Couple's journey ends in citizenship
by Roxanna Latifi, Reporter

    It took several decades, but one NW Campus faculty member finally fulfilled his father's wishes.

   Toe Myint, NW associate professor of micro-manufacturing technology, and his wife became American citizens at the Dallas INS office in October.

   Born and raised in Burma, Myint said he always wanted to become a U.S. citizen because his father told him the United States gave opportunities to broaden one's education and live life freely.

   Myint came to the United States and completed his degree from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., receiving his bachelor's and master's degrees within six years.

   Afterwards, he worked in New England for one year as a project engineer for a nuclear power plant.

   Then in 1961, Myint returned to Burma only to realize his country had undergone so much change that leaving the United States had been a mistake.

   For the next 18 years, Myint would try to return to America but with very little luck.

   "We were not allowed to communicate with the outside world," he said.

   In 1979, Myint managed to leave Burma officially as he and his wife received jobs at a Singapore university.

   Myint would live there 17 years before returning to the United States.

   In 1996, after becoming a Singapore citizen, he returned to the United States, but he knew it would still be a long process to become a citizen.

   Myint made his way to North Texas.

   His son was the first to become a U.S. citizen, which later helped Myint and his wife gain citizenship as well.

   Six years later, he can now call himself a U.S. citizen.

   "That was my childhood dream because my father had always wanted me to come to the United States, and he considered the United States as the best place to develop my education and build my family," he said.

   Because Burma was under British control at the time of his childhood, Myint learned English and the English culture in school. The English language was a valued tool for Myint as he worked toward citizenship.

   Although he was prepared, Myint said that becoming a U.S. citizen has greatly changed his life.

   "I became a free man, and I am free to pursue a family who will not have to go through what I had to go through in the old country," he said.

   "Everyday as we went to work, I feared I would not come back ... we were monitored very closely," he said.

   Myint said the people of North Texas respect him and treat him warmly.

   "Particularly in North Texas, the people are very friendly to me and my family. I want to pay back," he said.

   "My aim is not to achieve personal achievement. It's not a position or financial matter. I want to contribute to the county where people were so good to me and my family," he said.