THAYER | A soon-to-be 17-year-old Korean teen arrived Tuesday in South Bend just in time for the beginning of his school year today as a student at Andrean High School in Merrillville.

Su Bin will be staying in Thayer with Beverly Rader, a representative of Quest International, the organization through which his exchange student program was arranged, until a host family is found.

Kim Mueller, the placement coordinator with Quest International, based in San Francisco, said that Su Bin selected Andrean High School from more than 100 participating private schools across the nation.

In an e-mail to The Times, Su Bin said he chose Andrean "for their high standards of learning and their Christian religion. The best reason that I chose Andrean is that my favorite movie is Indiana Jones, so I chose the Indiana state," he wrote.

Mueller said that Quest is very prevalent in Ohio and Michigan, but is just now making inroads in Northwest Indiana.

"Andrean was his No. 1 pick," Mueller said, so the organization is working hard to find a family in the area willing to host his stay.

Unlike many exchange programs, the host families with this specific Quest International program receive a $350 per month stipend to offset the cost of hosting a student.

Anyone interested in having the young man who lists English and history as his favorite subjects, likes to play basketball and is outgoing, is invited to call Mueller toll-free at (888) 697-5850.

To learn more about Quest International, visit the organization's web site at www.questexchange.org.