Zaude Jenkins Oral History Interview

Zaude Gula-Chacoff Jenkins, originally from Santiago, Chile, shares her experiences living in Heber City, Utah, for the past ten years, where she has become a U.S. citizen and works teaching Spanish in preschool and for the Heber City Health Department. She expresses deep gratitude for feeling welcomed and accepted in Heber, appreciating the strong family ties of her husband's multi-generational family and the calming proximity to nature, which she likens to a daily vacation. Jenkins observes the rapid growth in Heber has led to more large houses with smaller backyards, impacting self-sufficiency, but she remains positive, focusing on the safety and community feel of the small town where she knows teachers and other families. She actively works to bridge cultural divides through her dual-immersion teaching and participation in multicultural events, emphasizing the importance of respecting differences and fostering a sense of belonging for all residents.