Through the Arc of the Rain Forest, Environmental Apocalypse, and Post‐Soviet Allegory

Abstract

I was very lucky to meet Karen Tei Yamashita during The Summer Institute on Contemporary American Literature in 2010, in which I participated representing Ukraine. I’ll never forget a sincere conversation with this charming and intelligent woman whose humor, delicacy, and tact adorned the greatness of her talent and the depth of her soul. During that talk I mentioned that the students and teachers in Poltava in Ukraine had very little opportunity to read the contemporary US books in the original. To my great surprise, Karen Tei was so kind to remember that phrase. Since 2010, for many years, she has been mailing her books and the other books she likes to my address enriching the library of our University at her own expense. I am sure I am one of many people all around the world whom Karen Tei helps a lot in her quiet and modest way. I am sure she is one of the best people I have ever met. So, I am very grateful to co-editors Ruth Hsu and Pamela Thoma for the wonderful opportunity to contribute to this volume dedicated to the works by Karen Tei Yamashita, a gifted author and a great woman.