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Diary of a young American, Charles P. Ward, who lived in Brazil from March to July, 1936. Ward had evidently not done well at school and his father sent him to Brazil to live for a year. He is partially supervised by Lopo de Millo who is a friend of the family. Initially, Ward spends time making friends, going to clubs and trying to find ways to have fun, but very little time pursuing a job. Throughout the diary, Ward comments on being bored and lonely, how much he misses his family, how he wishes he could find a job, and how introspective he has become. By June, he is really frazzled and unsure what he needs to do. In mid-July, he makes plans to return home. By August, Ward seriously tries to find a job but is unsuccessful. He notes that he wishes to travel down the Panama River and eventually head home, but does not have enough money. He is homesick and lonely and bored with trying to fill up his day. He boards a ship for home on August 12. Ward writes insightfully about the learning experience of being on his own.