An Englewood Student Odyssey

“Friluftsliv to Faroes”

On a recent Monday Dylan DeMarco, former Lemon Bay HS student turned world traveler, took time off from pre-college preparations to share details with The Englewood Review of his last two years in Europe. Over ice tea and a strawberry milkshake we were brought up to date. 

First a recap of his scholastic overseas odyssey, told in previous issues of the Review. Three years ago Dylan, a local Englewood teen, then student at Lemon Bay HS, was inspired by a teacher to apply to the United World College with a campus in Flekke, Norway where he would complete his high school education. At this campus he would live in a small community of 200 students coming from as many nationalities, all between the ages of 16-19. The college is one of 17 worldwide, founded in part by Nelson Mandela. The goal of the schools is to foster world peace through international friendships forged as students. Also taught are humanitarian values and respect for a sustainable future environment. The school is located in rural Norway on a secluded fjord. 

Over the past two years Dylan accomplished much. In addition to graduating in May 2016, he made friends with students from all over the world, especially his roommate Melvin, from El Salvador. He enthusiastically absorbed the Norwegian spirit of “friluftsliv,” a Norwegian word he explained which exemplifies the Nordic passion for being most at home outdoors with nature. It also encompasses the values of self-reliance, hospitality and the joy of being part of the natural world. 

Asked what were his most unforgettable moments in his last year at World College, he answered “reciting a poem in person, written by himself and spoken to Queen Sonia of Norway”. The Queen was making her bi-annual visit to the campus. The students organized and presented a program for her, and Dylan’s poem was part of it. His poem was delivered in English, and depicted the struggles of being a native English speaker in a multi-lingual student body sometimes hostile to his native tongue. He delivered the poem as a rant. The Queen appreciated it and it was well received!

Other unforgettable moments included Bollywood Dancing, spinning live fire, and the wonder of the northern lights. Did we mention academics?

Graduating with an International Baccalaureate degree in May 2016 he had to choose between starting college in the Fall, or taking a gap year of work and travel. He followed his heart and chose seeing the world. He admits his real education began at that moment. 

A stipulation of the Gap Year is that while traveling he had to work and be largely self-supporting. He thought first of teaching in Nepal, but visa problems loomed. He then settled on Italy house-sitting in a small village close to Venice. He notes the irony of once again living close to Venice! Real life education began here: learning Italian, learning to cook; mastering public transportation, learning a new place. He taught some English.

He says he spent a lot of time just listening. He ate a lot of vegetables (cheap). He began to learn Italian. He had to learn to budget. 

After 3 months the housesitting gig was up. Through the Internet he found his next job - working at a small hotel on the Faroe Islands, a remote and little visited archipelago off Denmark. He traveled there from Italy by scenic route, mostly by bicycle arriving at his job hoping it really existed, and glad to find it did! There he wore many hats including being bouncer at the hotel bar. 

May arrived with graduation at World United College. Dylan wanted to return especially to see his good friend and former roommate Melvin graduate. Dylan made the 300-mile trip to Norway on his bike. For lodging he camped in woods and fields by the road, a common and respected practice in Norway. If there was a visible house, he would knock and ask permission to camp. Frequently the answer would be a cordial invitation to come in and take a spare bed or couch – an example of the Norwegian spirit of sharing and hospitality. “Friluftsliv” in action. 

It was his homecoming arrival back to campus for graduation that he remembers as the other most unforgettable moment of the two years. It was almost midnight, but still daylight with the Scandinavian midnight sun. He had just completed a 300-mile, 7-day bicycle journey mostly in the rain. Exhausted, he crested the hill overlooking the valley which held the school. He saw the campus below, the fjord, the new students. It looked and felt like magic. 

Dylan flew back to Florida shortly afterwards and returned to Englewood in May. In August, he and family traveled by car to Cambridge, MA where he entered Harvard as a freshman. He plans to study Neuro-Biology, with interest in brain chemistry. He has a four-year scholarship. He is ready. We wish him well. We will stay tuned.

A last word by Dylan’s mother who said “be sure to tell about United World College. It is wonderful.” UWC offers a two-year program for students between the ages of 16 – 19, funded by scholarships and awarding the International Baccalaureate degree. There is a selection of 17 campuses all over the world, including one in the US, in New Mexico. www.UWC.org/.