By Kathryn Doorey
Do you ever wish you could just start chatting someone up, just to get to know a little about him or her? Sometimes the most unlikely people have the most fascinating life stories to tell. Each week, CHP takes a look into the life of a Santa Cruz resident living and working around us.
This week, we chatted with Kurios employee Dominique Annau, who hails from Vienna, Austria. Kurios is a popular clothing boutique downtown.
*Tell me the best thing about your job.* Definitely the clothes. I love the clothes. I’ve worked in retail about five years.
*What’s the hardest thing about retail?* Dealing with some of the customers can be difficult. But then again, we have the customers that are really understanding and really nice. Overall I love to work here.
*What’s the craziest thing you have ever done?* I would have to say moving here from Europe, moving here on my own. That was a big thing for me. I’m originally from Austria. We lived over here [in the US] when I was younger, but when I turned 17 I decided to come back.
*Where do you go to school?* I am actually just working right now, but I do want to go back to school. I’m saving up money to go to Cabrillo or UCSC.
*What’s your birthday?* February 27, 1988.
*What’s your favorite food?* Sushi, pasta, and Italian food. I like everything, actually. I’m not picky when it comes to food.
*A fun fact about you?* I speak a second language. A lot of people don’t know that about me, I guess I don’t have an accent at all. When people find out that I do, they’re like ‘What do you speak? Oh, you speak German! Wow!’
*Is there anything you miss back home?* We have the snow and [French] Alps right there, so probably a white Christmas. But you know, it’s different here. It’s really laid back, so I can’t complain.
*Anything crazy you know about Santa Cruz?* I’ve heard that a lot of the crazy people that walk around here own half of Santa Cruz. I did NOT know that.