finace after several failure attempts to find a fiance in Ukraine, where he used translators all the time, told to himself he will seek a woman who speaks English. True, its so annoying when you misundestand what a person says. IMHO A couple is built up with its conversations mostly.

[Kuna]

I just got back to the States. I went to Kharkov for 9 days. I  had a great time. If it wasn't for my interpreter, Mila, and her husband I would have been lost.  They helped me out immensely and were very caring, helpful people. Because of them, I plan on returning next year.  I highly recommend Mila if you want a fun-filled caring interpreter who speaks and understands English.  She will help you like she helped me from going to the supermarket buying food, help buying essentials, sightseeing and meeting nice women.   

Oh how predictable...  criticize Az1 in his TR for giving an opinion and then this worthless hollow advertisement.  I simply don't believe this is a new member... just someone running some cheap ads (and it's not always the commercial member doing so).

Anyway... talking about worthless hollow posts... here's a few more:

you guys are funny.. I thought I was suspicious!

maybe he saw others had a bad time and he had a good time so he is posting innocently.. (lol no comment on my own post)

maybe Mila bent over backwards to give him good service after the complaints and asked him to post?  no favors included?

maybe its a proxy Mila posting?

btw.. I am actually working.. not just sitting on the web all day.. listening to the Cure.. drafting.. pondering how to cram all this stuff the client wants into a kitchen that is 30% too small.. why do people "have to have" a built in coffee maker they will only use twice a year?

oh yeah good service.. working all weekend to make my client happy.. no extra charge.. pre-determined pricing.. no surprises..  

I use mine every day.. but you know how rich people are.. they MUST HAVE a $2000 built in German made coffee maker so they can impress their equally shallow friends..

I do think Mila should address the complaints.. her posts here have always been helpful so I think it is in her benefit to rebut the accusations.

I/O.. I work for all kinds of clients.. rich ones.. less rich ones.. filthy rich ones.. and I do pro bono work for low income families which is actually my favorite because it is most appreciated.

Its just annoying when you get some really spoiled fembot from hell, you know, stepford wife type.. that thinks she is something special because she married a guy with a lot of $.  Such clients are exceptionally demanding and typically clueless about the process.  When it gets to be time to start installing stuff she will be standing over the shoulder questioning everything.. "is that the right kind of screw?  Is that done properly?  Why isn't it finished yet?"  I actually have a paragraph in my contract specifically for such clients.. in a nutshell it says.. "don't stand over my shoulder while I am working or I will charge you $50 for every stupid question you ask"

yeah you are probably right GOB.. but.. there is one complication to that.. he could post anything he wants, true or untrue.. claim it is the letter and Mila can equally deny she wrote it.. so.. nothing gets proved one way or another..

It would be better if Mila just came and addressed the complaints.. If she does we should all really refrain from intense critique and just let the people involved spell it out.  We should be constructive and not critical.. jm .02

It's amazing how the arty types are always so self obsessed!   


...  and seeings this thread is trash I might just point out how silly GOB must look/feel

I agree Sculpto, BUT......Don't you think that when people say this or that on this forum that they should PROVE it?

Like when Az1 said he received a "rude" e-mail from Mila.

Shouldn't he be called to task and post it?

I mean really, should anybody be allowed to come on RWD and slander another member/service without proof?

Remember AV8or1 and his troubles on trip #23 or 24 (I can't remember which one).

He came on RWD and put the bad mouth on one of the agency/members and finally she answered here.

Next thing you know, everybody was choosing up sides and nothing (in my mind) was ever really decided.

I don't know if you can see my point, BUT....This can just go on and on, unless proof is put forth to the members of RWD.

GOB

He posted the emails in question... now some boofhead will slam him for posting personal emails in RWD.



The thread is just another resulting from a few guys trying to stop someone posting their own personal experience with guides/translators/helpers.  Fact is some people find value in them and others end up getting scammed.  Shouldn't future newbies get a realistic view of what might happen?

[GoodOlBoy]

Shouldn't future newbies get a realistic view of what might happen?

Kuna I couldn't agree with you more, BUT...Shouldn't the "realistic view" put forth to the Newbies on RWD be 100% ACCURATE?

