When you come to Ukraine, I am your ultimate guide and troubleshooter not to mention interpreter. You can rely on me in every respect. If you need anything, just ask and I will tell you if I can do it or not. For example, I can be your driver if we rent a car thus helping you to save on cabs, you can send me to the train station to get tickets, I can do shopping for/with you and fulfil many other reasonable requests. Remember, when you are in Ukraine I am your personal aide, always by your side and at your disposal. Not your dog but your friend you can rely on.
You need this if you are coming over to Ukraine:
My fees vary greatly depending on the total time you hire me for and the number of people I work for at a time. In two words: the longer, the cheaper. The hourly rate (25 euro an hour) is the most expensive option, so it is only recommended if you really need an interpreter or guide for a couple of hours. Besides, it can only be applied in Odessa or Simferopol; elsewhere it must be at least one full day. The lowest possible payment is 120 a day which makes something like 10 or 15 an hour depending on actual workload but only if you hire me for at least 5 days in succession paying in advance in full.
In case of daily payment, the due amount depends on the number of days and is calculated according to the following discount table, starting with 190 a day and discounting 20 for each next day in succession down to just 90 for the 7th day (valid for 1 or 2 people):
| day(s) | average cost of a day | you pay total | I discount | you save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 190 | 190 | 0% | 0 |
| 2 | 180 | 360 | 5% | 20 |
| 3 | 170 | 510 | 10% | 60 |
| 4 | 160 | 640 | 16% | 120 |
| 5 | 150 | 750 | 21% | 200 |
| 6 | 140 | 840 | 27% | 300 |
| 7 | 130 | 910 | 31% | 420 |
So, one day costs 190. Each next day is 20 cheaper than the previous one. To know the cost of your interpreter order, you need to know how many days you will need me to translate and/or guide. For example, if you need me for 1 day, it is 190. For 4 days, you will pay 190+170+150+130=640 total thus making 160 a day on the average. Six days average at 140 a day, etc. You save the more, the longer you hire me for, and if you hire me for a long time, you can save a whole lot of money!!! (Look at the right column of the table and note: the more days, the more you save).
Should you need me for more than a week, every day will be billed at a flat rate of 120 (providing that you pay for at least one week in advance). Discount: 37% as opposed to a daily fee of 190. You save 70 a day!!
The above rates apply to up to 2 clients that I guide together. If there are 3 or 4 people I interpret for, the rates have to be multiplied by 1.25. For 5 or 6 people they are multipiled by 1.5.
Please note that the rates specified above are only valid if you pay in advance, be it a month or a day head. If you prefer to pay daily, you will be billed either flat 190 a day (if you pay at the beginning of the day) or even 25 an hour (if you pay at the end of the day). You do not have to wire the payment before you meet me (unless you want to be sure that I am available and not working with someone else) and you can pay directly when we meet, but at any event before the job, or you will be charged per hour.
Of course, the above table applies only if the job is running. If there are breaks, it starts from 190 every time unless you cover all the blanks. This might be an option if you have a long job with one or two breaks because you will save more than you waste in this way.
Confused? Just e-mail me with the details of your trip and I will explain to you how much it will cost with the discount applied.
The daily charge rate is based on availability for a single working day (rather than fromto), up to 12 hours (up to midnight if necessary), and the fee will apply even if I am not actively interpreting for the entire period, that is regardless of the total work time (it is up to the customer to choose to pay per day or hour). In other words, it does not matter how many hours a day I actually work and when I start unless you pay by the hour, but this is going to be more expensive, and it only works in Odessa or Simferopol.
Frankly speaking, I can work longer than 12 hours a day and actually I can work as long as you personally need me and can endure yourself unless you want to go on after midnight or assign me to other people and having rest in the meantime. In the latter case I only work 8 hours a day total.
Time needed to get to the work location and fares are not billed as long as at least two full successive days are booked and the job is within Ukraine. However, once I arrive to the customer, he bears all costs including transportation till we part.
I understand that the above rates may seem high to some people but you should also understand that first, they are high if you only hire me for a short time, and second, as I provide much more than just interpreting, it is quite justified. For example, if you are traveling around Ukraine, you can rent a car and have me drive you around no need to hire cabs which can be quite expensive. If you simply hire an interpreter, you will have to cover their costs but you will also have to pay for a cab ride separately and much more than just for gasoline while your interpreter will not be doing much during the ride. There are other examples you can think of yourself when you can save by having a single person doing everything for you instead of hiring different people every time. With me, you just do not have to do that, I am the only one you need for most of the things. Whats more, I am your friend and supporter while anyone else you may hire does not really care about anything other than they were hired for and may even have their own agenda. For example, if you are using an agency interpreter on a date with a girl from a dating agency, you cannot be sure that the two do not work together as a duo of pro-daters, one posing as a marriage-minded girl looking for a husband and the other as her interpreter. But I can tell a pro-dater and at any event I can tell you much more than an agency female interpreter will. So it pays back eventually.
