My Story

Julianne was one of the most memorable guests I have hosted during nearly ten years of operating Airbnb rooms, shared houses, and homestays through several different platforms.

She stayed at Mario House for only two nights and three days, but we shared so many experiences that her visit felt much longer.

Julianne was a genuine travel enthusiast and an experienced solo traveler.

Before she arrived, I did not fully realize that she was also an adventure travel content creator. She had been filming videos about the homestays she visited and explaining how this style of accommodation worked.

Her goal was to introduce more travelers to homestays as an alternative to ordinary hotels.

Before arriving at Mario House, Julianne politely asked whether I would feel comfortable allowing her to film her experience.

“I’ve been filming videos about the homestays I’ve stayed at and how they work to spread awareness about this travel option over hotels, and I would love to include your home.”

I enjoy taking photos and videos myself, so I was happy to agree.

I told her that she was welcome to film her stay and that I appreciated her efforts to show travelers how meaningful a homestay experience could be.

Julianne arrived early in the morning after traveling from Incheon Airport. She accidentally purchased a bus ticket instead of a train ticket, but the bus stopped at Gimpo Airport, where she transferred to Seoul Subway Line 5.

I provided directions to Hwagok Station and picked her up when she arrived at the designated meeting point.

Because she had traveled for a long time, I prepared perilla oil makguksu as a complimentary welcome meal.

Another guest from Peru, Jair, was also staying at Mario House at the time, so the house quickly became a small international community.

Julianne was always cheerful, friendly, and easy to communicate with.

She naturally made the people around her feel comfortable and brought positive energy wherever she went.

Her smile was bright, and she always tried to make conversations interesting and enjoyable.

She also spoke Spanish very well, so she communicated easily with Jair from Peru.

It was wonderful to see two travelers from different countries talking comfortably and sharing their experiences.

Julianne’s stay happened to include a weekend, so my friend Victor and I joined her for a special day tour around Seoul.

Victor is a licensed professional tour guide, and we wanted to help Julianne experience and film several different sides of the city.

Because rain was expected, I prepared a flexible itinerary that included several indoor cultural attractions.

We visited the National Folk Museum of Korea, explored the Gwanghwamun area, experienced Korean cultural content at HiKR Ground, and visited the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan.

Julianne was interested in Korean history, culture, architecture, and everyday life.

She did not simply take photos and leave. She observed her surroundings carefully, talked with us, and recorded natural moments throughout the day.

We also visited a traditional market.

Traditional markets are one of the best places for international guests to experience local Korean life. Visitors can see fresh produce, Korean side dishes, meat, seafood, snacks, and everyday products purchased by neighborhood residents.

After exploring Seoul, we returned to Mario House and enjoyed a home party together.

Julianne, Jair, Victor, and I shared Korean food, drinks, travel stories, and plenty of laughter.

The atmosphere felt less like a commercial tour and more like a gathering of friends from different countries.

Julianne enjoyed all the food I prepared and showed genuine interest in Korean home cooking.

She was also one of the most considerate guests I have ever hosted.

Whenever we finished eating or having a party, she did not simply leave the table.

She waited nearby and repeatedly offered to help wash the dishes and clean the shared spaces.

Her willingness to help was not something she did only once. She consistently showed consideration for the host and the other people staying at the house.

This kindness made a strong impression on me.

Another memorable thing about Julianne was her backpack.

It was surprisingly large and heavy, but she carried it everywhere during her travels.

I was impressed by her physical strength, energy, and endurance.

Even after carrying a heavy backpack and exploring the city all day, she remained cheerful and enthusiastic.

The final activity of our evening was playing Go-Stop, a traditional Korean card game played with hwatu cards.

Julianne learned the basic rules and played together with us in the Mario House living room.

Go-Stop can be confusing for international guests at first because the cards, combinations, and scoring system are unfamiliar.

However, learning the game together created plenty of funny moments and friendly competition.

It was a perfect ending to a day filled with museums, local culture, Korean food, new friendships, and travel stories.

After Julianne left Mario House, she edited and published an Instagram Reel about her homestay experience.

When I watched the completed video, I was genuinely surprised.

I knew that she had received permission to film, but she had captured so many spontaneous moments without interrupting our time together.

The result felt natural and cinematic, almost as though she had quietly documented our daily life without anyone noticing the camera.

She captured our neighborhood, the traditional market, our tour, the food, the house, and my interactions with the guests.

Her video showed the real atmosphere of Mario House better than an ordinary promotional video could.

What happened afterward was even more surprising.

Two travelers discovered Mario House through Julianne’s Instagram content and later stayed at the house.

It was the first time I clearly saw a guest’s social media recommendation lead directly to new reservations.

This showed me how powerful an honest travel experience can be.

Julianne did not create a typical advertisement.

She simply shared her genuine experience and explained how travelers could find a homestay through platforms such as Homestay.com.

Because her content felt personal and trustworthy, other travelers became interested in experiencing Mario House themselves.

Hosting Julianne reminded me of the true value of a homestay.

A homestay is not only a place to sleep. It can include airport guidance, homemade meals, local tours, traditional markets, conversations with residents, cultural activities, and friendships with people from around the world.

Julianne experienced all these things during only two nights in Seoul.

She was an adventurous traveler, a talented content creator, a considerate house guest, and a wonderful person to spend time with.

She always tried to help others, communicated well, and made every situation more cheerful.

After hosting many international travelers over the years, I can confidently say that Julianne was one of the very best guests I have ever welcomed.

Julianne, thank you for staying at Mario House and for creating such a beautiful and authentic video.

Thank you also for introducing Mario House and the homestay experience to your followers.

I sincerely hope that your travels continue to bring you exciting destinations, meaningful encounters, and unforgettable stories.

You will always be welcome at Mario House.

The next time you visit Seoul, I hope we can explore more hidden places, enjoy another home party, and play another game of Go-Stop together.