My Story

Mélanie and her mother were a quiet, polite, and warm mother-and-daughter pair from France who stayed at Mario House during their trip around South Korea.

They spent their time peacefully and did not make much noise, but we often met in the kitchen and shared small conversations about food, transportation, and their travel plans.

Watching a mother and daughter travel together was lovely.

They were creating special memories in a country far away from their home in southern France, and I wanted to help them enjoy their journey as comfortably as possible.

Mélanie and her mother were not very familiar with Korean transportation or planning long-distance trips around the country.

Because of this, I provided them with a lot of practical information about Seoul, regional buses, train reservations, sightseeing routes, and their next accommodation.

Mélanie communicated with me mainly in English, while her mother did not speak much English.

However, her mother loved Korean dramas and had learned some Korean expressions by watching them.

It was very entertaining to see her use Korean words even though she was not comfortable speaking English.

Her interest in Korean dramas made it easier for us to communicate, and it showed how Korean culture can connect people even when they do not share the same language.

A Quiet and Comfortable Stay in Seoul

Mélanie and her mother appreciated the clean room and peaceful residential atmosphere at Mario House.

The house is located close to Hwagok Station on Seoul Subway Line 5.

Guests can travel directly toward many central Seoul areas without making several complicated transfers.

In her Homestay.com review, Mélanie mentioned that they needed only one form of transportation to reach the city center.

This convenience was helpful for them because they were still learning how to use Seoul’s public transportation system.

They also enjoyed the simple breakfast available each morning.

Mario House provides basic self-service breakfast items so that guests can eat before leaving for a day of sightseeing.

One day, Mélanie told me that there was no bread left in the guest refrigerator.

I had already purchased more bread that afternoon and explained where it had been placed.

Small details such as breakfast supplies, transportation guidance, and meal schedules can make an international trip much easier.

Korean Home-Cooked Food

Mélanie and her mother often met me in the kitchen.

They enjoyed the Korean food I prepared and were always appreciative when I offered them an additional dish or complimentary food.

One evening, Mélanie asked whether it would be possible to have dinner at Mario House.

I had plans to go out that evening, but I offered to prepare the meal in advance and leave it on the table for them.

Because her mother did not enjoy spicy food, I prepared a mild Korean dinner that both of them could eat comfortably.

I left rice, seaweed soup, pork, and other food on the table with instructions explaining how to heat everything in the microwave.

They could enjoy a warm Korean home-cooked dinner even though I was not at home during their meal.

This kind of flexibility is one of the advantages of staying in a homestay.

International guests may return at different times, have different food preferences, or need non-spicy meals.

Whenever possible, I try to adjust the food and schedule so that everyone can eat comfortably.

Mélanie later wrote that I cooked delicious meals and that she and her mother were grateful for the care and attention they received.

The Mango Story

There was also a funny mango incident during their stay.

Another guest had left a mango in the shared refrigerator.

Mélanie’s mother mistakenly thought it was available for everyone and ate it.

It was an understandable mistake because food is sometimes shared among guests at Mario House.

When Mélanie and her mother realized what had happened, they felt sorry and wanted to replace it.

The following day, they purchased several high-quality premium mangoes for the other guest.

I jokingly reminded Mélanie not to forget the mangoes before they went shopping.

They did not simply replace one mango with another ordinary piece of fruit. They returned with plenty of beautiful premium mangoes.

Their response showed how considerate and responsible they were.

What began as a small mistake became a warm and humorous memory shared among the guests.

Planning Their Journey to Boseong

The most complicated part of their stay was planning transportation to their next accommodation.

After leaving Seoul, Mélanie and her mother planned to stay at a traditional-style guesthouse in a rural area of the Jeolla region.

The accommodation was located near Boseong, far from the major transportation centers of Seoul.

Getting there required much more planning than traveling to a well-known city hotel.

At first, they considered traveling by KTX from Seoul Station toward Gwangju.