If you are not convinced yet, please read the FAQ section to find out what things are like.
Please understand that the above table actually provides discounts (up to 37%!!!), so I cannot offer more than it has. By the way, the discounts apply only if you pay the total cost in advance, either directly before the job or before you come over to Ukraine. Otherwise I will apply the hourly rate. As I have a lot of costs which I cannot bill directly, I cannot provide enormous discounts. It is not too interesting to work only to foot your bills.
Since interpreting requires accompanying the customer, the latter is supposed to pay for food, accommodation, fares and other relevant costs. Basically, the client is supposed to cover my reasonable costs since we met and while I am with him/her. So, I have to pay for my transportation costs to meet the client if the job is in a different town (but only if we do not agree otherwise and only if it is in Ukraine), but once I am there, the client bears other fares and costs until we say good-bye to each other and I am on my own again.
I do not force my clients to pay for my food but as long as I accompany them it is natural that they treat me, it is not too expensive and a matter of simple politeness. I do not try to order expensive food at restaurants, just something to eat. (As a rule, my food is cheap because I do not eat meat and prefer simple healthy food). If the client does not want to feed me, we will have to arrange lunch and dinner breaks, or I can do without food, it does not really matter as my goal is not to have a free dinner but help you. By the way, thanks to my healthy way of life which includes no meat/alcohol/cigarettes/television, I can do without food longer than ordinary people.
If you talk to someone on instant messaging you can have your conversation translated in the background. All you need to do is to add me to your contact list and then copy and paste your messages for translation back and forth. The rate is 10.00 per hour. Available protocols: AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, ICQ, Google Talk (you can find screennames at the contact page).
The rate is 1.00 per minute. Usually I translate three-way conference calls, when both parties and I are online and can all hear each other at a time. You should check with your telephone operator how to establish a conference call. You can also use Skype if you have Skype Out to reach the other person, and I already have Skype.
As I mentioned above, being your interpreter, I am also your guide and troubleshooter. There is no additional charge for this. If I accompany you, I can help you with anything reasonable that you may want, just ask. Basically, I am at your disposal all the time like your majordomo, butler, deputy, secretary or aide-de-camp (choose the term you like best). However, this does not mean that I take full responsibility for you and your relationship with people you meet; I provide aid rather than do everything for you, and what I really must do is just translate well, so please do not take it for granted. And I am certainly not your slave so do not take it literally too. But remember: interpreting is just one thing I can do for you, and never hesitate to ask about anything, even though I might not be able to do what you request. But I promise to do my best. By the way, you do not need to be around for me to do something, so you may hire me for something without coming over, for example driving to another town to find your girl.
It is also possible to translate letters, documents (without certifying them though) and other texts. Please read the details in my other web site dedicated to translation services (as this one deals with interpreting primarily): RussianTranslator.IgorKalinin.Com.
I can drive you anywhere in Ukraine and even Russia in my car. My rate is 0.60 per kilometer and it includes gasoline.
This does not however include interpreting and other services I offer here, so if you are interested in a full package you may want to pay a daily fee and rent a third party car that I can drive (possibly in turns with you). I normally do not use my car when I am working as a guide/interpreter because it is too much load and attention.
If you arrive in Kiev, I can pick you up and drive to Dnepropetrovsk, Harkov, Zaporojye, Sumy, etc. If you fly to Odessa, I can drive you to Nikolayev, Herson, Simferopol, etc. In this case I may need a retainer to cover my costs.
As your guide, I can basically do a lot of things, besides translation and interpretation, but you have to ask. Below are other related services I provide:
If you are going to visit Ukraine, you have to stay somewhere. I can help you get a good apartment in Odessa or Kiev and other towns for a good price. Please let me know your requirements and range of prices you can afford, and I will come up with something. I might charge an apartment booking fee which is between 50 and 100 but more often the landlord pays me my commission directly so it is free for you.
I have a wide range of quality apartments ranging between 50 and 100 a night. I cooperate with some agencies and flat owners and you can be sure that you will have an apartment to suit your needs.
Regardless of who provides you accommodation/apartment, you can have me meet you at the airport of Odessa, Simferopol, or Kiev) and take you to your hotel or apartment. This costs 50 plus busfare (or taxi), usually up to 20. If you hire me for the day, pick-up is included (without the taxi cost).
I can book train or air tickets for you in Ukraine and deliver it to you when you arrive. The booking fee is 40 and you have to add the cost of the ticket to the total amount. The above fee does not include delivery. If you want to be handed over your ticket when you arrive, please add 20 to the booking fee.
