Quentin in Edina

Prologue

Quentin Guibaud was our fifth AFS exchange student. Only our son, Nicholas, was at home and working. Our daughter, Kim, had graduated from college and was off on her own. We enjoyed having exchange students in our house. They brought a level of excitement and purpose to our lives. I was still very much involved as an AFS Volunteer. Host families were hard to find. It seemed logical to have another student live the next year with us.

Why Quentin? Well actually, he was selected by our third exchange student, Sonya Stepanova (2001-2002) from Russia and who had returned and was staying with us 2003-2004 while attending Normandale Community College. We thought that since she would be returning in January, 2005 and would be living with us, she should make the choice. After rejecting all other AFS applicants, she selected Quentin because he was "cute".

From Quentin's application, he appeared honest in his comments about himself, a person with a firm, tender, and unconventional personality. We understood he may have trouble in a more strict household and hoped he would enjoy his year with us. We didn't realize his application letter was addressed to a potential host family in South Africa. His father decided that South Africa might be too dangerous and since New Zealand and Australia were not taking any additional applicants, America was his last choice for an English speaking country. We never regretted the choice of Quentin.

Quentin's AFS Application

Cover page

Letter to future Host Family, Page 1

Letter to future Host Family, Page 2

Application letter about future plans.

Application picture of Quentin's family

Application picture of Quentin's friends

Application picture of Quentin's horse and cat

Application picture of Quentin's dogs

Quentin's Arrival at our house
in Edina, Minnesota

Day 1, August 14, 2004:
Meeting Quentin for the first time at his St' Catherine's College orientation site in St. Paul, Minnesota. We had this sign made so that Quentin could easily find us among all the other students and their new host family's. Quentin is pictured with my wife, Mary, and our son, Nicholas, who was also living with us.

Day 1, August 14, 2004:
On the rear deck at our Edina, Minnesota house.

Day 2, August 15, 2004: Quentin was eager to see his new school.
He was puzzled by the picture of the "bug", Edina's mascot, the Hornet.

Day 2, August 15, 2004:
Edina High School is on a hill, the rear of which overlooks a small stream
with the central City of Minneapolis in the far background.

Day 3, August 17, 2004: Meeting our family.

Pictured from center to left: Kim, our daughter; Nicholas, our son;
Mary, my wife; Quentin; and Matt Wolfe, Kim's fiance.

Days of August, 2004

August was an exciting month, going to different places and doing new things.

One of several tennis matches with:

Elmo Plumhoff (Mariel's host), me, Marielle Guberti (AFS French student),
and Quentin

AFS Welcome Picnic

Mall of America
Marielle Guberti (France), Julie Theurot (France)

Mall of America
Marielle Guberti (France), ?, Julie Theurot (France)

"Joe's Garage" rooftop restaurant, Minneapolis

Stone Arch Bridge at Mississippi River,
Minneapolis

First AFS Chapter Meeting
September 1, 2004

The Chapter is the smallest administrative unit for the AFS organization. Our chapter was comprised of AFS students living with families in Edina, Richfield, Saint Louis Park, and Minnetonka subrubs. I was the Chapter President.

AFS Edina Chapter
Sindri Thorsson (Iceland), Gabriela Teixeira (Brazil), Quentin,
Marielle Gubert (France), Wongsamorn (Hyok) Thinphang-nga (Thailand)

First Day of School
September 7, 2004
A anxious student, wondering what his school will be like.

Horses

Quentin's main passion was horses. He spent a lot of time in France around horses and was a very good equestrian rider. After searching very hard, Mary found a woman, Katie, who was happy to have Quentin come an help her at her stable. Katie was an attorney specializing in horse legalities and an accomplished equestrian herself. They became close friends, spending many weekends at her home.

Eklectic


Quentin and Katie at her stable in Victoria, Minnesota.

Epic, Katy's horse

Katie at an equestrian competition.

Helping out.

