right of passage // it's a simple

In other countries it’s called the “OE” year. The year away — or the overseas experience year — for young people in Europe, Australia and New Zealand it’s a simple right of passage for a young person entering adulthood.
-- Japan enriches student’s life in Metronews Vancouver, Weekend September 14-16 2007.

Corrections: rite of passage; is a simple. Oddly, the subheadline of the article is, Experience from overseas can be a rite of passage. Go figure. Also odd: the tangible copy of this article has, is a simple. I browsed this newspaper while on my work break this morning. I didn't notice the out-of-date-edness of it until writing this post.