2006, Adriana and Gulden visit Minneaoplis

December, 2006

Adriana Hernandez-Moron (Venezuela), our AFS exchange student 1999-2000, and her good friend, Gulden Alp (Turkey), also an AFS exchange student living in Edina during the same year decided to visit us before Mary and I departed for the Peace Corps. Adriana stayed with us for two weeks while Gulden stayed for one, moving on to spend the next week and Christmas with her former Edina host family, Jim and Elizabeth Cogswell, now living in Missouri.

Adriana and Gulden

Reunited in our kitchen. Gulden, Mary, and Adriana.

What a joyful dinner.
Matt Wolfe, Kim Wolfe (our daughter), me, Mary,
Gulden, Adriana, and Nicholas (our son).

Gulden making Turkish coffee, a true Minnesota Vikings fan.

Adriana visiting Kim's classroom of pre-schoolers in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Gulden teaching her own table of children.

Gulden with pet snake at Kim's house.

With Jennifer Niemeier, an Edina AFS Volunteer
who worked closely with the exchange students.

Decorating the Christmas tree late at night

Clubbing at "Famous Dave's" on Latin Night.
Adriana teaching Matt Wolfe a few steps.

There is nothing like barbecue at "Famous Dave's" before the music begins.

A visit to Edina High School where both were students.

Searching for their teacher's pictures and laughing about their classes.

Returning to the Edina house where Gulden spent her year and all the good memories.
Unfortunately, Gulden's host family, Jim and Elizabeth Cogswell, had moved.
But, Gulden was going to visit them later.

Adriana and Nicholas Tour Minneapolis

At Guthrie Theater in front of Sir Tyrone Guthrie's larger than life portrait.
Guthrie created a resident acting company in Minneapolis that would produce and perform the classics in an atmosphere removed from the commercial pressures of Broadway.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
The centerpiece of the garden is the Spoonbridge and Cherry water sculpture designed by husband and wife Claes Oldenburg and Coosie van Bruggen.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
The Irene Hixon Whitney Pedestrian Bridge (1987), designed by Siah Armajani
which crosses the I-94 freeway connecting the sculpture garden to Loring Park.

Christmas

Adriana wanted to visit us during Christmas.
I do believe of all the times of the year,
she mostly loved the cold, snow, and lights of a Minnesota Christmas.

A million lights on a tree in a residential neighborhood.

Gathering together Christmas morning

All grown up

A time to open presents and gifts

Mary's gift from Adriana, wrapped like an Hallacas.
To learn more about Hallacas and want it meant,
go to other Adriana related links on this blog.

I got an Hallacas wrapped gift too.

Aprons from Venezuela,
a fish for Kim, Hallacas for me.
How apropos.

Arrival of Adriana's laptop which she ordered during her visit

Now to find out how to make it work.

Saying Adios to our "Pollita again.

Tears rain passing through airport security.

Post Script

It is difficult to convey my emotions about having Adriana and Gulden choose to visit us before our Peace Corps tour. To see them as the fine young women they have become and to have them be part of our family's life are both prideful and humbling. Somehow I feel their will be a lasting legacy with my children for many years to come.