I need the money upfront.
Having a working mobile phone is very important while traveling around Ukraine. However, you cannot be sure that your phone is compatible with Ukrainian networks and will be working smoothly while roaming. Even if it is, roaming rates are very high but you may not be able to recharge your account from Ukraine. You might try using a local SIM chip but very often your phone is locked to your home carrier to prevent it from being used on different networks.
A good solution is cell phone rental in Ukraine. You get a working mobile phone with a charger (and sometimes a spare battery) and an active local SIM card. You can use it directly without the need of going anywhere and doing anything except turning it on and recharging the account. The rate is 4 a day plus you have take care of your minutes on your own but it is very easy and cheap. However, be careful when calling abroad. Although I can teach you how to use cheap dialing, it is not as cheap as local calls, so if you talk for hours, you will have to replenish your account very often. Therefore it is advised to limit your conversations. Another advantage in addition to being in touch all the time and able to call locally cheaply is the ability of locals to call you. If you are on your own phone in roaming they will have to dial your country and pay a lot plus possible bad connection as the call has to go to your country and then come back even though you may be standing next to the person calling you. Not everyone is going to call you this way, so you may be out of touch.
A refundable security payment may be required to rent a cell in case you damage or lose it forget to return it. For the time being it is 100 and is paid back to you in exchange for the phone.
If you want to surprise your lady with a great bunch of flowers on March 8 (Womens Day in Ukraine) or just at any time, you do not have to do it yourself. For 50 I will go anywhere in Odessa and deliver your gift to her. Please note that it does not include the cost of the gift. To help you estimate your costs, I can tell you that a rose costs about 4, a box of chocolate can be about 2. 70 total may be a good guess for a nice bouquet. I can also deliver your gift or arrange a delivery in Kiev, Nikolayev, Simferopol, Sevastopol, Yevpatoria and some other towns; contact me for details. It might cost a bit more.
This service could be used as a covert check-up on somebody as I will tell you the results of the delivery: whether it was successful, who was there, what happened, etc. and you will be able to draw your conclusions. See the Discovery service below also.
Please see the next page which is dedicated to such services.
If you have someone in Ukraine you lost contact with I can help you. Please let me know as much detail as possible and I will try to find them for you. The cost of this service is 50 plus costs if any. You only pay if the search was successful.
Another need to look for a person might be if you are trying to trace your relatives back in Ukraine while you are of a Ukrainian descent. A lot of Ukrainians fled or emigrated from the USSR between 1917 and 1991, especially in 1918-1922, during the Civil War, then in the 1930s during the Kremlin-orchestrated famine which killed about 6 million people in Ukraine alone (by the way, Russia suffered too, so it was not a genocide of the Ukrainian nation as some modern politicians try to portray it), then during the Second World War from 1939 through 1945 and in the 1950s. Now some of them who settled in the US and EU are trying to find their relatives who stayed and survived in Ukraine or were separated from them during the war. What I offer is search for your relatives bearing the same surname based on telephone directories. Currently I can cover Odessa but I am working to expand my network and should be able to cover all major towns in Ukraine.
Besides telephone search, I can drive to any location in Ukraine to look for surviving family members and trace your ancestry if you provide enough information about the village or town where your family lived before the maelstrom of historical events scattered them around, some landing in America, some in Ukraine Knowing your genealogy is important.
Since I know the Russian and Ukrainian culture very well, I can consult you on many issues. By the way it is free, so do not hesitate to ask. We can use instant messaging, phone or Skype. See the contact page for details.
All the above rates are in Euro and this is the best currency. But I accept payment in US dollars, GB pounds or Hryvnyas according to the actual exchange rate to Euro: in cash, via Contact, Western Union, bank wire, WebMoney, Moneygram, Paypal, etc.
Contact me for details.
While I am not always deluged with offers to interpret for several weeks, if you want my assistance during your visit it makes sense to book my time. I consider my time open unless it has been paid for already. It is not a must and you do not have to wire me funds if you are not comfortable with it. I understand the issues of scammers and sending money to someone you have not met in person (however, it basically applies to women and online dating). Yet if someone else does and I am suddenly not available when you come over despite earlier plans and arrangements, it is not my fault. I have lost business because I declined other offers relying on someones words and I am not going to make this mistake again. The one who pays first gets it. No offence but as long as you do not trust me, I do not see why I should trust you.
To book my time you need to pay for at least one day.
However, if you need me in a town other than Odessa, I will certainly need advance payment. While I do not charge you for my transportation to our meeting point, I rely on my fees to cover my costs. If you do not show up I need to have something to pay for my transportation. This time booking means at least two days paid in advance.
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