Meet the Manns. This family has set out on a world tour for 5 years with 5 children. They are determined to experience life at its fullest and teach their children about all of the possibilities just waiting for them to take advantage of. They are home turned worldschoolers taking over the globe and strengthening their family bond while they do it. This is their motivating story below!

Open Water Dive in Philippines ( we all got certified by a PADI open water dive instructor

1. Where are you all living now and where did you move from?

     We live in Medellin, Colombia. We moved from my home country Ghana, we stayed 3 months in each country listed.Thus far we have stayed in South Africa, Kenya, Bangkok, Philippines Malaysia, Brazil Rio, Bahia Salvador, Argentina, Peru and now in Colombia. We will be in the states with my husband's family for the holidays and in Jan we are off to Australia, then New Zealand, China, India, and Japan. 2018 we will tour Europe and then hit the 50 states of the USA in 2019. That will wrap up or 5 year tour. 

2. How long have you been in Columbia?
We arrived in Medellin Colombia Oct. 15th 2016 we stay 3 months in
each country listed above.

3. How many kids do you have and what are the ages?
We have 5 kids (4 girls and 1 boy) ages 15yrs, 13yrs, 12yrs, 9yrs and
7yrs

4. What was the reason for the move?
We want to show our kids the world of possibilities. We have so far
been able to create kids who are confident in themselves and are able
to be present in any culture that they get to be put in. We have home-
schooled our kids for the past 9 years so with the move it made it more
exciting knowing that they will learn history not only from what has
been written but they will get to live that history.

 Amusement Park in Medellin Colombia

5. How did you prepare for the move?

We sold all our house hold stuff. We had an 8 bedroom house filled with

all our personal items but we sold them all to be able to have a clean

slate. We have a Chiropractor business in Ghana that we hired another

doctor to run and manger for us.

6. What were the travel requirements (visas, passports, etc.)
My kids and my husband have both Ghanaian passports for the West
African countries and a US passport for the other countries. I basically
had to get a visa for 99% of the countries since all I had was my
Ghanaian passport which has my B1/B2 USA visa inside.

7. Have you all had any bouts with homesickness?

I personally have since it's my first time to being out of my home

country Ghana for years. So sometimes I miss home and my best 

friend as well as my food. Our kids miss their grandparents but thanks

to Tango we can see them on our IPads anytime we want to see them.

8. How did your extended family respond to the decision to move abroad?
They still feel we are not normal and we are crazy since it does
not make any sense to them why we would want to live the life we have
for a country we know nothing about. But we are a family that is
excited towards the unknown.

In our Virginia Home 

9. Did you all travel on a regular basis before moving?
Yes we traveled with our kids to the states and back to Ghana at least
once a year. My husband and I did Cape Town, Australia, and Dubai a
couple of times.

10. Are your kids in traditional school or home-schooled?
My kids are home-schooled and always have been.

11. Are your kids learning or have learned the local language?
Our kids understand some of the Ghanaian language which is called Twi,
they know little bit of French and now learning Spanish.

12. How has the move affected your family (pros & cons?) 
Pros: My 7yr old is not shy about asking questions and making friends
even with people older than him. My girls have made friends all around
the globe and are now looking at going to college in different countries
to have different experiences. Also I think my husband and I have
dedicated our days and times with our kids making them feel and know
we are always here for them. We are influencing them the way
we would want them to be influenced.
Cons: The packing can be a little bit hectic. Especially because we try to
book our Airbnb apartment on a monthly basis and when we arrive
and if we love the apartment we will book the other months but
sometimes we end up having to move because the apartment gets
booked. Also dealing with visas can get a bit stressful but now I
have learned how to manage it all with the help of the kids involved.

13. Have there been any cultural shocks?
No! Not at all. We have really just fit right into all cultures.

14. Have you experienced any racism in thus far?
Well for me it was a bit of a shock in Brazil. The Brazilians seem to be
too proud about their Portuguese and when you don't speak their
language they seem to look at me in a funny way. But really we have not
felt like there is color racist issues with our family in any country

15. Do you think it’s important for black families to travel and if so why? 

Oh my Goodness, yes it’s probably one of the best of types education we

as black families can give our kids. Our kids need to know that they can

have all that they desire and their existence is not meant to be 

experienced poverty. Black families must make it a point to get their

kids outside of that box. Our kids have so much potential and getting

them out of that BOX will open up their mind to possibilities out there.

