Photo credit: Janet Donovan
Luck was on the side of guests that showed up at the German Embassy a half hour early to avoid the approaching ominous storm for the farewell reception of Ambassador Peter Wittig and Huberta von Voss-Wittig: That’s a Washington anomaly – guests showing up in bad weather. “It’s been nine wonderful years in the US; first in New York and then in Washington,” said Wittig. “We are moving on to London as the deep blue sea goes to the court of St. James.”
Ambassador Peter Wittig and Huberta von Voss-Wittig
“We don’t expect our next post to be any less challenging: Brexit, rain, mediocre football and this British delight in cracking jokes makes it difficult for us. But seriously, we are elated and excited to go to this great city of London, great country, and it’s in a way also a little bit of a homecoming to us. I spent some years of my student time there. Yet leaving Washington is a very bittersweet farewell from a place that we have been calling home.”
Huberta von Voss-Wittig
“Huberta has pursued her own successful career. She was involved in many good causes and communities on top of managing this residence,” he added. “Without her, those literally hundreds of events every year could not have happened. Our kids went to US schools and University. They are now profoundly Americanized. I knew that this cultural transformation was set on the day our little daughter announced that s’mores baked on an open fire were the best food in the world.” Fortunately, guests were not subjected to s’mores, but rather lots of pate, tuna tartare and champagne.
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and Joanna Breyer (R)
“From our work to our travel and our engagement in the community, we take with us a strong admiration for this country and its people – for their sense of self-reliance, for their sense of community, for their generosity, for their upbeat spirit, for their pragmatism and for their insatiable drive for innovation. That is something that we admire and take with us.”
“Washington in every sense has been, has become home. I guess DC is this incredible, political habitat; but it is also – despite what our somewhat [haughty] friends in New York told us – it’s also not only a livable place, but it’s a place with an incredible culture scene and a very outstanding intellectual landscape,” Ambassador Wittig concluded. “And this is what we really cherish. And we’re pretty grateful for having been able to become part of this great city and this great community, and every one of you contributed to make this a place that was, and eventually became, our home that we are thankful for. We leave looking forward to seeing you in London; not all of you together.”
