TRIBE II

Continue reading about the adventures of the Alexander family and how TTU K-12 keeps them on the move.

by Lucy Worley

October 20, 2017

Last week's installment of TRIBE followed the Alexanders, a TTU K-12 family that has redefined the term ‘distance learning' through their numerous adventures around the world. They travel all around the globe while their three kids, Kikko, Kekoa and Nakai, earn their education online.

Although they have visited some of the most beautiful and serene locations in the world, the Alexanders agree that their favorite memories come from their family vessel, TRIBE. These are not your usual family memories though – unless your memories involve sharks, whales and letting your 16 year-old circumnavigate the world on his own.

“We are talking about Nakai doing his own circumnavigation this coming year,” the boy's mother Yogi, said. “Obviously we want to watch him do a little more navigating on TRIBE as we head back to sea later this month, but if all goes well, we'll consider letting him do a solo trip.”

Many parents have a hard time letting a child attend college just a few hours away, but it is obvious the Alexander family operates a little differently.

As their parents have entrusted the boys with opportunities to discover and display leadership in different aspects of their lives, the boys have proven to be hard-working and trustworthy.

“The boys take turns being the captain of TRIBE as well as repairing and maintaining engines. They also work the sails, navigate, do night watches and maintain communication and safety equipment. They always have a job,” Yogi said.

The boy's willingness to help where needed predated their sailing days though.

“We have always been on the go,” Yogi said. “The boys spent the first several years of their life in Costa Rica and then three years in Beijing, China, where we assisted with an orphanage program. After that, we moved to Christchurch, New Zealand for a few years. We moved onto the boat after that in 2013.”

From there the family's experiences have only gotten wilder.

“Once when we were in Penrhyn, a small island in the South Pacific, the boys were attending a little school there, before our time in TTU K-12,” Yogi said. “One day my husband and I decided we'd walk over to the school and say hello to the kids during recess. As the school bell rang out, we watched the students grab these prongs that they then took out and slapped the water with. Apparently the sound of those prongs hitting the water attracted sharks. Then, the kids all just ran into the water and started grabbing a hold of the sharks! They made a game out of who could hold onto the shark the longest, and the winner would be named the best “shark rider”. I was just sitting there laughing because most teachers in America stress out over children on merry-go-rounds and here these teachers were just giggling watching their students ride sharks.”

Apparently not all species of sharks are vicious, but we still do not advise trying this on your next family vacation.

A fond family memory that was a little more picturesque and a little less distressing, took place on Nakai's 14th birthday.

“We were temporarily anchored off an island for a few days celebrating Nakai's birthday and were tucked into this reef. It was so beautiful. The island was completely uninhabited and you could walk around and pick coconuts and swim with sea turtles. Then, every morning whales would come up around the boat and the boys would jump in the water and swim with them,” Yogi said.

“One day, the boys were out swimming and they came across a juvenile whale. As I was watching them play with this little whale, I noticed that it would mimic what my sons were doing. Nakai would turn onto his belly and the whale would turn onto its belly. If Nakai waved his arm, the whale would try to wave. It was incredible.”

Through the family's travels, however incredible the wildlife has been, it's been the people they have met that has left the deepest mark.

“One thing that is really important to my husband and myself is that our boys would be able to experience different cultures and really immerse themselves. A big part of this is people. We have seen them become friends with kids from around the world and its cool because they'll keep in touch and email one another. That is so special to us,” Yogi said.

Between their time taking care of TRIBE, doing their school work and traveling, the boys have still had time to dream about the future.

“Kikko has his sights set on becoming a neurologist, Kekoa would like to be a cardiac surgeon or dermatologist and Nakai very much wants to go to the US Naval Academy with the hopes of becoming a pilot and eventually, an astronaut.”

The boys know the road to these professions is one marked with hard work and discipline, but those are traits they are obviously familiar with.

“The boys also study language, read books, study the history and culture of the countries that we are in, marine biology, and subjects such as celestial navigation, geology, meteorology and marine mechanics,” Yogi said.

Needless to say, you find time to learn a few extra things when you live with no television or cable.

While to some, this lifestyle might seem unimaginable, the Alexanders couldn't imagine doing anything else.

“TTU K-12 opens up opportunities for us to learn more about the world from anywhere we might be. It allows us to educate our kids in a way we feel passionately about.”