I am really not taking sides here.

I don't know Mila.

I have never met or e-mailed her.

I guess what I am trying to say is how do Newbies know that it isn't just "sour grapes" on a particular RWD members part to slam another member/service?

I also agree with you Kuna, that we are all really here to help Newbies make careful/educated decisions in their pursuits to the FSU.

The rest of the cr*p that goes on here is just for entertainment purposes.  :evil:


GOB

[Daveman]

Kuna I couldn't agree with you more, BUT...Shouldn't the "realistic view" put forth to the Newbies on RWD be 100% ACCURATE?

I am really not taking sides here.

I don't know Mila.

I have never met or e-mailed her.

I guess what I am trying to say is how do Newbies know that it isn't just "sour grapes" on a particular RWD members part to slam another member/service?

I also agree with you Kuna, that we are all really here to help Newbies make careful/educated decisions in their pursuits to the FSU.

The rest of the cr*p that goes on here is just for entertainment purposes.  :evil:


GOB

I agree that sometimes there can bee some sour grapes from a trip that didn't go as envisioned.  That being said, these negative posts do point out some clear realities of what to do and what NOT to assume.

For example, if I wanted to use the services of someone in Kharkov, I would not hesitate to contact Mila, however, I would learn the lessons from CCowboy's experience and a) write my own ad, b) make sure that everything was done to my exacting specifications (including the precise wording of my ads) exactly the way I am paying for it to be done, including the pre-meet interview to weed out those in whom I know that I would have zero interest.  And, if she agreed to provide this service of pre-screeing and didn't actually follow through, I absolutely would not pay her for that service (or any service) not rendered. 

False expectations and assumptions are the primary pitfalls of many trips.  Eliminating as many of these as possible from our own minds is the first step in the process, IMO.

[Daveman]

Are you going  to make up relationship with a woman who doesnt speak English using the interpreter? Truthfully, i dont understand, how it is possible, though there  are still thousands of happy marriages of that  kind. My finace after several failure attempts to find a fiance in Ukraine, where he used translators all the time, told to himself he will seek a woman who speaks English. True, its so annoying when you misundestand what a person says. IMHO A couple is built up with its conversations mostly.

Hi lovelyannie, Of course I agree with this post as do many here at RWD.  I've found that a common language does not eliminate *all* misunderstandings, which can become, well, rather interesting at times, but really I tried that relations without a common language scenario once and that was more than enough for me.  At the time I thought of the possibilities, in hindsight I clearly recognize the complete absurdity of the situation. 

Looking forward to more of your posts from your experiences and best of luck with your future..
Dave

[GoodOlBoy]

I would learn the lessons from CCowboy's experience and a) write my own ad, b) make sure that everything was done to my exacting specifications (including the precise wording of my ads) exactly the way I am paying for it to be done,.......

Yes I see your point Daveman.

I also have to say that this type of "business deal" should swing BOTH ways.

If Mila (or any other FSU translator/agency) doesn't want to involve their name or reputation in a "sham" advertisement (like insisting on leaving your age....64 out of the ad) to try and lure young women from all four corners of the FSU to come and meet you.....Then I see no problem with that same translator/agency telling our fine RWD member to go take a hike!


GOB

[facetrock]

I still beleive CCs biggest beef is the fact that Mila put his age in the ad. But what about Milas credibility to the woman she knows and the women who respond to the ad? These women take time of from work, travel some distance and for what? To meet a man that is 25 years older that they would never consider? Maybe if Mila wasnt honest with these women the next time she calls them to meet a man they might tell her to forget it, remembering the wanna be 50 year old who was 64.

[Daveman]

Yes I see your point Daveman.

I also have to say that this type of "business deal" should swing BOTH ways.

If Mila (or any other FSU translator/agency) doesn't want to involve their name or reputation in a "sham" advertisement (like insisting on leaving your age....64 out of the ad) to try and lure young woman from all four corners of the FSU to come and meet you.....Then I see no problem with that same translator/agency telling our fine RWD member to go take a hike!


