Seoul The Sharing Economy: The Best Time for B&B Owners

Seoul is the city where I’ve been to the most, not only due to its refinement and romance, but also because I have many friends who live there. I often wonder, without platforms such as Weibo or Airbnb, I would probably not experience so many continuous stories.

Friends from foreign nations find me through all the traces I left. For example, on the Gangnam district of Seoul, I encountered Big Johns, who is willing to SAY HI to the entire world. Big Johns is in fact, the boss of a B&B (Bed &Breakfast), he started to find me through my program in Korea, and finally succeeded on Weibo. “Susu, if you ever drop by Seoul, come to party in my house.” He said, and thus I walked into this house, whose walls are filled with people’s photos and wishes, and heard the stories about him and every single person behind the photos. Some are from Europe, some are from Southeast Asia, and some are from the U.S. We sat together, sharing stories and tales while waving our hands high. Some are about a love tale that crossed mountains and seas, some are about a family that expects the birth of a new offspring, some are about a dream chaser who pursuits the dream of being a singer in Seoul, some are simply about a traveler who got here by accident.

All of us from different places, with different stories and backgrounds, sat face to face through Big Johns’ invitation, cheering and laughing on the same table, as Big Johns happily prepared BBQ foods while humming rhythms full of feeling. I also tied the helium balloons I bought on the street all around the house’s backyard, and stored the fruits inside the fridge, then nestled on the couch while watching TV with others, or on a certain beautiful day, with a guitar on hand, played melody to pretend that I’m a singer.

In retrospect, all the smiles I left and friends I made during my travel are the distant place where my hope and yearning lie.