Julie Hundersmarck

2006-07 Outbound to Germany

Hometown: Gainesville, FL

School: Buchholz High School

Sponsor: Gainesville Sunrise Rotary Club

Host: Braunschweig Rotary Club
District 1800, Germany

Bio

Julie's Bio

Hallo!

My name is Julie and I've just been accepted by the Rotary Program to spend next year in Germany! I am a 17 year old junior at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Florida. I lived in Pennsylvania for 11 years before moving to Florida with my family. I live with my wonderful mom, dad, two brothers, sister, and dog, Ava. My brothers, Ryan and Justin are 11 and 13, and my sister Laura is 15.

I've been playing soccer for the past 10 years, 3 of which have been for Buchholz. I started playing tennis last year as well, and now thoroughly enjoy it. In my spare time I hang out with my lovely group of friends, read, listen to music, do lots of homework, and go to the gym.

This past summer I went to Europe with 17 of my friends and my European History teacher. It definitely opened my eyes to Europe's vast history and beauty, and fueled my desire to travel to practically every country on the planet. I want to be a linguist, interpreter, or translator when I get older, or possibly find my way into a field connected with foreign affairs. Learning German, and living in Germany next year is a huge step in the right direction for me. I'm very excited about it!

I'm going to miss my family and friends here in the United States very much, but I look forward to all the new people I will welcome into my life next year and can't wait to see how it all unfolds.

September 19 Journal

Guten Tag everyone!

I've spent a considerable amount of time trying to figure out how to write this journal entry. The other outbounds make it look so easy...

I suppose I could start by telling you something about my host family. They're wonderful. Very loving, funny, and kind. My host brother, Andreas, my host sister, Clara, my host dad, Herbert, and their dog, Leslie picked me up from the Hannover Airport after too many hours of travel and not enough hours of sleep. Driving home on the Autobahn was so unreal. Less than 24 hours before, I'd been home in Gainesville, and now this. That unbelievable feeling is one I've felt very often since being here. Every morning when I wake up, it takes a couple of seconds for my surroundings to register, and for my mind to remember where I am.

My first experiences in Germany have been pretty unusual, even by Rotary standards. My host sister and I got into a 4-wheeler accident my first weekend here. There I was, all set to enjoy this great party with all of their family and friends, and Clara and I find ourselves in a hospital room for 6 days. Don't ask me how it happened, I don't remember myself. I woke up in a hospital bed, in a whole bunch of pain and confusion, unable to recollect how I got there, and completely unaware as to why everyone was speaking another language. Between the two of us, we had concussions, cuts, bruises, aching bodies, stitches in the head, and two very black eyes. It sounds crazy, but I can't stress enough how lucky we both were. It was quite an experience. My host family and I got a lot closer, I mean, we sat together in a hospital for a couple days, how could we NOT have gotten closer? They were extremely understanding and helpful the entire time. In addition to everything, my mom came. She got on a plane and flew to Germany, because I needed her more than anyone in the world.

And let me assure you, this story has a happy ending. Clara and I are doing much better. It was great having my mom here, even for a short time, because it gave me an opportunity to transition into my new life here. I loved watching everyone laugh together, share similar stories, and enjoy each other's company until late into the night. It gives me great comfort knowing that my two families genuinely like each other. It's a comfort I will draw from continually, whenever the going gets tough here.

Since then, I've been thanking my lucky stars, and enjoying German life. Everyone is so pleasant and laid back here. My host family is very close to the other two families that live in our beautiful building. Often, my host dad carries a large tray of cake and tea down the stairs, knocking on each door as he goes, telling them all to come out and join us in the garden. It's really lovely. I've had time to read, study German, and soak up all that is around me. I've learned so much German in the short time I've been here. Anyone who thinks German isn't a beautiful language, has been, in my opinion, sadly misled :)

I've learned so much about Germany, and what feels like so much about life, that if I were to leave tomorrow, I would feel as if I'd return home a much more fulfilled person. Lucky for me, I've got nine more months of learning and experiencing ahead of me.

I can't wait.

October 29 Journal

Germany and I just had our two month anniversary…I think we’re falling in love…

I’ve just read some of the other outbounds’ journals to get my writing juices going, and all I can say is …wow. I’m so proud of all of you guys. You sound like you’re having an amazing time. It’s crazy to think that we were all in the same room a couple of months ago, and now we’re spread out all over the world.

