Janet Horncy has worked 48 years in the New Zealand National Library, and now at age 65, is ready to retire. What’s an appropriate parting gift for the dedicated librarian? No, not a gold watch, nor a gift certificate, but something she wanted very much…
Photo and story here .
I have no idea….
I have no idea what a 2 year OE is but I think I want one.
I may also change my name to M D Beaglehole. I like beagles.
Re:I have no idea….
Yeah, I’ve been dying for another OE (overseas experience) since my last one. Too bad not a lot of places here believe in them on the company’s time.
Re:I have no idea….
OE = Overseas Experience.
Traditionally in New Zealand one spends a couple of years in one’s mid-20s living overseas. Usually in the UK and usually for up to two years, as we can get temporary visas to live there for two years. Being so geographically isolated, the OE is used as a chance for us to travel, mainly around Europe using the UK as a base.
The convention/tradition is that one then returns ‘home’ and settles down and marries and gets the house with the picket fence and stuff.
In recent years the tradition is changing somewhat, as it’s easier for us to get visas to different countries (we have reciprocal agreements with the US, lots of European countries, and some South American). We also tend to stay away for longer, or maybe not come back at all. But the OE is something that almost every New Zealander aged above 25 has done, or is doing.
Nice long answer for you 😉
I was at that farewell party. Weird to see it on LISNews.