Song of the Alps Another Family We Met Along the Journey

By Minhee Park

Meeting people with whom you can comfortably share a meal is one of the greatest blessings of travel. During our journey through Switzerland, one quiet mother and son became like family to us, filling an empty place in my heart with warmth and laughter.

Thirty-Second Summary

From the first day of our Swiss journey, we shared nearly every meal with Sihyeong and his mother. Both were quiet and gentle, yet being with them never felt uncomfortable. Watching the thoughtful son patiently wait for his mother reminded me of my own travels with Jaerim. By the end of the trip, they no longer felt like fellow travelers but like another family I hoped to meet again.

The Good Fortune of Sharing a Meal

While traveling, it is a great blessing to meet people who feel comfortable enough to share a meal with.

Throughout our journey around Switzerland, Sihyeong and his mother became like family to us. From the very first day, we sat together at the same table, and we continued sharing meals until the journey came to an end.

Even now, I sometimes think of Sihyeong and the quiet smile that made him seem so calm and dependable.

He rarely spoke unless someone asked him a question. Even then, he would usually answer with a gentle smile before falling silent again.

Strangely, his silence never felt awkward.

There was something peaceful about being with him, and throughout the journey we naturally looked after one another as though we had always been part of the same family.

Sihyeong’s mother looked so young that the two of them could easily have been mistaken for an older sister and younger brother.

We happened to sit at the same table on the first day. After that, we continued eating together until the final day of the trip.

She often treated us to wine and beer, and thanks to her, we gradually began to feel like enthusiastic drinkers.

I normally do not drink very much. Whenever I visited Prague, however, Jaerim and I would order one glass of dark beer and share it between us.

During this Swiss journey, Sihyeong’s mother frequently ordered wine for us at mealtimes, and before long we were happily enjoying a drink with almost every meal.

A Quiet Mother and Son

Both mother and son were quiet people.

Even while traveling together, they never drew attention to themselves. Yet they were always nearby, quietly sharing the journey with us.

Their gentle way of traveling reminded me of the time when Jaerim was studying in Prague.

Whenever the two of us talked on a tram or bus, people would sometimes turn and look at us in surprise.

Each time that happened, Jaerim would quietly warn me,

“Mom, you need to lower your voice.”

Startled and embarrassed, I would quickly lower my head and speak more softly.

Before Jaerim returned to Korea, we once traveled through Eastern Europe together. Watching Sihyeong and his mother brought back memories of that journey, when Jaerim and I had also traveled as a mother and son.

We had been rather noisy travelers.

Sihyeong and his mother, on the other hand, were remarkably quiet. That did not mean they never talked. They spoke softly and affectionately, almost like a close brother and sister traveling together.

Jaerim and I had been very different.

We constantly exclaimed over everything we saw, and both of our voices were naturally high-pitched. Even when we were simply having an ordinary conversation, people sometimes looked at us as though we were arguing.

Our animated conversations made the people around us laugh throughout the journey. Compared with us, Sihyeong and his mother were truly the quietest family imaginable.

The Son Who Waited for His Mother

One day in Zurich, after finishing our city tour, our guide told everyone to use the restroom before we continued toward St. Gallen.

The facilities were extremely inconvenient, with only one restroom for men and one for women.

Since there were only a few men in the group, they finished quickly. The line for the women’s restroom, however, was long, and it took much more time.

When the agreed meeting time had already passed and Sihyeong and his mother still had not returned, we began to worry.

I hurried back to look for them and discovered that his mother was still waiting at the very end of the line.

Sihyeong was standing firmly near the entrance, quietly waiting for her.

Quite a bit of time had passed, and I had run back in concern. Yet the sight of him patiently standing there made me smile.

I also felt strangely proud of him.

He did not speak much, but he was thoughtful and deeply considerate. How reassuring it must have been for his mother to have such a son beside her.

When I had traveled through Europe with Jaerim, the other travelers often told me how fortunate and secure I must have felt with my son accompanying me.

This time, I found myself looking at Sihyeong and his mother with the same admiration.

The Empty Place They Quietly Filled

Jaerim was serving in the military, so he could not travel with me this time.

Watching Sihyeong and his mother made me realize again how precious my earlier journey through Europe with Jaerim had been.

