My Story

Karl and Alex were a wonderful couple who stayed at Mario House during their trip around South Korea. Karl is a tour guide from the United Kingdom, and Alex is a teacher from France. Both of them were cheerful, energetic, friendly, and naturally curious about Korean culture.

Even before they arrived, I could tell that they were warm and easygoing guests. They contacted me after landing at Incheon Airport and took Airport Bus No. 6014 toward my neighborhood.

When they arrived near the Gangseo Driver’s License Examination Center, I met them at the nearby bus stop and brought them to Mario House. Airport Bus 6014 is a convenient option for international travelers carrying luggage because it connects Incheon Airport with the area near the house.

After checking in, Karl and Alex relaxed in the bunk room before going out to explore Seoul. Although their stay was only for two nights, we spent a lot of meaningful time together.

For a light lunch on their arrival day, we enjoyed perilla oil buckwheat noodles. It was a simple but delicious Korean meal and a comfortable way to begin their stay.

One of the best memories from their visit was shopping and cooking together.

We walked to a traditional market near Mario House and looked around the vegetable shops, food stalls, meat shops, and other small local stores. Visiting a neighborhood market gave them a chance to see a more authentic side of everyday life in Seoul.

Instead of only visiting famous tourist attractions, they were able to experience how local residents shop for ingredients and prepare meals at home.

Karl and Alex both enjoyed cooking, so choosing ingredients together was especially fun. They were interested in the different vegetables, sauces, side dishes, and Korean ingredients available at the market.

After returning home, we prepared dinner together.

We cooked Korean bulgogi and made Korean-style pancakes with kimchi and octopus. We also prepared several side dishes and enjoyed the food with makgeolli, a traditional Korean rice wine.

Karl and Alex were excellent cooking partners. They actively helped prepare the ingredients, mix the batter, cook the pancakes, and arrange the meal. They looked very comfortable in the kitchen, and it was clear that they genuinely loved cooking.

I jokingly told them that they were natural chefs.

The dinner was not only about food. We sat together, shared stories, laughed, and talked about travel, work, culture, and the people we had met around the world.

Because Karl works as a tour guide, he had many interesting travel stories. Alex, as a teacher, was also open-minded and curious about cultural differences. Their cheerful personalities made the conversation easy and enjoyable.

We enjoyed the homemade Korean food with kimchi, side dishes, and plenty of makgeolli. It felt less like a formal host-and-guest dinner and more like spending time with old friends.

This is one of the experiences I value most as a homestay host.

A hotel can provide a room, but a homestay can offer something more personal: a neighborhood market visit, a shared kitchen, home-cooked food, local advice, and meaningful conversations.

Karl and Alex also brought me a very special gift: beautiful lavender from the Provence region of France.

They had visited Provence in February and brought the lavender with them during their travels. I was deeply touched that they gave me such a thoughtful souvenir.

The lavender had a wonderful and authentic fragrance, and it reminded me of the kindness and warmth they showed throughout their stay. It was not simply a gift—it was a memory from their journey that they chose to share with me.

Karl and Alex were considerate and polite guests. They communicated clearly about their arrival, plans, room temperature, breakfast, and departure time.

They also showed appreciation for small things, such as the airport pickup, local transportation information, meals, and advice about traveling around Korea.

During their stay, they told me that the room had been a little warm on the first night. I appreciated their honesty and adjusted the heating so that they could sleep more comfortably on the second night.

Good communication between hosts and guests is important, and they always expressed their needs in a friendly and respectful way.

After their stay in Seoul, Karl and Alex continued their journey to other parts of South Korea, including Daegu and Jeju Island.

On the morning of their departure, I drove them to the domestic terminal at Gimpo Airport. They later contacted me to say that they had arrived safely and thanked me again for the stay.

Before leaving Korea, Karl also wrote a wonderful 5-heart review on Homestay.com.

He mentioned the clean property, convenient location, spacious bunk room, traditional market shopping, Korean cooking experience, kimchi pancakes, side dishes, and makgeolli.

Most importantly, he wrote that they would return.

Hosting Karl and Alex was a truly joyful experience. Their positive energy, cooking skills, kindness, and sense of humor brought a wonderful atmosphere to Mario House.

I was very happy to welcome such polite, lively, and open-minded guests.

Karl and Alex, you are always welcome back to Mario House. I hope we can visit the traditional market, cook another Korean meal, and share more stories over makgeolli the next time you come to Seoul.