My Story

Puck, Seán, Matej, and Ruth were four cheerful friends from the Netherlands who stayed together at Mario House during the summer of 2026.

They were a very interesting group because they had studied the Korean language in the Netherlands and had previously studied at Sogang University in Seoul as exchange students.

All four of them had already visited South Korea two or three times.

They were not first-time visitors who knew only a few basic Korean expressions. They could communicate comfortably in Korean and understood many aspects of Korean culture, food, transportation, and everyday life.

As a Korean host, it was fascinating to meet four young European travelers who had studied Korean so seriously.

They sometimes spoke to me in Korean, asked questions in Korean, and even used Korean humor and expressions naturally.

Their ability to communicate made our time together especially enjoyable.

My First Group of Four Guests

This was the first time I had hosted a group of four friends at Mario House at the same time.

Hosting one or two guests is relatively simple, but preparing rooms, meals, transportation information, and house facilities for four people requires more careful planning.

The group also arrived on two different dates.

Seán and Matej arrived first on July 2, while Puck and Ruth arrived from Amsterdam on July 4.

Because of the staggered schedule, I decided to prepare two separate complimentary welcome dinners.

I wanted both pairs to feel equally welcomed when they arrived at Mario House.

Before their trip, I created a group chat so that everyone could receive the same information.

I sent them the Mario House guide, accommodation manual, washing machine and dryer instructions, Seoul travel information, address details, and transportation directions.

These PDF guides helped them understand how to reach the house and use the facilities before they arrived.

Puck especially appreciated receiving the information in advance.

The First Welcome Dinner

Seán and Matej chose bulgogi for their welcome meal.

They arrived at Incheon Airport in the afternoon and decided to use the Airport Railroad and Seoul Subway Line 5.

There was a temporary problem because their Korean SIM card had not yet been activated.

They expected to lose their internet connection after leaving the airport, so I sent the subway directions again and explained the pickup locations at Hwagok Station.

If guests walk directly to Mario House, Exit 7 is the most convenient exit. However, when I pick guests up by car, Exit 2 is the designated meeting point.

Seán and Matej arrived at Hwagok Station and waited at the pickup location.

I drove to the station, helped them with their luggage, and brought them safely to Mario House.

After traveling for many hours, they could finally relax and enjoy the bulgogi dinner I had prepared.

The welcome meal also included Korean side dishes and other homemade food.

They liked spicy food and alcohol, so it was easy to prepare a lively Korean-style dinner for them.

The Second Welcome Dinner

Two days later, Puck and Ruth arrived from the Netherlands.

Seán and Matej kindly went to Incheon Airport to meet them and helped them travel back to Mario House.

Puck and Ruth had requested kimchi stew before their arrival.

For the second welcome dinner, I prepared a generous meal that included:

• Kimchi stew
• Korean fried or roasted chicken
• Grilled fish
• Mixed-grain rice
• Korean side dishes
• Food that paired well with drinks

Seán and Matej also joined the meal, and one of my close friends participated as well.

I prepared approximately six portions so that everyone could eat comfortably.

Preparing food for a large group required more work than an ordinary dinner, but the cheerful atmosphere made it worthwhile.

Everyone enjoyed eating and drinking together.

Because all four guests liked Korean food, spicy flavors, and alcohol, the welcome party quickly became lively and entertaining.

Sharing Korean food with guests is one of my favorite parts of operating a homestay.

A shared dinner helps people relax after traveling and makes it easier for guests from different countries to communicate naturally.

Experiencing Seoul during Monsoon Season

Their stay happened during Korea’s summer monsoon season.

The weather was hot, humid, and frequently rainy.

Heavy rain can create several problems for international travelers.

Sneakers become soaked, clothing takes longer to dry, umbrellas are needed every day, and guests may feel uncomfortable when returning from sightseeing.

I wanted to make their rainy-season trip as comfortable as possible.

I offered to lend them slippers and waterproof Gore-Tex shoes if the sizes were suitable.

I also purchased a shoe dryer and provided shoe deodorant spray and wet wipes.

The shoe dryer was placed in the living room so that they could dry wet sneakers after returning from outside.

These items were not expensive or luxurious, but they were practical during the Korean rainy season.

Small preparations like these can make a big difference when several guests are traveling every day in heavy rain.

The group appreciated the offer and said that the equipment would be useful on future rainy days.

Exploring Seoul and Suwon

Even though the weather was humid and rainy, Puck, Seán, Matej, and Ruth did not remain inside the house.

They traveled actively around Seoul and visited several different areas.

They spent time in Hongdae, explored local neighborhoods, and also traveled outside central Seoul.

One day, they planned a trip to Suwon.

Suwon is located south of Seoul and is famous for Hwaseong Fortress, traditional architecture, local food, and historic neighborhoods.

I told them that they could contact me if they needed transportation information or recommendations for their Suwon trip.

Because they had already lived in Korea as exchange students and spoke Korean well, they were confident independent travelers.

They did not need constant guidance, but I remained available whenever they had questions.

Their knowledge of Korea allowed them to experience the country more deeply than ordinary short-term tourists.

