Hey!

I'm Niko. I'm 26 and I'm a travel writer / professional magician.

I was raised in an American valley town in the foothills of the Pacific Northwest in Washington state, forty-five minutes outside of Seattle. Of all the things in life, people are what interest me the most, so I chose to study psychology, philosophy and English at Western Washington University, class of 2010.

I'm very down to earth, open, relaxed, and respectful. One of my favorite quotes is "He had an idea that even when beaten he could steal a little victory by laughing at defeat", and so I believe that a healthy sense of humor is one of the most valuable possessions one can have. I am social by profession, but I also value independence and self-sustainability. Though I find great enjoyment in dancing, I generally do not go out a whole lot. I drink very little and only smoke when I'm in the for night.

For the last three years I've made a living as a professional street entertainer, a traveling magician studying performance art across the U.S. (and as of June, internationally). Gathering strangers in public places to play is by far the most fascinating social study I've ever partaken in, vastly outweighing anything presented in the psychology classes I took in college. I keep track of my lessons and observations as a traveling magician on my blog, so if you'd like a peak behind the curtains of the circus then feel free to check it out.

www.magicianonamotorcycle.com

www.facebook.com/nikological

PHILOSOPHY

I believe we are spirits having a human experience, here to learn and love ourselves and others. I do my best to reflect back to others the light I see in them in order to help one another along our paths.

我为什么加入 Couchsurfing

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page."

As a writer I absolutely love learning about the lives of others and hearing about their perspectives on the world. The more I travel the more I realize that though the sights are lovely, it is the interactions are what truly make a trip memorable. At the moment, I am only a surfer, though I do look forward to returning to New Orleans to host and meet other travelers.

兴趣

I am passionate about writing (journals, blogging, spoken word poetry), reading, playing music (guitar, harmonica, beatbox), performing magic, filming, traveling, physical activities (yoga, basketball, running, hiking, swimming), learning new things, meeting new people, engaging in stimulating conversation, theater, exploring new cultures, painting, watching documentaries, dancing, and motorcycling.

• arts
• writing
• books
• poetry
• singing
• theater
• performing arts
• documentaries
• dancing
• cooking
• yoga
• running
• drinking
• reading
• traveling
• blogging
• painting
• magic
• music
• guitar
• spoken word
• hiking
• basketball
• track and field
• swimming
• psychology

音乐、电影和书籍

I listen to a lot of coffeehouse acoustic singer/songwriter stuff, a lot of blues and the occasional brass band (living in New Orleans does that), and hip hop with intellectual lyricism ( I'm in it for the poetics, the radio stuff I have no interest in). I love a good instrumental beat with a strong groove, as well as downtempo ambient stuff to relax to.

Tao te Ching is my favorite text of all time, Lord of the Rings is up there along with a handful of creative non-fiction.

我做过的一件不可思议的事情

In my first year owning a motorcycle I traveled 15,000 miles crossing the the United States twice while sustaining myself by performing street magic for unsuspecting spectators.

教，学，和分享

I can teach sleight of hand with cards, coins, and other impromptu effects with everyday objects. I play harmonica, guitar, and mouth percussion (beatbox), sometimes all at the same time. We can share travel hacks and tips for having enriching experiences in new places with new people.

我可以与沙发主分享些什么

First and foremost, conversation and connection. I am happy to share my stories and experiences as a traveling magician, and what it's like to specialize in such an unorthodox art as magic. I am willing to share a few magic secrets if I feel they will be treated with respect. I'll also happily sing song or two if there's a guitar present, and maybe a spoken word poem if the vibe is right.

As a guest I am happy to get groceries and cook (though my repertoire is limited) or simply pick up the tab at lunch or dinner. If you host me in your town I'll happily host you in New Orleans (Oct. -- April).

我游览过的国家

Canada, Germany, Mexico, Switzerland

我居住过的国家

United States