I’ve traveled a lot since my last journal. I went to Berlin about a month ago with a bunch of the inbounds in my district. I had the time of my life. There’s no people in the world like exchange students. Six hours into it, it was like we’d known each other our whole lives. It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside to watch all of us, despite our different upbringings, mother tongues, families, countries of birth, and life experiences, to laugh that loud and that much together. We were sort of like a little world unit, on a much smaller scale. The people of the world in one room, laughing together, what a beautiful thought… The city of Berlin was awesome. It helped me to understand Germany’s identity, as a country, a lot better. You can learn about the battles of WWII in a history class, or you can take a tour of a civilian bunker and practically hear the men and women of the past crying out in pain. I straddled the line on the ground that marks the place where the Berlin Wall once stood. It was a very enlightening weekend.

I went to the Baltic Sea a couple weeks ago with my host family to get our meat for the year… that was a fun ride home. Haha. My host sister and I had to jump in the water, even though it was freezing, even though it was windy, even though we had no towels. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ramsey in Denmark heard our screams and obscenities. It was worth it though, have you ever jumped into the Baltic Sea?

And last week, I went to Vienna. Beautiful can’t even describe it. You’ll just have to get on a plane and see it for yourself. You won’t be sorry. The buildings literally ache with history. Everywhere you look is magnificence. I got to see a ballet in the famous Vienna Opera House. Something tells me my next ballet won’t measure up. I saw two authentic Monets, a Van Gogh, a Manet, and a Renoir in the same room. I could hardly believe my eyes. But by far, seeing Mr. Kenny Duffield was the highlight of the trip. Even though we planned to meet up later, Kenny and I ran into each other on the incredible streets of a city of more than 1.5 million people. Yes, I screamed. Yes, we jumped into each other’s arms. Yes, we spoke English so loud and so fast that people were staring. No, we did not care. It was soooo good to see him. It was great to talk to someone who knows Gainesville, Florida, who knows Buchholz High School, who understands I don’t live IN Disney World, and who can understand me when I speak English a mile a minute. I think the best part was navigating Vienna’s underground with him, or wandering the streets with him and his friends, or walking by St. Stephen’s Cathedral like we do it everyday, all of the things we dreamt about doing for so many months. It was a bit surreal at times.

I go back to school tomorrow after these two weeks off for Fall Break. It has been very nice to relax, practice German, read, and just hang out. My German is getting so much better. Two weeks ago, my host sister told me I spoke German in my sleep for a good 5 minutes. I was elated. After that, something just clicked. I could understand so much more, and speak so much more. It feels like such an accomplishment to see how far I’ve come since I first stepped off the plane. I’m far from fluent like the quick Brasilians, (I’m jealous of you guys!) but slowly and surely, I know I’ll get there.

Everyday is an adventure here, and every night, a reason for celebration, if only for the simple fact that I survived it. My back is slowly healing itself, and a number of doctors appointments have confirmed that there’s no bleeding in my or my host sisters’ brains, and that everything else is in order. That alone is reason to celebrate.

I miss everyone at home so very much!! I hope you all know how much I think about you, and how often our memories make me smile.

Bis Dann,

Julie

"Would you not like to be sitting on top of the world with your legs hanging free? Seize the day, boys."

January 4 Journal & Pictures

Hallo Alle,

Merry Christmas! Fröhliche Weihnacten!

Okay, so can someone please explain to me how I'm supposed to put these past two months into one journal entry? I fear it is impossible.. there is no way I'll be able to do it justice. But that isn't a bad thing. So much has happened, so much has changed for me, and yet somehow, I'm still the same Julie.

Let's see... Deutschland is super. This time of year is especially beautiful. I've been told it's been the warmest November and December in years (personally, I think it's that Florida hitze that I radiate). Make NO mistake, it's still cold. I don't ever go outside without my beloved warm socks and 100 layers of clothing. It's only snowed once! No White Christmas for me, but it was still lovely. The Christmas decorations graced every cobblestone street and every corner café. My favorite German holiday tradition is the Weihnachtsmarkt (the Christmas market). The first time I saw it, it literally took my breath away. Angels, trimmed trees, and colorful lights covered tiny shops and booths filled with all kinds of traditional German food, one million kinds of beer, candy, chocolate, all things Christmas. And the backdrop? Yea, the castle. Two of my exchange student friends are actually living in castles now. haha, only in Germany..

Christmas here was like being stuck in a black and white "It's a Wonderful Life" film, only in German, and without subtitles ;) Germans celebrate Christmas on December 24th, Heiliger Abend. Our house was filled with friends, relatives, food, presents, laughter, and singing. It was one of the most special days I've had since being here. The love that surrounded me could have lit up the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center.

