Hello,
My name is Nicholas, but most people call me Nick. Here, you can learn more about me than what I can fit in a Bumble bio.
The best way to reach me is through my Instagram: @mtnoga.
What am I doing on Bumble?
I’m using travel mode to connect with people from Tokyo – Japan, and Seoul – South Korea.
Why?
I want to learn more about the cultures of Japan and Korea because I plan to visit and live in those countries for a while: at least a few months and if I like it maybe stay forever. I’ve been reading articles and watching YouTube vlogs of people who moved there, but lately, I’ve been feeling lonely and thought that talking with people who actually live in Tokyo or Seoul would be more meaningful.
Where do I live?
Currently, I live in Lugano, Switzerland (link to Google Maps), where I’m studying for my Master’s in Informatics and Management at Università della Svizzera Italiana.
Lugano is in the southern part of Switzerland, where people speak Italian (fun fact: Switzerland has four official languages!).
Basic Facts About Me
Age: I am 28 years old
Height: 187 cm
Weight: 72 kg
Where am I from?
I was born in Kraków, Poland (the city in Google Maps). I’m Polish (Poland on wikipedia), and my mother tongue is Polish. I spent most of my life in Poland, in Cracow and Warsaw, but I’ve traveled around Europe and visited most of its countries.
I wanted to travel more and further, but covid pandemic made it impossible at the time. Then I just didn’t have enough money to go to countries that I wanted to visit for a long time (USA, Australia, Japan, Korea, Canada, New Zealand)
My Family
My parents are still alive and in good health. I have a brother who is five years younger than me. He lives with our parents, but he’s quite independent, skilled, and hardworking. He’s a mechanic and a jack of all trades. We both play electric guitars.
My parents are still alive and in good health. I have a brother who is five years younger than me. He lives with our parents, but he’s quite independent, skilled, and hardworking. He’s a mechanic and a jack of all trades. We both play electric guitars.
My father runs a small car mechanic shop with about ten employees. My mother used to be a kindergarten teacher, but she retired early. Both my parents are devout Catholics, but I don’t believe in God; I’m an agnostic. Most of my family members are either Catholic or non-religious.
Early Life and High School
I graduated from one of the top3 high schools in Poland (which has a population of about 38 million). During high school, I took part in many national competitions, mainly in economics, business, and management, and placed quite high. My biggest achievement was ranking 29th out of 14,000 participants in a national economics competition.
University Years
After high school, I moved from Kraków (Cracow) to Warszawa (Warsaw) at age 19.
I attended the best business school in Poland (Kozminski University), where I studied for bachelor’s degrees in management and finance & accounting.
I got multiple scholarships for academic achievement.
After my first year, I started a full-time internship at the American investment company State Street. Later, I worked at the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, mainly doing data analysis and software development for about 7 years. I worked closely with consultants on various projects, often taking advantage of the option to work from home. Working there was really demanding and put a toll on my health.
During my spare time, I also tried to work on my own business, focusing on informatics and knowledge, but without great success. I was a part-time fashion model as well. Everything was going alright on my life until the covid pandemic hit.
During the pandemic, I experienced both mental and physical health issues due to the immense stress of the time. At the time my grandma died and my father barely survived. It took me several months to recover and start functioning normally again.
I was doing well for another 2-3 years, but then, due to changes in my medication, I became deeply depressed and anxious. I quit my job, moved back to my parents’ house, and lived with them while they supported me until I found effective treatment and recovered.
Once I felt better, I decided it was time to pursue my long-held goal of getting a master’s degree abroad. I chose to study informatics because I believe I can accomplish much more with the help of a well-programmed computer than on my own. After considering the USA, Australia, and Switzerland, I chose Switzerland because it offered a 2-year program, high-quality education, and simpler immigration procedures.
I’m currently in my third semester, and I have one semester left. So far it’s going well and I like it here.
Unfortunately the Switzerland isn’t the country for me to stay in forever, because:
- I don’t know the local language at the proficient level (I know German, but not well enough)
- It’s very closed society and it’s difficult to find friends here
- I believe the Poland, Australia, Japan, Korea or USA would be a better choice
If you want to read about my work experience and education you can always check my LinkedIn profile: link
My Plans for the Future
I’m not entirely sure what I’ll do after finishing my master’s degree yet.
Most likely, I’ll return to Poland for a while (6-18 months) to reconnect with friends and family and help renovate my parents’ house to show my gratitude for their support during my studies. I’ll also use that time to work on a software project and explore some informatics topics I couldn’t dive into during my studies.
