Htwe Htwe arrived safely in the United States, and the couple put down roots in Austin. Before working for Hormel Foods, Hteet admits he was “scared to buy a house, to buy a car.” Today he has both – and so much more.
Hteet and Htwe Htwe are both Hormel Foods team members, American citizens and the parents of two girls, Ahaung and Quaung, 9 and 6, respectively. Hteet is a leader in the local Buddhist community. And there’s more.
“We can go wherever we want,” he says.
That freedom is precious to him. He didn’t have it while living in the refugee camp, and he feared it wouldn’t be part of his life in the United States.
“When we lived in Myanmar, we received false information to keep us from wanting to come here,” he says.
From the looks of it, the Powls are living the American dream, including being busy with their kids and their activities. They like to sing and dance, Hteet says. Like father, like daughters, perhaps. Hteet’s hobby is playing guitar and creating music, although he admits time is limited.
Among the many surprises in Hteet’s life, the myriad unexpected twists and turns, was receiving the jersey. He is reluctant to pat himself on the back, saying only that he thinks he works hard.
No wonder.
“When I come into work, I feel like this is home for me,” he says.
