My Story

Heloisa and Claire were two of the most cheerful and entertaining guests I have ever hosted at Mario House.

From the moment they arrived, they brought bright energy into the house. They were friendly, curious, humorous, and always ready to try something new.

They did not come to Seoul only to visit famous tourist attractions. They also wanted to experience Korean food, neighborhood markets, local transportation, museums, home life, and time with Korean people.

This made their stay especially memorable for me.

Heloisa and Claire both loved cooking. Whenever I prepared Korean food, they were interested in the ingredients and wanted to learn how the dishes were made.

We spent a lot of time cooking together in the Mario House kitchen.

Instead of simply waiting for dinner to be served, they actively participated in preparing ingredients, watching the cooking process, asking questions, and helping make the food.

Their enthusiasm made cooking much more enjoyable.

We shared several delicious Korean meals during their stay. They enjoyed the food very much and later thanked me for all the meals we had together.

Cooking with international guests is one of the experiences I value most as a homestay host.

Food gives people a natural opportunity to communicate. Even when people come from different countries, preparing and eating a meal together makes conversation easy and creates a warm atmosphere.

On their first day, we also explored the neighborhood together.

We rode bicycles to a local traditional market near Mario House and visited nearby shops to buy Korean side dishes, snacks, and other food for our meals.

Riding through the neighborhood allowed Heloisa and Claire to see an ordinary residential part of Seoul that many tourists never experience.

At the traditional market, they could see how local residents shop for vegetables, meat, seafood, prepared side dishes, and everyday ingredients.

We selected a variety of foods and brought them back to the house.

Later, we enjoyed the food and drinks together in a relaxed party atmosphere.

Because both Heloisa and Claire were lively and open-minded, even simple activities such as shopping at a market became fun adventures.

Their stay happened to include a weekend, so we were also able to spend time with my friends, Philip and Victor.

Together, we visited the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan and the War Memorial of Korea.

Heloisa and Claire were very interested in the museum tour.

They enjoyed looking at the exhibitions, learning about Korean history, and spending time with local friends.

A museum visit can sometimes feel formal, but their curiosity and sense of humor made the entire tour lively and entertaining.

I also provided them with several recommended sightseeing routes around Seoul.

The recommendations included places such as Jogyesa Temple, Insadong, Bukchon Hanok Village, the National Folk Museum of Korea, Gwangjang Market, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Gwanghwamun Square, and Myeongdong.

They could choose destinations depending on their interests, schedule, and the weather.

Heloisa and Claire appreciated receiving detailed travel recommendations and practical information about how to reach different places.

One evening, we went with Philip and Victor to a popular Korean barbecue restaurant near Mario House.

We enjoyed Korean meat, drinks, conversation, and a lively dinner together.

After the barbecue, we continued the evening with more food and local street snacks.

The atmosphere was cheerful because everyone quickly became comfortable with one another.

Heloisa and Claire were naturally sociable, so it felt less like hosting tourists and more like introducing new friends to my existing friends.

There were also many funny and unexpected episodes during their stay.

After our dinner, Claire realized that she had lost her charger or power bank at the restaurant.

I called the restaurant, but they initially said they had not found it.

Because the item was important, Claire wanted to return to the restaurant and check the seat where we had been sitting.

I prepared a Korean message explaining that five people had eaten there and that an international guest had lost a white phone charger near the corner table.

Claire also asked whether she could use one of the Mario House bicycles to return to the restaurant.

Eventually, we rode out again and tried to find the missing item.

Even this small problem became another memorable part of our time together.

The greatest highlight of their stay, however, happened after all the sightseeing, cooking, shopping, and dinner parties were finished.

We gathered in the Mario House living room and played Go-Stop, a popular Korean card game played with hwatu cards.

It was Heloisa and Claire’s first time learning the game.

At first, the rules were unfamiliar, but they quickly became interested and excited.

They enjoyed collecting matching cards, learning the special combinations, and reacting to the unexpected results of each round.

There was a lot of laughter, competition, and friendly confusion.

For Heloisa and Claire, Go-Stop was not simply a card game. It was another opportunity to experience a part of everyday Korean culture that international travelers rarely encounter.

For me, it became one of the funniest and warmest memories from their stay.

Heloisa and Claire also enjoyed the practical facilities available at Mario House.

The house was located close to Hwagok Station, shops, restaurants, traditional markets, and convenient public transportation.

They could use the washing machine, shared kitchen, living room, and other facilities during their stay.

Whenever they needed information or assistance, I tried to respond quickly.

I helped them with Korean cash withdrawal information, nearby bank ATMs, transportation, restaurant communication, sightseeing courses, bicycle use, and meal schedules.

In her Homestay.com review, Heloisa wrote that the house was comfortable and conveniently located near shops and the subway.

She also mentioned that I gave them many recommendations, showed them around Seoul, and was enjoyable to spend time with.

Most importantly for me, she described me as an amazing host and cook.

After returning home, Heloisa apologized for taking some time to submit the review because she had experienced difficulty logging into Homestay.com.

She thanked me for their lovely stay and for all the delicious meals.

She also told me that I should contact her or Claire if I ever visited France again.

I was deeply grateful for that message.

Hosting Heloisa and Claire showed exactly what a homestay experience can become when guests are open to local culture and personal interaction.

During only a few days, we cooked Korean food, rode bicycles, visited a traditional market, explored museums, shared meals with friends, searched for a lost charger, and played a Korean card game together.

These were not luxury travel experiences or carefully planned tourist programs.

They were simple and genuine moments shared between people from different countries.

Heloisa and Claire, thank you for filling Mario House with laughter, energy, and wonderful memories.

I sincerely hope that both of you remain healthy and happy.

You will always be welcome to return to Mario House.

I hope that the next time we meet, we can cook more Korean food, explore another local market, and play another exciting game of Go-Stop together.