It's not easy to get a hold of Gina Nicholas '03. When she's not riding her motorcycle down Portland Ave., she's jetting off to Oslo, Norway. Luckily, I got a hold of Gina between trips. Here's our conversation from the Macalester Geography Department:
 

Let's get some of the old standards out of the way. Where did you live before coming to Macalester?

I grew up in Kingston, Jamaica. Actually, I grew up in St. Andrew which is right on the outskirts of Kingston.
 

Is it near the ocean?

Sort of. It's near a deepwater harbor—not really the ocean. I used to go swimming in it when I was 10, but you can't any longer. It's become too polluted by ships dumping their sewage in the harbor. My Dad used to eat oysters from the harbor—you definitely can't do that anymore. You'd probably end up with three eyes on your forehead.
 

[The candy from the Geography Department candy dish ranks among the top of the academic departments].
 

What are your plans for next year?

I'm not thinking that far in advance.
 

How about this summer?

I'm going to Oslo to go to summer school in international development. Afterwards, I might come back here.
 

[The candy is probably right up there with the English Department's selection].
 

How did you decide to come to Macalester?

I didn't even visit Macalester before deciding to come here. I was part of the A-Quest program in Kingston and the program director had a lot of hype about Mac. I also met with the Dean of International Admissions. He seemed pretty cool and laid back.

I had no idea how cold it was though. All of my aunts made fun of me—they showed me newspaper clippings of Minnesotans shoveling snow.
 

[The History Department has no candy. What's up with that shit?]
 

So how have you liked Minnesota?

When I was a first-year and sophomore it was terrible. Then I started doing winter activities when I was a junior like snowboarding, skiing, and ice skating.
 

What's the worst thing about winter?

It's not bad weather, it's bad dressing.
 

[The Sociology Department has bad candy—Good n' Plentys© and candy corn].
 

So what sort of advice would you give to incoming Macalester students?

Bring a heavy coat. Keep an open mind to people of different backgrounds. Simon Morrison '04 helped me learn that. Thanks, Simon.
 

Simon Morrison doesn't know what he's talking about. He likes banana flavored Runts™ and wears fake Burberry scarves. So if you could change anything about Mac, what would it be?

The PC attitude—just be straight up and real. I get sick of all the candy-coated goodness.
 

[I make about 10 trips between the English and Geography Department every day for candy-coated goodness].
 

Also, I would make a bigger and better Art and Geography Department.
 

Is there any overlap between art and geography?

Everything is interrelated, James.
 

Good lord.

I would like to study to become a landscape architect or be involved with public art. That has a lot of overlap. If I were to go into public art, however, I would want to do install practical pieces in places that don't typically have public art installations. Pieces that interact with kids and stimulate thought.
 

Did you go abroad?

I went to Capetown, South Africa. It was really amazing. I knew about it's apartheid history and about the tensions that still exist—Johannesburg was once the murder capital of the world. But I didn't know how beautiful it was.
 

Minneapolis was the murder capital of the nation in 1999—Murderapolis

I saw all sorts of animals. I saw four out of the "Big 5:" an elephant, a lion, a giraffe, and a zebra. I didn't get to see a cheetah.
 

My "Big 5:" the Geography Department—mini Reese's Pieces™, the English Department—assorted selection, Human Resources—somebody gave me a popover one time, swear to god, Payroll—I got yelled at for taking too much one time, Dean of Students—you have to grab it while Pat's not looking.

I got to work alongside artists that were doing pieces about AIDS in Africa. Some of the artists were active during apartheid as well. It was really inspiring.
 

So are you ever going to give me a ride on the motorcycle?

No.