Culture Shock & Canapés by Pamela O'Cuneen (published on 25 August 2025)
Adventures of a Diplomatic Wife in Africa
War-zones and witchcraft, exotic food and disastrous dinner parties, Culture Shock & Canapés explores the hidden world behind high Embassy walls.
A young Australian 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.
‘The writing is excellent, natural and graceful. There is a comfortably old-fashioned feel with warmth, humour and an amazingly vivid eye for detail. Those with perception will see what I saw: a completely modern story of the human heart riding a roller-coaster of happiness and hardship with timeless humour and wisdom. At least I hope so’
Richard Addis
‘A vividly drawn journey into the characters, customs and sumptuous food of the Caribbean, you can almost smell the exotic flowers and spices. The story is intoxicating’
Anna Stothard
‘What shines through this delightful memoir is Pamela’s love for the countries that became her temporary homes, and the people (and animals) she met there’
Daily Mail
Adventures of a Diplomatic Wife in Africa
War-zones and witchcraft, exotic food and disastrous dinner parties, Culture Shock & Canapés explores the hidden world behind high Embassy walls.
A young Australian 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.
‘The writing is excellent, natural and graceful. There is a comfortably old-fashioned feel with warmth, humour and an amazingly vivid eye for detail. Those with perception will see what I saw: a completely modern story of the human heart riding a roller-coaster of happiness and hardship with timeless humour and wisdom. At least I hope so’
Richard Addis
‘A vividly drawn journey into the characters, customs and sumptuous food of the Caribbean, you can almost smell the exotic flowers and spices. The story is intoxicating’
Anna Stothard
‘What shines through this delightful memoir is Pamela’s love for the countries that became her temporary homes, and the people (and animals) she met there’
Daily Mail
Adventures of a Diplomatic Wife in Africa
War-zones and witchcraft, exotic food and disastrous dinner parties, Culture Shock & Canapés explores the hidden world behind high Embassy walls.
A young Australian 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.
‘The writing is excellent, natural and graceful. There is a comfortably old-fashioned feel with warmth, humour and an amazingly vivid eye for detail. Those with perception will see what I saw: a completely modern story of the human heart riding a roller-coaster of happiness and hardship with timeless humour and wisdom. At least I hope so’
Richard Addis
‘A vividly drawn journey into the characters, customs and sumptuous food of the Caribbean, you can almost smell the exotic flowers and spices. The story is intoxicating’
Anna Stothard
‘What shines through this delightful memoir is Pamela’s love for the countries that became her temporary homes, and the people (and animals) she met there’
Daily Mail
