Nina Garcia is a college student at Loyola University in Chicago. At 19 years of age, she has lived in 4 different countries due to her parents' work. "I have lived in Turkey, Greece, and Germany," Nina stated. "My favorite would have to be Turkey: everyone is so hospitable and the culture is great."
Currently a biology major with a hope of attending medical school in the near future, Nina hopes to continue traveling the world during summer. "I have tentative plans to go to Mexico, but everything changes last minute," she laughed. "It will depend largely on whether I have to take summer courses."
Age: 19
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Favorite Cuisine: I adore pasta.
Favorite Cocktail: I am underage, I don't drink...
Most memorable travel experience: I was in Istanbul on the Muslim side of the city and was wearing a hijab. I walked with my younger brother to a nearby market and everyone stared at me. My instincts told me it was nothing particularly bad, but it was a bit uncomfortable getting all those stares. Just as we were about to leave the market - which specialized in leather goods - a young woman came up to us and spoke in broken English. "Ma'am, you're hijab is on backwards, and your child looks hungry," the woman told me. I was so embarrassed!
Where would you like to travel for school/work: I would love to go to Paris, London, or Sydney. Western Europe would be so much fun, but I think Sydney holds a certain aura of adventure, which I am attracted to.
Favorite city in the USA: I love Denver, of course, but I enjoy the Californication of my life just as much. My grandparents both lived in Santa Barbara, so I was there every summer and I have fond memories of those years. Chicago is also a wonderful city with a Midwestern touch.
Favorite things about Chicago: I love deep-dish pizza! I am a huge fan of baseball games, too, so having two teams to root for is fun.
Advice/wisdom for our viewers: I feel I should be the one receiving advice! One phrase I live by is do unto others as you would want them do unto you. While it's a bit cliche in big cities, I believe that this golden rule is so important for me and the best way I would describe living my life.