I thought of him many times throughout this trip.

Yet Sihyeong and his mother quietly filled some of that empty space and gave me many reasons to smile.

They were reserved, but they always understood the mood of the group and treated us with consideration. Before long, they truly felt like family.

Package tours can sometimes be uncomfortable for people traveling alone or in pairs.

Large families can sit together naturally, but smaller groups often have to share tables with strangers at every meal.

Sometimes people exchange stories and become friends. At other times, everyone eats in silence and leaves without saying a word, creating an awkward atmosphere.

This time, however, we were able to share every meal with Sihyeong and his mother from the very first day.

It was so comfortable and natural that each meal became a happy part of the journey.

Traveling and eating together every day created a deep sense of affection. That was why I felt so disappointed when we arrived at the airport and parted without properly saying goodbye.

Hoping to Travel Together Again

I wanted to buy Sihyeong a small gift, but I returned home without giving him anything. Even after the trip, that remained on my mind.

Perhaps one day we will be given another opportunity to travel together.

Next time, I would like to bring Jaerim as well.

Jaerim enjoys spending time with younger friends, so I imagine the two of them would talk easily and become close.

If we travel together again, this time I would like to treat them to wine and beer.

I would also like us to spend one night in Gruyères, the cheese village where we once shared fondue.

Beneath the stars of the Alps, I hope we can sit together and share many more stories than we had time to tell during this journey.

Song of the Alps | Minhee Park

알프스의 노래 여행에서 만난 또 하나의 가족, 시형이네

박민희

마음 맞는 사람과 함께 먹는 밥

여행을 하면서 마음 맞는 사람과 같이 밥을 먹는 것은 큰 행운이다.

스위스 일주를 하면서 여행 첫날부터 우리와 한 가족이 되어 늘 같이 밥을 먹은 시형이네, 과묵하고 씩 웃는 모습이 멋진 시형이가 여행을 다녀온 후도 가끔씩 생각이 난다.

워낙 조용해서 묻는 말에 씩 한번 웃어 주고 그 다음은 침묵인 시형이가 이상하게 하나도 어색하지 않고 편안해서 여행 내내 우리는 서로 한 가족처럼 서로를 챙기며 같이 다녔다.

누나 같은 시형이 엄마도 너무 동안이라 꼭 오누이처럼 보였다.

첫날 우연히 같은 테이블에 앉아 밥을 먹었는데 여행이 끝날 때까지 계속 같이 밥을 먹었다.

시형이 엄마가 우리에게 와인과 맥주도 자주 사 주어 우린 덕분에 술꾼이 다 되었다.

원래 술을 마시지 않는데 프라하에 갈 때마다 재림이랑 흑맥주 한 잔 시켜서 나누어 마시던 습관이 이번 여행에서도 식사 때마다 시형이 엄마가 와인을 사 주셔서 음주를 즐기곤 했다.

조용한 엄마와 아들

엄마와 아들이 다 조용해서 같이 여행을 다니면서도 있는 듯 없는 우리 곁에 항상 같이 있어 주었다.

예전에 재림이가 프라하에서 유학할 때 우리가 트램이나 버스 안에서 얘기를 하면 가끔씩 사람들이 우리를 놀란 눈으로 쳐다볼 때가 있었다.

그럴 때마다 재림이가 ‘엄마 목소리 낮춰야 해요’ 하고 눈치를 주면 놀라서 멋쩍게 고개를 숙이곤 했던 기억이 난다.

재림이가 귀국하기 전 동유럽 일주를 함께했던 적이 있는데 지금 시형이네를 보니 그때의 우리도 엄마와 아들이었다.

함께 유럽을 여행하며 우린 조금 시끄럽게 돌아다녔는데 시형이네는 정말 조용했다.

그렇다고 말이 없는 건 아니고 소곤소곤 오누이처럼 다정하게 여행하는데 예전에 재림이와 나는 제법 소음이 심한 여행객이었던 것 같다.

우린 감탄사도 엄청 많이 연발하고 둘이 목소리도 톤이 높아 조금만 크게 말해도 사람들이 둘이 싸우나 싶어 쳐다보기도 해서 여행 내내 주위 사람들이 많이 웃었는데 시형이네는 정말 조용한 가족이었다.