December 6th was Der Tag von Niklaus (Niklaus' day), which is probably about the coolest holiday of all time. Little boys and girls (or 17 year old exchange students) take their biggest pair of shoes and place them outside their doors before going to bed. In the middle of the night, OF COURSE you have to be sleeping, St. Niklaus comes, cleans your shoes, and fills them with chocolate, candy, presents, whatever will fit... hence the biggest pair ;) Aside from delicious German chocolate, I got a ticket for a soccer match in Wolfsburg. I looooved it! Think rowdy American football fans with a European flair.. and of course.. lots of beer. I got a taste (no pun intended) of what some of the World Cup matches must have been like... complete and utter madness.

School is good. I'm on winter break now but I go back next Monday. I've had to lower my academic standards considerably. I've realized that I can't beat myself up over not doing sooo well, or stress about homework. I've learned the all important lesson of being proud of myself for doing the best that I can do. I've designed and constructed a building in Art, gotten passing grades in my advanced French class, and failed my first ever math test. I'm aware that many people feel incompetent in school in the comfort of their own countries, but it's still taken some getting used to ;) It can be quite liberating, though. If you think school is hard, try taking Calculus in German, and then come talk to me.

But I can deal with absolutely anything school throws at me because I got accepted to the University of Florida a couple of weeks ago!!! I always expected this monumental moment to be like in the movies: my parents, a kitchen table, and me tearing open a letter. Instead, I got a computer screen in Germany. It was soo wonderful though. I was sitting at the dining room table with my family on the phone, checking and checking the website.. then finally I saw "Congratulations!" I could only utter this single word before my host mom enveloped me in a big hug, my entire family erupted into cheers, and my host dad opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate. I felt light as air. I'm excited about it. I cannot imagine coming home after this year and having to leave for college in two months. The mere thought of having to do that makes me tired. It's the perfect path for me now. And knowing that I have a plan, that my life will have some kind of direction once I get home, no matter how ridiculous my first weeks and months home are, gives me comfort. It's enabled me to live in the moment here and now even more. To take the most from each day, to relax, to really participate in my life here, and to learn as much German as humanely possible, because before I know it, the time will be gone.

The people I've met here have really made my exchange. I'm a firm believer that it doesn't matter where you are in the world, it's the company you keep that defines your experience. The other exchange students in my district are still my favorite people ever. We've spent time together in Hamburg, Hannover, Bad Harzburg, Goslar, and Holzminden in that past two months. Every time we get together I'm either strengthening my old friendships or making new ones. They're positively hilarious. I love sitting at dinner as Spanish, Portuguese, German, English, Japanese words swirl around me. I feel in my element. The multiculturalness of us never ceases to amaze me or catch me off guard, even after 4 months. And in case you were wondering, our 23 day EuroTour is going to be mind-blowingly amazing!!!

My host family is also so very wonderful. Our relationship has only gotten stronger and I know it will be difficult to leave. I feel very much a part of their family. We have learned a lot from each other and enjoy each other's company endlessly.

My German gets better everyday. It's at a place that I never thought it would be. I can watch movies, hold good conversations and I'm even starting to read books. I'm trying so hard to become fluent. Some days I feel so close, some days so far. I spend all day, everyday in German. Sometimes I find myself physically and emotionally drained from the sheer effort of it all, but having 4 hour conversations over dinner, understanding jokes, conversing with strangers on the train, all the little "language moments" I've had are such a rush. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I hope all of the other outbounds are doing famously. I think of you guys a lot! I want to wish everyone a really awesome New Year filled with incredible experiences, defining moments, great friends and no regrets. Liebe Grüße, Julie

February 21 Journal

“Was du erlebst, kann keine macht der Welt dir rauben”
What you have experienced, no power on earth can take away from you

Hey guys,

So last time I left you, we’d caught a glimpse of 2007. Two months into it, and things are going pretty well. Important, awesome, cool, things that have happened in the past couple weeks:

I turned 18! It was the most amazing night filled with great friends, good music, hours of dancing, and the promise of an incredible year to come. Everyone keeps telling me how lucky I am that I get to be 18 for 5 months here in Germany. I have to agree. Turning 18 is the equivalent of the most anticipated 21st birthday in the US. Don’t worry, I haven’t tried out ALL of my new privileges yet…

Carnival is this week! The festivities of Carnival are only rivaled by the ones of Oktoberfest. My city is the only city in Niedersachsen (one of the 16 German states) that celebrates it. Braunschweig puts on one of the top 5 best parades in the whole country. Carnival means no one sleeps, no one is sober, no one goes to school, sometimes no one goes to work, all day festivities, all night parties, parades, costumes, and happy Germans, for a whole week. We aren’t so hardcore here, but in other parts of Germany, it’s going down. Sunday was the big parade. One of my good friends came from her town for the day. We watched the parade, tried our best to grab some of the candy that was raining from the sky, ate, drank, yelled “HELAU” as loud as we could (some hilarious tradition), and took tons of pictures with some crazy costumed people. Experiencing Carnival in Germany is sort of like those clichés … things everyone needs to do once in their life- like skydiving, kissing someone under the Eiffel Tower, drinking a beer at Oktoberfest in Munich, or saying “Ciao Bella” in Italy.

