Part 4: O Americano, Outra Vez Summary and Analysis

In this chapter, Feynman discusses his experiences in Brazil. He visits Brazil as a lecturer on multiple occasions, including once for a period of almost a year. During his time in Brazil, he enjoys exploring a new culture. He takes great pains to learn the language, and although he is often dismissive of the progress he makes, he evidently learns to speak Portuguese reasonably well. Not only is he able to function within the Portuguese-speaking society, he gives his physics lectures in Portuguese as well (so his Brazilian students can focus on the concepts of the lesson, and not worry about translating the information from English).

Feynman learns to play a Brazilian percussion instrument, called the frigideira, and performs with a samba during the Rio carnival. He is obviously new to the frigideira...