A young Australian working girl from London struggles to adapt to diplomatic life among the royal courtiers of Swaziland, in post-independence Zimbabwe and in Angola amid the gunfire of the civil war. She accompanies her husband, the striding KJ, on his African postings together with two English bull terriers and a large, redoubtable African tabby cat. As each country unfolds its challenges and discoveries she shares her delight, her wry humour, and keen sense of the ridiculous. In a darker mood we follow KJ in Somalia during the famine and in Rwanda after the genocide. The book will appeal to travellers; to those who have worked overseas and coped with culture shock. The writer, a psychologist, delves into history and sociology, revels in the bizarre and includes recipes collected along the way.
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'The writing is excellent, natural and graceful. There is a comfortably old-fashioned feel with warmth, humour and an amazingly vivid eye for detail.'--Richard Addis, journalist, Founder & Editor in Chief of The Day 'This book is not a travelogue - still less a political study of new independence. It is a charming and wittily told tale of how one woman found so much to learn and value among peoples about whom the rest of us know little or nothing.' --Bill Nicoll, Director General of the Secretariat of the Council of European Union
About the Author
Pamela O'Cuneen was born in Perth, Western Australia. After training as a teacher and working for the British Council in London, she spent twenty-five years in Africa and the Caribbean as a diplomat's wife. As well as writing she sings, plays the piano and harp, paints in watercolour and teaches meditation.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Debra Sabri
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I picked up this book because I always fancied living in exotic places, meeting interesting people and learning new languages - because of course I would have learned the languages. Well, in my dreams anyway. So, how does one get to live such a life? If you, like me, thought that the life of a Diplomat's wife would mean you would have all the fun and none of the responsibility, think again!
In Culture Shock and Canapés we learn the truth about the life of a Diplomat's wife in Africa, from the safety and relative comfort of Swaziland and Zimbabwe (in the early years of Mugabe's rule) to the hardships of life in war torn Angola, where Pamela made the best of things along with the locals. Having to move on every four years or so, Pamela became an expert in the logistics of moving house; but it was never easy to say `Goodbye', even in Angola, a place where no-one wanted to stay but where friends were made and were hard to leave behind.
Pamela tells it like it is, no holds barred; managing household staff, catering for high level entertaining, meeting new people and making new friends. It's all here; enjoy!
In Culture Shock and Canapés we learn the truth about the life of a Diplomat's wife in Africa, from the safety and relative comfort of Swaziland and Zimbabwe (in the early years of Mugabe's rule) to the hardships of life in war torn Angola, where Pamela made the best of things along with the locals. Having to move on every four years or so, Pamela became an expert in the logistics of moving house; but it was never easy to say `Goodbye', even in Angola, a place where no-one wanted to stay but where friends were made and were hard to leave behind.
Pamela tells it like it is, no holds barred; managing household staff, catering for high level entertaining, meeting new people and making new friends. It's all here; enjoy!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Ms Alexander
Format:Paperback
From start to finish I was enthralled with this wonderful book. It gave real insight into the African countries I had only really heard about on the evening news. This book took me to those countries and gave me a taste of life there. I became involved with all the preparations for dignitaries and the moving on and felt real sadness at the passing of beloved pets. I also felt sad to have finished the book and can't help feeling there are more interesting forays to further shores still to come, I certainly hope so.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This story is so fabulous that I didn't want it to end. I created reading opportunities all week long so that I could gallop through the chapters with gusto... Its a warming but often very amusing account of a family's very interesting experience of what for most of us is quite unknown territory. Each page is so colourful and alive that I could actually taste, smell and hear my way through each and every chapter. This tale of real life is emotionally beautiful. I was left feeling like the writer had trusted me with a lifetime of secrets that I'll cherish forever.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Culture Shocks and Canapes
Excellent book by a good friend of ours!
It is so descriptive of life in the diplomatic services.
The book is a thoroughly excellent read!
It is so descriptive of life in the diplomatic services.
The book is a thoroughly excellent read!
Published 10 months ago by Mr. Peter Duncan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enchanting
I have just finished reading the book with delight. I lived in Swaziland for eight years and knew the author during their second posting there. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Brigitte Taschl
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!
I loved the writing and the way the writer manages to paint adventures, emotions, people. I loved the depth of the feelings, the wittiness and the way culture shock issues are... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Peter B.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Peer into the 'hidden' everyday of the unusual
How do you get to travel to places that you just can't travel to? Read Culture Shock and Canapes. Pamela takes you to to intimate places that most people just wont ever be able to... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Claire Woods
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