They could communicate with local residents, order food in Korean, understand transportation signs, and explore places outside the most famous tourist areas.

Daily Life with Four Friends

Living with four friends created a lively atmosphere at Mario House.

There were always conversations, laughter, travel plans, shared meals, and people moving between the guest rooms and shared areas.

There were also a few small everyday incidents.

At one point, Matej had difficulty opening one of the room doors because it appeared to be locked.

After receiving assistance, the problem was quickly resolved.

Another day, I noticed that the air conditioner had accidentally been left on after the guests left the room.

I sent a polite message asking everyone to remember to turn it off when leaving.

Seán immediately apologized and explained that they usually checked it but had forgotten on that occasion.

His response showed that the group was considerate and willing to respect the house rules.

When several people share a home, small misunderstandings or mistakes are natural.

Good communication is more important than expecting everything to be perfect.

Puck and the others were always polite when I explained something, and they treated Mario House with respect.

Korean Food and Drinks Together

During their stay, I prepared several Korean meals for the group.

The food included bulgogi, stew, Korean pancakes, grilled fish, chicken, mixed-grain rice, and a variety of side dishes.

They enjoyed Korean food and were comfortable eating spicy dishes.

They also enjoyed drinking, so meals often became relaxed social gatherings.

Cooking for four guests required preparing larger quantities than usual.

There were more ingredients to wash and cut, more plates to serve, and more dishes to clean afterward.

However, their appreciation and cheerful reactions made the effort enjoyable.

They were not guests who simply ate and immediately disappeared into their rooms.

They talked, laughed, shared their travel experiences, and created a friendly atmosphere around the table.

Because they already understood Korean culture and spoke the language, our conversations could go beyond basic tourist questions.

We could discuss studying Korean, exchange-student life, differences between the Netherlands and South Korea, food, travel, and their future plans.

A Special Farewell Dinner

Before the group left for Busan, I wanted to prepare one final meal for them.

I offered two choices: Korean-style cold noodles or homemade patbingsu with sweet red beans.

After discussing the options together, all four selected naengmyeon.

We scheduled the farewell meal for Sunday evening at 6:00 PM.

I prepared cold noodles along with chicken, grilled fish, side dishes, and drinks.

The farewell dinner was another lively gathering and gave us an opportunity to remember the experiences from their stay.

We talked about the welcome meals, rainy weather, their Seoul trips, Korean food, and the next part of their journey.

Although they had stayed for only about one to one and a half weeks, the house felt noticeably quieter when their departure approached.

Hosting four cheerful friends had filled Mario House with more energy than usual.

Helping Them Reach Seoul Station

The group had reserved a 10:00 AM KTX train from Seoul Station to Busan.

Because they had several suitcases and bags, I explained the available transportation options.

They could take a direct bus, which required no transfers but took around one and a half hours.

They could also take the subway, which was faster but required one transfer.

I offered to drive them and their luggage either to Hwagok Station or to the appropriate bus stop.

On the morning of their departure, I helped them with their bags and drove them to the station connection.

After their scheduled train departure, I sent them a message to confirm that they had boarded the KTX safely.

Matej replied in Korean that they had departed successfully.

Puck thanked me for the stay, the food, and the transportation assistance.

“Thank you for the nice stay, delicious food and also for bringing us to the station.”

I also sent them several photographs from their stay so that they could keep the memories.

Puck replied that the photos were very nice.

Dutch Cheese and a Windmill Gift

After the guests had already left for Busan, Puck contacted me again.

The group had brought authentic Dutch cheese as a present but had forgotten to give it to me directly.

They had placed it in the white refrigerator before departing.

I found the cheese and was very touched by their thoughtful gift.

Matej explained that it was real Dutch Gouda cheese.

They also gave me a beautiful biscuit box decorated with a Dutch windmill design.

These gifts reminded me of their home country and became a special memory of their visit.

I planned to enjoy the cheese with bread or wine, just as they recommended.

Four Korean-Speaking Friends from Europe

The most remarkable aspect of their visit was not simply that four friends traveled together.

It was their strong interest in Korea and the Korean language.

They had studied at Sogang University, visited Korea multiple times, and continued returning because of their connection with the country.

It was fascinating to watch four young Europeans communicate naturally in Korean.

Their language skills allowed them to experience more independent and meaningful journeys.

They were able to build friendships, understand local culture, and enjoy places that might be difficult for visitors who depend entirely on English.

They were bright, humorous, sociable, and considerate guests.

Hosting four people at once required more preparation, but it was also one of the liveliest and most rewarding group stays I had experienced.

I hope their time in Seoul, Suwon, and Busan created many wonderful memories.

I also hope they continue studying Korean and returning to South Korea in the future.

Puck, Seán, Matej, and Ruth, thank you for staying at Mario House, enjoying my Korean food, and bringing so much positive energy into the home.

Thank you also for the authentic Dutch cheese and beautiful gift from the Netherlands.

You will all be welcome to stay at Mario House again.

The next time you visit, I hope the weather is less humid, your shoes remain dry, and we can enjoy another big Korean dinner together.