Resettling the West

Segment: The Hernandez family

Narrator: For Teresa Hernandez and her family who live in Driggs and commute across Teton Pass, St. John's provides a good share of the family income.

Teresa Hernandez: I come here 4 days a week. I leave home at 4:30 in the morning, taking care as I drive not to run into the animals on the road.

Mirella Hernandez: I go to school Monday through Friday. Saturday and Sunday, I work at the hospital for 8 or 9 hours. I do different spots. I am a dishwasher in the kitchen, and sometimes I am prepping, and sometimes I work in the cafeteria.

Isaisa Hernandez: At St. John's hospital, I work in the dietary room, and sometimes they switch me around. I only work Saturday and Sunday, because that is about the only time I have. Because during the week, I am mostly busy involved with school and activities and sports. This morning I was coming down the Pass and it was snowing. It was like a blizzard out there and you know how the mountain roads are and we have to cross them and I couldn't even see for a while so I had to stick out my head out of the window as I was driving down the road. I was going like 10 or 20 miles per hour so it's pretty harsh.

Teresa Hernandez: In Mexico, the wife never works anywhere but in the house, cleaning the house, cooking for her husband who works in the fields. Here I work in the hospital and go home and clean the house and cook, but these are things one does.

Narrator: As she turns 15, Mirella looks forward to her quinceañero, a milestone for a Mexican girl. She rededicates herself to the Catholic Church, and her family throws a huge party.

Mirella Hernandez: We were just practicing our waltz with my escorts and this man and lady were teaching us how to do the steps. I think that the quinceañero is like from my parents for letting me go places with my friends. It means that a girl turns into a lady now.

Teresa Hernandez: It's important; they wait this day from childhood.

Mirella Hernandez: Especially for my mom it's important, and each father has the privilege to present their daughter when they are 15.