HAPPY HOUR

About the Book

What’s it really like to teach abroad?

In Happy Hour: I Was an Overseas Teacher, Doris Macauley shares her unfiltered experiences teaching on U.S. military bases across Europe and Asia. From the smoky bars of officers’ clubs to the structured classrooms of military schools, Doris paints a vivid picture of an expatriate teacher’s life—equal parts challenging and exhilarating.

This memoir offers a unique glimpse into the camaraderie, cultural clashes, and personal ambitions of American teachers stationed far from home. With humor and honesty, Doris describes the complex relationships with fellow educators, military personnel, and the local communities they navigate. The story highlights the personal struggles of women seeking adventure, love, and independence while balancing their roles as educators in a system marked by hierarchy and bureaucracy.

Whether you’re an educator, a world traveler, or a reader who loves memoirs about personal journeys, Happy Hour invites you into a world of unforgettable moments—where professional duty meets personal discovery.

About the Author

Born in Ney York, Doris Macauley graduated with an MA in Psychology from Colombia University. While working toward her PhD., she was offered an assignment to cover a war in China, where she remained for a year in Shanghai and Hong Kong. She describes this period in her first book, Bread and Rice. She has also lived extensively in Europe, Spain and Germany, the background of the present novel.