Overseas experience

Overseas experience (OE) is a New Zealand term for an extended overseas working holiday. Sometimes referred to as "The big OE" in reference to the extended duration of the travel - typically at least one year, and often extending far longer. It is believed to have been coined by New Zealand cartoonist and columnist Tom Scott.^[1]

Destinations

A typical OE is mostly or entirely self-funded, occurs within a few years of university graduation, and centres on London. As this implies, the typical OE traveller is in his or her early to mid 20s and middle class.^[2] However variations on this are not unusual: many travellers have no university education, and are thus able to have their OE in their late teens or early 20s following a few years in the workforce; an increasingly popular alternative to London is to spend a year teaching English overseas, especially in Japan or South Korea; and enough Māori take OEs for there to be a permanent Māori culture group (Ngati Ranana) in London.^[3] The European OE usually includes travel within Europe and, recently, a pilgrimage to the Gallipoli battle site.^[1]

London's position as the default OE destination is probably a result of what historian James Belich calls 'recolonisation'. He describes how New Zealand developed very strong cultural ties to the United Kingdom, and London in particular, and as a result tended to see London as the centre of the universe and pay little attention to other places.^[4] In addition, British immigration law until the 1970s allowed Australians and New Zealanders to live and work in Britain as British citizens. The continuation of the trend may be residual recolonialism but in addition most New Zealanders have friends and often relatives in London, and its favourable working holiday scheme, proximity to the rest of Europe, and the fact that it is English-speaking also make Britain a desirable destination. In 2003 former Prime Minister Helen Clark described the OE to Britain as "an important tradition for many New Zealanders".^[5]

However nowadays OE travelers are getting more and more curious and are interested in other destinations. The USA, Canada, and Ireland are becoming more popular but also non-English speaking countries like France, Netherlands, and Germany.

The abbreviation OE is sometimes spoken as if it is a formal qualification - as in "do you have your OE?" - because before 2004 the top secondary school qualification was UE - "University Entrance". The phrase also indicates that the trip is considered to be an important milestone rather than something frivolous. Large numbers of New Zealanders live and work in Australia but this generally not considered to be an OE.

Visa

As New Zealand has visa arrangements with countries like Britain, USA, Canada, Netherlands, France etc. New Zealand citizens can apply for a working holiday visa in order to be abble to work and live in those countries for (usually) up to a year. In order to be eligible for a working holiday visa you need to be between 18 and 30 (sometimes 35) years of age. Some countries (like the USA) force you to apply for a working holiday visa through organisations like IEP or CCUSA while other countries allow you to apply for the visa yourself. Further rules and regulations concerning these visas can change so always check with the appropriate High Commission or Embassy.

See also

• TNT Magazine
• Gap year

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Unpacking essence of the Kiwi 'Overseas Experience'". Archived from the original on April 11, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080411094306/http://www.lincoln.ac.nz/story_images/1022_Story5OE_s3493.pdf. Retrieved 2009-07-24. 
2. ^ "The "big OE" -- is it draining our talent: Kerr Inkson, Professor of Management at the Alban Campus, explains new research.". http://www.massey.ac.nz/~wwpubafs/2000/publications/massey_news/november/nov_7/stories/bigOE.html. Retrieved 2009-07-24. 
3. ^ "www.ngatiranana.org.uk/". http://www.ngatiranana.org.uk/. Retrieved 2009-07-24. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ Belich, James (March 2002) (in English). Paradise Reforged: A History of the New Zealanders from the 1880's to the Year 2000. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 606. ISBN 978-0824825423. 
5. ^ "PM welcomes extended UK working holiday scheme". http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=17133. Retrieved 2009-07-24. 

External links

• The "big OE" -- is it draining our talent?
• "The traditional OE is changing..."