My dream is to resume my modeling career and work as a fashion model in Tokyo or Seoul while exploring the cities and learning about the local cultures. During my free time, I’d work on informatics projects and possibly prepare for a PhD in Economics or the CFA (Certified Financial Analyst) exam—both of which I’m seriously considering.
To make this happen, I’ll need some savings. I’ll either work on that after returning to Poland or go on a working trip to Australia or New Zealand for 6-12 months. I need to figure out if modeling will provide enough income or if I should find a remote IT job to support myself in Korea/Japan. Maybe there are also other options of getting income such as teaching English, teaching IT skills or being a host – I don’t know.
Also soon I will be 30 years old and I feel that it is the time to stop casually dating and start looking for a lifelong romantic partner: a wife.
Hobbies, Interests, and How I Spend My Free Time
I love animals, especially cats, rodents (rats and chinchillas), and birds (particularly parrots and corvids). I used to have two chinchillas named Halina and Helena, but I had to find them a new home when I moved to Switzerland. They now live with an older woman who takes great care of them.
I really enjoy sleeping, and I feel fantastic in a warm bed.
I enjoy watching movies, especially crime films. As a teenager, I used to read manga and watch anime, which sparked my interest in Asian culture. Although I still enjoy them, I don’t have much time for that anymore.
I love learning new things—art, science, physical skills, almost anything. I’m particularly interested in economics, political philosophy, social studies, religion, and business.
My favourite meals are gyros, pizza, and sushi, and I also love soups. I can cook, but I’m not great at it, and I don’t particularly enjoy it.
What I am curious about Japan and Korea?
I really enjoyed the series Squid Game and the movie Parasite, and as a teenager, I used to read a lot of manga and watch anime.
My favorite anime and manga included Death Note, Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Ouran High School Host Club, and Code Geass.
I’m fascinated by the culture, the way society is organized and peaceful, and the history—especially the remarkable economic successes of Japan and Korea after 1945. The Japanese and Korean businesses became the models for the whole world to learn, especially companies like Toyota and Samsung.
I believe that in many ways the civilisations of Japan, Korea and China are much more developed than the western cultures. The more I learn about the eastern cultures, the better I think of them.
I also have a strong interest in Japanese car culture, as well as Japanese and Korean cars. I’ve owned a Lexus, and my family has owned several Toyotas and Hondas. I also love drifting and Japanese motorbikes. I previously owned a Suzuki GSX-R sports bike, which I really enjoyed, and I hope to own a Kawasaki Ninja in the future.
I noticed that women in Japan, Korea and China are more feminine than women in the west and I feel like I share more character similarities with them. I feel that feminism in the west is promoting the idea that men and women are competitors and I think that this is a bad idea – I believe that we’re not competitors, but complementary to each other. Females will always be better at some things and males will always be better at some other things. We should work together, not compete with each other.
I believe in equality of man and woman in the relationship. I don’t think that patriarchy or matriarchy is the solution. My parents were equal partners who solved conflicts though conversation and convincing each other and I believe that this is a good way to live together.
What is My Character Like?
My personality type is ENTP-A: The Debater. You can learn more about it here: 16personalities – ENTP.
I consider myself an intellectual person. I love exploring ideas and seeking the truth. I also really enjoy spending time with my friends. I know many people, but I mostly hang out with a few close friends. We know each other very well, and I trust them completely.
I am an entrepreneurial person. I am a problem-solver. I am quite good at managing people and I have plenty of experience in that.
I’m not much of a party person. I might go out with friends occasionally, but I usually spend weekends relaxing at home or meeting up with my close friends. We often have long conversations, play board games, or enjoy good food at a restaurant.
What Are My Values and Beliefs?
The values that are important to me are family, friendship, honesty, sincerity, and respect.
Some people say I’m ambitious, and while that was true in the past, I was probably too ambitious. It led to burnout and frustration because I constantly felt like I could do more and perform better.
I believe all humans are equal. I think that what defines us is our actions and choices, not things we can’t control, like gender, nationality, or skin color.
Most important political values for me are: freedom, liberty, tolerance, peace, and justice. Politically I am a free-market-oriented centrist, but I rarely vote in elections. I believe that most politicians are thieves and liars.
Thank you for reading 🙂
Again, feel free to reach me is through my Instagram: @mtnoga.