GOB

Me neither. Absolutely agree there. The way I see it is these service providers are independent contractors who can pick and choose their clients based on any criteria they deem appropriate.  Mila could freely tell me or anyone to take a hike if she didn't want to perform a service the precise manner I want it done.  If she accepted the job, then I would expect for it to be done promptly, properly, professionally, exactly, and completely -- exactly then same traits she would expect my payment to be.  That comment about not wanting his age listed in the ad kinda bothered me and I personally would not be comfortable with running an ad that way, but if the service provider agreed to operate under this stipulation, then that's the agreement and should be upheld in the practice.

Something I want to point out here (again) is that while there are differences in how FSU business is conducted as opposed to Western business, these service providers are seeking the business of westerners.  They must learn that if they don't provide a service as agreed upon, they don't get paid. Period. This is not directed at Mila specifically as only she and CCowboy know what really happened, but in general, I can't believe so many people around here post things like "it's so little money, you should have just paid it.  It no wonder many of these people have a "I'll do what I want and you'll pay me and take it" mentality.  There is a principle here, IMO.  Do NOT pay for services which are NOT rendered. What seems to be so difficult to grasp about that scenario? You wouldn't do it here, so don't do it there.

I'm the type of guy who would not hesitate to drop a $500 tip to someone who went out of the way to assist me, or going the extra mile...  but then again, if a service was not rendered as advertised, or as agreed upon, I wouldn't pay them for it even if it were a single kopec.

[tim 360]

Got this song playin' in my head lately.  What's that old Beatle's song?  ...." will you still need me,  will you still feed me,  when I'm sixty-four ".  

[kievstar]

When you do business in a country, business is usually done the way of the country.  You maybe a westerner paying, but the service is performed in Ukraine.  I think what were seeing is different views on things which is normal.  But the Ukraine way of business is even different than Russian way. 

People need to remember that the World is very different and what is not right to you is right for someone else. 

I see nothing wrong with what Mila did or with what Az1 or CC thinks - This is based on my international experience. 

If the contract is not in Ukraine language, have fun enforcing it in Ukraine.     Telling a person how to do their job in Ukraine is another one.   

[Sculpto]

Kiev I do not disagree with you.  But, given the massive issues that exist in the small part of the FSU business world people on this forum deal with on a regular basis.. don't you think it would be worth it to at least try and educate people to the standards expected by westerners?

As an example.. back in 93 I was on a trip to Mexico and needed some money wired.  At the time there were still no ATM machines and the only place to actually retrieve a western union transfer was the telegraph office.  That office was well known for holding wire transfers hostage for a little "tip" and they were pulling it on me.  On the third day I lost my temper and totally went off on the office manager.  Wow, big surprise, he suddenly found my transfer.. then he got a big lecture on the impending changes that were coming with NAFTA and that he would no longer be able to pull that kind of crap.  End result.. the transparency of business and low level corruption have diminished considerably.  There are still problems.. but its nothing like it was before.  And even during these hard times the investment real estate market is still pretty healthy.  Not what should happen in a corruption culture.

Anyway, just like it would take a generation to repair the educational system in the US.. it would take a generation to repair the corruption culture in most of the FSU.

[Daveman]

When you do business in a country, business is usually done the way of the country.  You maybe a westerner paying, but the service is performed in Ukraine.  I think what were seeing is different views on things which is normal.  But the Ukraine way of business is even different than Russian way. 

People need to remember that the World is very different and what is not right to you is right for someone else. 

I see nothing wrong with what Mila did or with what Az1 or CC thinks - This is based on my international experience. 

If the contract is not in Ukraine language, have fun enforcing it in Ukraine.     Telling a person how to do their job in Ukraine is another one.   

Of course I see your point there KS... and I would absolutely agree if we were talking about doing business with the phone company, the government, or any established business which conducts its business with a native clientele.  However, in the cases of these particular service providers, they solicit the business of foreigners and these foreigners make up, what is it? 100% of their clientele?  We do have the collective potential to initiate a change in the way these particular service oriented professionals conduct business.  Will that actually happen? Possibly, but probably not. Too many buttlickin' pansies who willingly accept whatever crumbs of service happen to be blown by the prevaling wind in their direction that day.

There is a difference, as I see it, between conducting business in Ukraine and doing business with Ukrainians.