First Dance
September 10, 2004

Edina High School's Homecoming Dance is its first of the school year. A big event where students get dressed up. It is a nervous time, because Quentin was totally unfamiliar with what top do and even who to take. he ended up taking the sister of a classmate.

Posing for pictures at Centennial Lakes Park before the dance.


Riding in a limousine to the dance.

Indian Pow-Wow
October 11, 2004
This was an AFS event at a Native American (Indian) Pow-Wow at the site of an Indian massacre in Mankato, Minnesota.

The students in Pow-Wows Grand March.

Halloween
October 31, 2004

Carving pumpkins

and cleaning out the seeds.

Carved pumpkins, Jack-o-Lanterns, placed in front of our house.

Sadie Hawkins Dance
December 12, 2004

The high school Sadie Hawkins Dance is a costume affair. Here is Quentin at our house for a pre-dance dinner and get together. The group consists of a wide range of students from other exchange students with other organizations and American students.

Sadie Hawkins Dinner Party

Getting ready to leave.

Christmas, 2004


Opening Presents

Kim's Birthday Party
Winter Time

Winter was a new experience for a person from the mild climate of Marsielle.

Ice skating at Centennial Lakes.
Frozen lake

The front of our house.

Our street filled with snow.


Mary and I in our winter "clothes".

Easter, 2004

Opening Easter Eggs and finding prizes.

Quentin's Many Faces

Having fun in our kitchen.

Looking good!

Brrr! It's cold in Minnesota.

Will winter ever end?

Bored. Another meeting.

Good times with Kim.

Awful times with the Russian student, Sonya Stepanova,
who came back to stay with us in January .

Enjoying the first warm days of spring on our deck.

18th Birthday May 26, 2005
Having a party with my friends.

Katie and her family came too.

When your 18 years old, you can go to Mystic Lake Casino.

End of School Photos of Friends

As it gets closer to the end of the school year, it is time to take photos of your friends.

Wendy and ?

With Russian Language teacher

Sophia Cardonuto

Muslim AFS students from Eqypt
Menat El-DecKen, Ahmed Ez Eldeen

Mila and ??


English as Second Language (ESL)

Anika

??

Senior Prom
June 7, 2005

The Senior Prom is the biggest social event of the year. It is a formal affair with dance, and dinner. Quentin asked Sonya Cardanudo, whose family hosted another exchange student. I think Quentin had a real liking for this Sonya (not the Sonya who lived with us).

Students at Centennial Lakes Park for pictures.
Quentin with his date Sophia Cardonuto
at Centennial Lakes
In our backyard.


Graduation
June 9, 2005
Graduation ceremonies for Edina High School were held
at Northrup Auditorium on the University of Minnesota Campus

Immediately after the graduation ceremony, all students were bused back to the high school which had been transformed into a gigantic all-night party.
here we are picking up Quentin at 4:00 am and the end of the party.

The poster, made by Mary, from the All-Night Graduation Party,
with photos of his year with us.

The Tattoo
June 10, 2005

Almost from the beginning Quentin wanted to get a tattoo of a horse. Through out the year he looked at hundreds of possibilities, trying to decide where and how big the tattoo should be. Quentin's parents were decidely against a tattoo. Since he could get a tattoo without adult permission when he was 18 year old, he and I went to the tattoo parlor together soon after his birthday.

Tattoo Parlor, Minneapolis

Where we both got tattoos.

While waiting for Quentin to get his tattoo, I decided to get one too, albeit smaller.
His a horse head, mine the word "axolotl".

Last Days
Being handcuffed by Mary's policeman nephew, Tommy.

Going away dinner at a "It's Greek to Me" restaurant.
At the Caulder's statue, "Cherry on a Spoon",
in Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

At Quentin Avenue in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota.

Departure Day
June 27, 2005

The year passes too quickly. Suddenly it is time to say goodbye. This is the hardest part of having Quentin stay with us. We consider him part of our family and hope to see him again. We hope he doesn't forget us.