HERMISTON – Kenny Pham, 19, has only lived in Hermiston for about a year and, so far, he’s doing OK meeting people.

Pham, a nail technician in-training at Nail Fantasy off Orchard Ave., said the best part about his job is learning to become comfortable talking with strangers. It’s a necessary part of his job description, which involves holding customers captive for the length of time it takes to polish their nails.

“It takes me 45 minutes,” he said, about his timing. “It takes them 30 minutes, 15 minutes, but they’ve been doing it for a long time.”

By “them” he is referring to his older brother, Tri, 27, who owns the shop and Tri’s friend who helps him out. Pham came to Hermiston from Seattle after his brother asked for help with his new business, which is now about two years old.

Since then, though, the job has added significance: “I have a kid so I have to support my baby,” he said.

Andy is 10 months old, and hangs out at the salon with his dad and uncle.

“He works eight hours, too,” Pham said as he bobbed Andy on his knee.

Living in Hermiston has been a change from city life, and Pham said he is adjusting. He said that even in his short time here, he has noticed the town growing. But the lack of an Asian population makes it difficult sometimes, he said.

Pham, who is Vietnamese, came to the United States with his parents when he was just 6. He still speaks with a heavy accent, and his brother speaks only a little English. He misses being around others who speak his family’s language, and said he has to travel to the Tri-cities or Seattle to do most of his grocery shopping.

But, still, he is enjoying the customers who come into the nail shop, and said he is finding residents in Hermiston to be friendly.

“They ask questions,” he said. “They try to get to know you.”