To interpret or not to interpret.......

[Mark H]

that is the question.

Down below, Ramblin and I were discussing interpreters and I wanted to start a new link. I was shocked by ramblins post and I never thought of it as he put it. Jack has a very nice young man as an Interpreter in Kiev named Ilya. Perhaps others have met him. We had a blast together and Ilya is quite a nice looking young man. I wrote:

Ramblin,
Are you saying that because the guys are attractive? I used Ilya with Jack's service and he is a nice looking young man. However, I never felt as though the girls were "checking" him out instead of me, quite the contrary. I liked having Ilya around. I consider myself quite handsome and Ilya and I attracted alot of girls just walking around. We met several girls in pubs, restaurants, etc... We never had a waitress that I didn't talk to or who didn't ask about me. I think Ilya looks as though he's from Sweden, what do you say? I never met Rostik.

Mark H.

Ramblin replied:

Well, Mark, although you are correct that Ilya is a good looking guy and I even told him that he would fit in well in Southern California with the beach babes, he is not the guy that I had in mind so lets just leave it at that because my proof is not concrete until more guys speak out. I have heard from another interpreter that I use who told me that he has more than 6 former clients from this particular interpreter hitting on their ladies. One guy from this board wrote to me and told me that this interpreter wanted to do his lady so bad and that he preferred older ladies. I have my strong suspicions based on circumstantial evidence, therefore I cannot make an accusation but still feel that newbies would be better off not taking such a risk. I mean let's use a hypothetical generalization. Suppose you used the services of a young good looking Ukrainian guy as your interpreter and you noticed that although you and your lady were hitting it off, your lady and this interpreter were hitting it off too. And after you leave and they both promise to e-mail you and they don't. Then the lady e-mails you professing her love for you after the amount of time it would take for this interpreter to use her and dump her. If this interpreter really wanted your lady and you were back in the U.S.A. and this interpreter was right there in her same city, they could get together. Now if your interpreter was a female, nyet problem.

I was shocked. Anyone else have any problems with male interpreters? I kind of liked having a male interpreter but I've never had a female interpreter before...so nothing to compare it to.

I'm curious to see how all the guys feel about gender as it pertains to translators.

Mark H.

[greg2]

... in response to To interpret or not to interpret......., posted by Mark H on Jul 12, 2002

Without having read the responses I will make on comment.

I personally would prefer a woman as an interpreter. I simply feel that women read women better then men do.

To avoid the problem of finding myself in the position whereby my interpreter is interested in me and thus is sabotaging my meetings with women  in the hopes she can snag me, I would pick a woman who is way too young or preferably way too old for me.

[Dan]

... in response to To interpret or not to interpret......., posted by Mark H on Jul 12, 2002

If you choose a guy to be your interpreter, you run the risk as Ramblin illustrated.

If you choose a girl to be your interpreter, you run the risk your lady will have the concern that your interpreter is angling to hook you and therefore be VERY circumspect. Perhaps too much so.

With a male interpreter, your lady may not feel comfortable discussing personal or intimate feelings.

There is no perfect solution.

As for the shaky accusations Jim levies towards Rostik - I've got to say that I probably know all the principals (Rostik, Ilya, and some of the ladies) better than anyone - including Jack - and I have a hard time believing that Rostik would act in the manner described.

Without something substantially more concrete that that offered, it is just so much smoke.

Look at the other possibilities Mark - there are numerous possibilities that do NOT involve Rostik actually making any overt gesture whatsoever to flirt or romance any of the girls. Some of those explanations (if I cared to share them) would not be too terribly flattering of the guys themselves.

Think about it.

- Dan

[Del]

... in response to No Perfect Solution . . ., posted by Dan on Jul 12, 2002

Dan,
I support your defense of Rostick. He has helped and assisted my wife a lot when she had to travel to Kiev, and I also consider him a friend (after numerous meetings with him).
Although he has not acted as an interpreter for us, I cannot believe he would behave in such a manner.
It is too easy to make such insideous claims on the internet, especially when 'sour grapes' may well be a major factor.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Re: No Perfect Solution . . ., posted by Del on Jul 13, 2002


I don't think that Rostick was ever actually named...

I don't know that he has been accused of anything...?

[Dan]

... in response to Actually..., posted by MarkInTx on Jul 13, 2002

The accusations would be crystal clear - in spite of the feigned obfuscation.

- Dan

[MarkInTx]

... in response to If you Knew The Principals Involved . . ..., posted by Dan on Jul 13, 2002


I see...

Well, I don't know all of the people working for Jack... so I didn't know who he was inferring...

[Oscar]

... in response to No Perfect Solution . . ., posted by Dan on Jul 12, 2002

For me, the best interpreter I had was a woman in Kiev in her late 40's early 50's!  No threat to the ladies, they saw her as more of a kind Mother figure, no angle in it for her.. Perfect solution! LOL!

She charges $5 per hour as an interpreter (at least that's my price) and is a fantastic lady, very honest and SMART when it comes to sniffing out scammers!  She can also get great flats in Kiev depending on how long you stay, for as little as $20-$25 per night.  I stayed in one just one night my last trip (March).  Fantastic, modern flat, $25!

If anyone is intrerested, I would be happy to give her email and phone..

Later,
Oscar

[Philb]

... in response to Re: No Perfect Solution . . ., posted by Oscar on Jul 12, 2002

Maybe I am mistaken and the are some interpreters who only want to help people, but personally I thought they did it for money.  Granted many probably do it for a combination of the above.  But, the bottom line is they do it so they can eat.

[Oscar]

... in response to Inerpreting is their job, posted by Philb on Jul 12, 2002

Of course they do it for money.. So did my interpreter.  But that doesn't mean they can't be honest and really enjoy their work..  I have no problem with that..

[Philb]

... in response to To interpret or not to interpret......., posted by Mark H on Jul 12, 2002

I still say the best is no interpreter.  Learn Russian or only date girls who speak English.

I used one once and vowed never again.  You just never know what kind of spin they are putting on things or if they have a hidden agenda.  I do not think it matters if they are male or female.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Not to interpret, posted by Philb on Jul 12, 2002


I said before... I can't imagine using an interpreter.

Were there times that Victoria and I had to struggle to communicate? Yes.

But at least it was just us.

I can't imagine having an interpreter along... as I said before:

"Tell her she looks beautiful tonight..."

"Tell him he looks handsome..."

"Tell her that her lips look very kissable."

"Tell him I was hoping he would like my lipstick..."

"Ask her if it would be OK if I kissed her now..."

"Tell him yes, yes, kiss me now you fool!"

"Tell her that her perfume is wonderful..."

"Ask him if that is a gun in his pocket, or is he is just happy to be close to me..."

I just can't imagine...

[Oscar]

... in response to Personally, this makes the most sense, posted by MarkInTx on Jul 12, 2002

You are too funny!  I never once felt awkward with my interpreters.. (didn't really need one with my fiance).  When it's time to get mushy, the interpreter leaves and you do have a dictionary and there is such a thing as "body language"! LOL!

[Dan]

... in response to Re: Personally, this makes the most sens..., posted by Oscar on Jul 12, 2002

That was the phrase one of the lady's told me before I learned enough Russian to communicate. Sure enough - it's remarkable how clearly one can communicate in this way! --smile--

- Dan