엄마를 기다리던 시형이

그 시형이가 취리히에 갔을 때 시내투어를 마치고 생갈렌으로 이동하기 전 가이드가 화장실을 다녀오라고 해서 단체로 화장실을 갔는데 화장실이 엄청 불편하고 남녀 딱 하나씩만 있어서 숫자가 적은 남자 여행객은 금방 볼일을 보고 나왔는데 여자 분들은 숫자가 많아 시간이 많이 걸렸다.

모이기로 한 시간이 지나도 시형이네가 오지 않아 걱정이 되어 찾으러 갔더니 시형이 엄마가 맨 마지막에 줄을 서 있어서 그때까지도 화장실에서 나오지 못했다.

그런데 시형이가 화장실 입구에서 딱 버티고 서서 엄마를 기다려 주고 있었다.

시간이 꽤 흘러서 걱정이 되어 뛰어갔는데 화장실 입구에서 엄마를 기다리고 있는 시형이를 보니 피식 웃음도 나고 대견하기도 했다.

말이 없지만 속 깊은 시형이가 시형이 엄마는 얼마나 든든했을까?

예전에 재림이와 함께 유럽여행을 할 때도 같이 여행하던 분들이 그렇게 부러워하셔서 든든했는데 이번엔 내가 시형이네를 부러운 눈으로 쳐다볼 때가 많았다.

재림이의 빈자리를 채워 준 가족

재림이 녀석은 지금 군대에 가 있어서 함께 여행을 할 수 없는데 시형이네를 보니 그때 함께 유럽여행을 다닌 게 정말 감사한 시간이었음이 새삼 느껴졌다.

여행 내내 재림이 생각이 많이 났지만 시형이네가 그 빈자리를 많이 채워 주고 많이 웃게 했다.

과묵한 가족이었지만 분위기도 잘 맞추어 주고 항상 우리를 배려해 줘서 정말 한 가족 같았다.

사실 패키지여행을 다니면 식구가 많으면 상관없지만 혼자나 둘이 올 경우 밥 먹을 때마다 다른 팀과 함께 앉아 먹어야 하는데 이게 은근히 불편할 때가 참 많다.

서로 배려하고 애기도 나누면 좋은데 한마디 말없이 밥만 먹고 일어서야 할 때도 있어 머쓱할 때도 많은데 이번 여행은 시형이네랑 첫날부터 가족처럼 너무 편하게 같이 밥을 먹어서 참 행복했다.

매일 같이 여행하고 같이 밥을 먹어 정도 많이 들었는데 마지막에 공항에서 인사도 제대로 못 나누고 와서 많이 서운했다.

다시 함께 여행할 수 있다면

시형이에게 선물이라도 하나 사 줘야 하는데 아무것도 사 주지 못하고 와서 여행을 다녀와서도 내내 마음에 걸렸다.

다음에 또 기회가 되면 이번엔 나도 재림이를 데리고 같이 한 번 여행을 할 수 있으면 좋겠다.

동생을 좋아하는 재림이라 아마 둘이 얘기도 잘하고 친하게 지낼 것 같다.

다음에 같이 여행을 하게 되면 이번엔 내가 와인과 맥주도 대접하고 함께 퐁듀를 먹었던 그뤼에르 치즈마을에서 하룻밤 머물며 알프스의 별을 보며 더 많은 얘기들을 나누고 싶다.

알프스의 노래 | 박민희

작가 노트

여행이 끝나면 가장 오래 남는 것은 풍경보다 사람이라는 말을 자주 떠올립니다. 이번 여행에서도 시형이네와 함께한 식사와 대화, 조용한 배려는 알프스의 아름다운 풍경만큼 오래 마음에 남았습니다. 좋은 사람과 함께한 시간은 여행을 더욱 깊고 따뜻하게 만들어 준다는 사실을 다시 한 번 느꼈습니다.

다음 글 예고

다음 이야기에서는 『알프스의 노래』의 또 다른 추억과 여행이 남긴 작은 감동들을 이어서 들려드립니다.

알프스의 노래

이 블로그 검색

Another Family We Met A여행에서 만난 또 하나의 가족, 시형이네l