My Story

Sawyer was a cheerful and entertaining guest from the United States who stayed at Mario House during his first trip to Asia.

Although he stayed for only a relatively short period, we had a lot of fun together and created many memorable moments.

From our first conversations, Sawyer seemed relaxed, independent, and open to new experiences.

He described himself as someone who preferred to figure things out as he traveled rather than planning every detail in advance.

At the same time, he carefully prepared the important parts of his journey, especially his transportation from Seoul to Busan and his overnight ferry from Korea to Japan.

Sawyer was very interested in Korean movies and Japanese animation.

Because this was his first trip to Asia, visiting Seoul was an exciting opportunity for him to experience the culture, food, transportation, and everyday life that he had previously seen through movies and other media.

As far as I remember, Sawyer worked for a well-known blender company in the United States.

He was friendly and easy to talk to, and we naturally shared conversations about travel, work, entertainment, food, and life in our respective countries.

Before arriving in Korea, Sawyer contacted me to ask for help planning the next part of his journey.

After checking out from Mario House, he planned to take the KTX train from Seoul to Busan and then board an overnight ferry to Japan.

He initially considered flying to Busan, but he preferred the train because he enjoyed scenic views.

I explained the differences between traveling by plane and KTX.

Because Gimpo Airport is close to Mario House, flying would have been fast and convenient. However, taking the KTX was also a good choice because Busan Station is conveniently located near the Busan International Ferry Terminal.

I recommended using the official Korail website instead of relying only on a third-party booking platform.

I also helped him choose a suitable departure time from Seoul Station based on the departure time of his ferry.

His ferry was scheduled to leave Busan in the evening, so I recommended taking an afternoon KTX train.

This schedule would allow him to arrive in Busan without rushing, enjoy dinner near Busan Station, and then walk or travel to the ferry terminal comfortably.

I also gave him information about places near Busan Station and suggested that he explore areas such as Nampo-dong if he had enough time before boarding the ferry.

Providing this kind of practical transportation information is an important part of hosting international travelers.

Moving between cities and booking trains or ferries in a foreign country can sometimes be confusing, especially during a first trip to Asia.

I was happy that I could help Sawyer organize the journey from Seoul to Busan and Japan more confidently.

Before his arrival, I also sent him detailed information about traveling from Incheon Airport to Mario House.

He could choose between Airport Bus No. 6014 and the subway connection to Hwagok Station.

I asked him to contact me after landing so that I could prepare for his arrival and check-in.

I also asked whether he wanted dinner on his first night, which Korean foods he liked, whether he could eat spicy food, and whether he had any food allergies.

I try to ask every guest these questions because food preferences can be very different, and I want international visitors to enjoy Korean meals comfortably.

During his stay, Sawyer ate the Korean food I prepared and always enjoyed it.

As someone who loves cooking for international guests, I was happy that he appreciated the meals and ate everything with enthusiasm.

Shared meals gave us time to talk naturally and learn more about each other.

One of my favorite memories with Sawyer was spending time together on the rooftop at Mario House.

We brought drinks upstairs, relaxed in the rooftop area, and enjoyed the evening atmosphere of the neighborhood.

The Mario House rooftop is not a tourist attraction, but it provides a comfortable private space where guests can rest, talk, eat, and experience daily life in Seoul.

Sawyer enjoyed drinking, so we shared drinks and stories together on the rooftop.

It was a simple evening, but it became one of the most enjoyable parts of his stay.

However, the most entertaining activity we shared was playing Go-Stop.

Go-Stop is a popular Korean card game played with traditional hwatu cards.

Many international guests have never seen the cards before, so learning the pictures, combinations, points, and special rules can be challenging.

Sawyer was different because he was already familiar with the game.

He told me that he sometimes played Go-Stop with his parents in the United States.

I was surprised and delighted to meet an American guest who already knew about this traditional Korean game.

He genuinely enjoyed playing and was always ready for another round.

However, enjoying the game and being good at it are not always the same thing.

Sawyer did not win very often, so I may have let him win a few rounds.

We laughed a lot while playing together, and the friendly competition made the evening even more enjoyable.

Playing Go-Stop with Sawyer felt less like hosting a traveler and more like spending time with a local friend.

His Homestay.com review also mentioned our Go-Stop games.

He wrote that he loved staying at Mario House, enjoyed spending time with me, and looked forward to returning in the future.

It was meaningful to know that a simple Korean card game had become one of his favorite memories from Seoul.

Sawyer was also a thoughtful guest.

He brought me a gift of American honey.

I appreciated the gift because it represented his home country and showed his kindness as a guest.

Small gifts from international visitors are always special to me.

They become reminders of the people I have hosted and the conversations and experiences we shared.

Hosting Sawyer showed how a homestay can offer more than a private room.

During his five nights at Mario House, he received airport transportation information, Korean meals, practical travel advice, KTX booking assistance, and recommendations for continuing his journey to Busan and Japan.

He also experienced everyday Korean hospitality through shared drinks, conversations, rooftop time, and Go-Stop games.

These small personal moments are difficult to experience in a standard hotel.

A hotel may provide professional services, but a homestay gives travelers an opportunity to communicate directly with a local host and participate in daily life.

For Sawyer, Mario House became a comfortable stop between his Seoul adventure and the next part of his journey through Busan and Japan.

For me, Sawyer became one of the most fun and memorable guests I hosted during the spring of 2026.

His friendly personality, interest in Korean culture, appreciation of Korean food, and enthusiasm for Go-Stop made his visit very enjoyable.

Sawyer, thank you for staying at Mario House and for the thoughtful American honey.

I hope your journey from Seoul to Busan and Japan was filled with wonderful experiences.

I also hope you continue traveling, watching Korean movies and Japanese animation, and playing Go-Stop with your family.

As you wrote in your review, I sincerely hope that you will return to Mario House within the next few years.

The next time you visit Seoul, we can enjoy more Korean food, have another drink on the rooftop, and play a Go-Stop rematch.

You will always be welcome at Mario House.