However, after checking the exact location of their accommodation, I realized that another route would be more practical.

I contacted the owner of the accommodation and discussed the available transportation options.

I then organized detailed directions for Mélanie and her mother.

The recommended route involved traveling to the Central City Bus Terminal in Gangnam and taking an intercity bus to Boseong.

I explained that they should confirm two important details at the terminal:

1. Whether they could board the bus directly using the QR code on their ticket
2. The exact gate or platform for the bus traveling to Boseong

I also advised them to remain close to the departure gate after confirming the information, because boarding normally begins shortly before departure.

Since Mélanie and her mother spoke French, I sent some of the final instructions in French to make the information easier to understand.

I was concerned about their journey because the destination was in a rural area and the transportation connections were unfamiliar to them.

After they left Mario House, I contacted Mélanie to ask whether they had arrived safely.

Fortunately, she replied that they had found the accommodation without any problems.

She explained that the journey had gone smoothly, the bus had been comfortable, and the guesthouse owners were very kind.

She also described the accommodation as peaceful and relaxing.

I was relieved to know that all the transportation planning had helped them reach their destination successfully.

Travel Recommendations and Personal Assistance

During their stay, I also provided sightseeing recommendations for Seoul.

One suggested route included:

• Jogyesa Temple
• Insadong Ssamzigil
• The Sool Gallery
• Bukchon Hanok Village
• Gyeongbokgung Palace
• National Folk Museum of Korea

Another recommended route included:

• Gwangjang Market
• Dongdaemun Design Plaza
• Doota Mall
• Seoul City Wall Museum
• A Korean jjimjilbang experience

I tried to give them enough information to choose places according to their interests and energy levels.

They could also use the rooftop at Mario House in the evening.

I explained how to turn on the rooftop lights so that they could enjoy the space safely after dark.

The rooftop gave them another peaceful place to relax after traveling around Seoul.

A Thoughtful Mother-and-Daughter Journey

Mélanie and her mother did not participate in loud parties or spend long evenings socializing with other guests.

Their visit was quieter and more focused on their shared journey.

However, their stay was still memorable because of the small interactions we had every day.

We talked about food, bread, dinner, mangoes, transportation, regional accommodations, Korean dramas, and their plans after Seoul.

These ordinary conversations helped them feel more comfortable in an unfamiliar country.

Mélanie was very attentive to her mother’s needs, especially when choosing food and arranging transportation.

Her mother’s enthusiasm for Korean dramas and Korean language made the trip even more meaningful.

It was nice to see them learning, traveling, and solving problems together.

Before leaving, Mélanie told me that she lived in southern France.

She kindly invited me to contact her and visit if I ever traveled to her region.

I appreciated the invitation because it showed that our connection had become more personal than an ordinary host-and-guest relationship.

After they reached Boseong safely, Mélanie thanked me again for the transportation information and the small card I had left for them.

She said that the card had touched her deeply.

She also wished me good health and happiness.

Later, Mélanie left a wonderful 5-heart review on Homestay.com.

She wrote that the room was clean, breakfast was available, and transportation to central Seoul was convenient.

She also appreciated my friendliness, cooking, travel assistance, and personal attention.

Most importantly, she wrote that she and her mother would be happy to return to Mario House if they visited South Korea again.

Hosting Mélanie and her mother reminded me that not every meaningful homestay experience needs large parties or full-day tours.

Sometimes, the most valuable support involves preparing a non-spicy dinner, replacing breakfast supplies, explaining a bus connection, calling another accommodation owner, or checking whether guests have arrived safely.

These small acts can help travelers feel secure and cared for while visiting a foreign country.

Mélanie and her mother, thank you for staying at Mario House and for treating the home and other guests with consideration.

I hope your journey through Boseong, Jeju, and the rest of South Korea gave you many beautiful memories.

I also hope that you continue enjoying Korean dramas, Korean food, and mother-and-daughter adventures together.

You will both always be welcome at Mario House.