16. Did you secure employment before the move?
No we did not since we just hired other people to run our office we had
in Ghana.

17. Do you plan on staying in Columbia permanently? 

After 5 yrs of travel we plan on choosing 4 countries we love out of the

year and stay 3 months in each country. Our 2 older kids will be in

college then.

18. How has raising 3^rd culture kids changed your outlook on the world?
It really had made me realize we are all the same in many ways of our
lives. My kids have learn to respect other cultures and not be afraid
to live and be a part of the Uni-verse (One)

19. Any advice for potential expats who want to raise their children abroad?
I say get on the edge and just have faith and jump. You will come to
find out the unknown is actually not the problem. The problem is being\
afraid and not doing it. Our family mantra is "Be afraid and do it
anyways" F.E.A.R (fear) False Evidence Appearing Real.  Make it fun
and let your kids help make the decisions and choose the countries and
enjoy the planning process. It’s not the destination that is the
only reward it’s the journey to the destination.

20. What industries are potentially hiring in the countries you've lived in?
I've been told English speaking teachers but I am not sure.

Canoe Ride in South Africa

21. What do you love the most about living in Columbia?
In each country we have loved something about it. In Thailand we loved
the food and the night markets, in Rio we loved the beach culture and in
Peru the people are so nice.

22. Best advice for someone who wants to move to Columbia or any of the  countries you've been to? 
Be open minded to try new things and allow people in the country to
help you when they offer too. Also bring cash since most countries don't
like taking credit cards from other countries. 

23. What has been the most appealing thing about the countries you all have
visited?
Food, the people, well as the weather. 

24. What has been the least appealing thing about the countries you all have  visited. 
The road network system in some countries are so complicated and it
takes weeks to know our home and when we do it's time to move.

Tribute From our 2nd Daughter to Nelson Mandela in Ghana at the W.E. Dubious Center

25. What has your family’s social life been like since you started this journey?

   We are a true social butterflies. We make friends from the time we get

on the light until we depart from that country. Our kids still stay in 
ouch with their friends from each country through WhatsApp. So we
have a pretty busy social life in each country.

26. How would you say the cost of living compares to life in America or Ghana?
What can someone expect to spend on housing, utilities and food in the
areas you've lived in?
So in Cape Town South Africa cost of living was super cheap with food.
We can feed a family of 6 with $20 and that's good meal. Also in
Bangkok street food was awesome for $2.50 I can have a nice freshly
made meal on the street. Rent in Malaysia and now Colombia has been
really good for us. For a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom beautiful apartment
with kids playground and pool and tennis court, walking distance to
grocery stores, comes with weekly cleaner, all-inclusive electric
bill, water bill, cable and home phone is $1,100 per month...that is
awesome right? Thanks to AirBnb we always get this great deals

27. What would you say to other black families to encourage them to
travel more and or move abroad?
Just do it! Your skills are needed in so many countries. It’s really not has
scary as the TV makes it look.

28. Many people who move abroad and or travel often find that the places they

move to teach them things they didn't learn or experience in their former

communities. What have you all learned?

Love and just be you! People want to meet new people so open your

mind and be open to love

29. Favorite family memory thus far?
Night market with my kids in Bangkok, communion time with our kids,
trying on clothes in Louis Vuitton (even though we know mommy is not
buying that expensive stuff)

30. How can we continue to follow you family's journey?
Yes I have a travel blog please follow and ask all your questions and
also tell me know it can be better. www.manns7worldtour.com

   Meet the Scott family. The Scotts have decided to try something new and expose their children to the wonders of international travel. Their previously home-schooled children will now become world-school children as the world becomes their classroom. This is their motivating story below! 

Meet the Tarltons', who are in search of our lost, stolen, and distorted history in the US. The Tarltons' believe our roots stem from Africa but our stories have become an intricate part of Black History which is essentially "American History." They are on a journey to educate their children about who they are and what it means to be Black in America. This is their motivating story below! 

Meet the Mahdis, a black family driven by purpose and passion for African people and the African continent.  Originally from Atlanta, GA, The Madhis are based in Kaolack, Senegal, where they are currently raising their 3 year old son. The Madhis had no desire to raise their son in America and their desire to give him a life worth living has been the driving force behind their move abroad. This is their motivating story below!

The Mahdi Tribe