Ariana & Quentin
Our Story • Notre Histoire
The Beginning
Global Village, One Spark
June 2018, USA. At the Global Village, we were placed on the same project team. Endless laughter, best friends… and a legendary fight over Quentin’s “non-existent” PowerPoint skills. Destiny added a plot twist in New York: during a yacht trip with friends, Quentin fell overboard, ended up in the ER, and—with his French accent—asked if Ariana could stay with him because “his English was not good enough.” According to him, it was never an accident—it was “strategy" to get us some alone time. At least Ari skipped class.
Miles Apart
Distance & A Decision
Life pulled us in different directions: Ariana back to Peru to finish her degree, Quentin to France after his US internship. A whole ocean between us with Ariana having doubts about long-distance. Quentin was there to steer the ship through the storm of doubts… and finally, land was in sight Egypt, October 2018: at the World Youth Forum, we shared unforgettable days that convinced Ariana that love was worth fighting for.
Six Months in Peru
The "internship"
Quentin soon followed Ariana to Peru, officially for an “internship.” Between eating free pineapple in Cusco, discovering what it’s like to have no hospital nearby when you get hurt playing pichanga, and learning how to "hacer el mercado" by hopping on mototaxis, he had the best time. Sadly, the internship wasn’t validated by his école d’ingé 😅... But at least those six months gave us what really mattered: adventures across Peru, laughter in daily life, and the certainty that this was our story being written.
Christmas in Paris
Before the Storm
End of 2019: Ariana visited Paris and met the Lemaire family for the very first time, spending the holidays together. Family dinners, Christmas lights, and New Year’s Eve on the Champs-Élysées... It was magical ! It was a beautiful season, full of warmth and new beginnings, before the storm we didn’t see coming—COVID.
Love in Lockdown
Screens, Calls & Hope
From January 2020 until August 2021, we didn’t see each other once. Our last hug was on New Year’s Eve in Paris 2019, and then came COVID. Plans were canceled, Ariana had to request a deferral from Sciences Po, and uncertainty became part of our daily life. Long-distance meant countless Skype calls, movies across time zones, and missed hugs. But even at a distance, we refused to let go. We video-called for 593 days straight, trying to feel close through the glow of a screen. Between dropped Wi-Fi, "give play to netflix in 1,2,3...", and “can you hear me now?” moments, our love lived. Zoom, WhatsApp, and bad connections became our best witnesses. And through it all, we learned that true love can endure anything.
Two Worlds, One Home
Sciences Po & Our Little Family
August 2021: Ariana moved to Paris to pursue her dream at Sciences Po. It was a time of challenges and growth—new city, new routines, balancing studies, and building a home together. Through it all, we grew stronger. Ariana graduated cum laude, Quentin bought our first apartment, and soon after, our little princess Nuna arrived from Peru. With her, our family was complete. She became our whole world—Ariana’s rescue dog, who quickly crowned Quentin as her favorite. (Quentin says it’s proof she has excellent taste. Ariana calls it betrayal 😅.)
Bali Forever
A Beach, A Yes
On a quiet black sand beach, waiting for the sunset (that never appeared because there was a ****ing mountain) with only the waves as witnesses, Quentin read Ariana a poem in Spanish before asking the question that changed everything. She said ...... Nothing and cried. And then said yes ! Magic continued the next day with two more surprises: a private waterfall turned into the stage for a seven-course gastronomic dinner and magnificent rice fields became the perfect stage for a photo shoot to capture the magic of the moment. Ariana calls it the most romantic moment of her life. Quentin says that he might not know how to do a power point, but he at least knows how to make Ariana’s dreams come true💕