My sister, Laura, can tell me what Carnival in Brazil is like (I hear they know how to celebrate it there on occasion…) because she’s going to be a Rotary Exchange Student there next year!!!! God Bless Brazil, they’re going to need it… haha only kidding. She’s going to have the time of her life. It’s been really interesting to watch her go through the same process that I did last year. Thinking about all that she will experience, all she will see, all the ways she will change, all the people she will change, the Portuguese she will learn, makes me about the proudest sister ever. It’s so exciting, this network of exchange students, created by outbounds, inbounds, and Rotary. I’m beyond thrilled that Laura and all of next years’ outbounds have decided to take the biggest risk of their lives, for the chance at something so unique and so great. Congratulations, you guys!

Life is going and going… Ever since I hit the half way point of my exchange a couple weeks ago, I feel like it’s all going to be gone in a second. There’s still so much I want to do, so much I want to see, I want to cram everything I can into my last months here.

I’m switching host families soon. I’m looking forward to finding my place in a new family, and making awesome relationships, like I’ve done with this one, but I’ll still be really sad to go. The Rappolds are… man oh man… I can’t think of an adjective that does them justice. You’ll have to pick one for yourself. Ok, I suppose “Great, wonderful, funny, helpful, einfach fantastisch” will do. I could give you a hundred examples, but you’re going to have to just trust me. My favorite times are our talks after breakfast, lunch, tea, and dinner. Sometimes, they go on for hours. I learn so much about so much during every one. They improve my German by leaps and bounds and I come away from each conversation feeling like becoming an exchange student was the best decision of my life. They’ve traveled all over the world, and with every story, I feel like I know more about these countries that I’ve never been to. They’ve encouraged my desire to travel, travel, travel, until the day I die, to see every breath-taking view, and to learn all I can about this beautiful world. At our kitchen table, the world is my backyard, and I love it.

The multiculturalism of Germany and of Europe in general, baffles me daily. I was waiting for the bus the other day, and heard no less than 5 different conversations in 5 different languages going on around me. And that isn’t anything out of the ordinary. In my German language course, I am the only person, out of 20, that speaks English as a first language. Yet, more than half of the people speak English as a second, third, or fourth language. I’ve learned more at home and at school than this course can teach me, but I love the people in it too much to leave. We’re an odd group, but if you look close enough, you’d see the subtle and not so subtle ways that we fit together. I can now speak a few words of Arabic, Urdu, Portuguese, Polish, Italian, and Turkish. I think language is the most fascinating thing everrrrrrr. Any language sounds beautiful to my ears. There are endless things to learn about one language and the culture of the people who speak it. And once you’ve mastered one, there’s only a couple thousand more to go. Having a thorough understanding of German culture has helped me to understand American culture, European culture, and world culture so much better. It has helped me understand myself so much better. I want my college education, my job, and my life, to include this multiculturalism that is so apparent all around me. I seriously can’t get enough of it.

As for the language I’m trying to master, it’s going well. My host dad likes to tell everyone we meet that comments on my German skills that I came here knowing only one word: “Cool” (the best part is that it isn’t even a German word). Just look at me now. So it’s a bit of an exaggeration, I DEFINITELY knew how to count to 10 ; ) but I see his point nonetheless. In the past couple weeks, I’ve felt more bilingual than ever. Now, I just understand when my teachers are teaching the class, or when someone is telling a long and involved story. I play a fun game that goes something like this: If I understand the next word that comes out of this person’s mouth, I’m going to learn to speak French, or fly to Spain etc.. I pretty much always win haha. Basically, German has stopped being this huge, scary, unconquerable enemy. Most of the time, I no longer feel confined by it. It’s accessible to me now. It’s become part of me. Language is so much a part of our identity. Who are we, after all, without the ability to express our thoughts, emotions, and ideas? English was the language I was ME in, and then as of a couple months ago, I wasn’t speaking it much anymore. Sometimes, I felt lost. I’ve had to learn how to be ME in German. I’ve had to learn how to express myself, get my points across, tell funny stories, give people in Germany a chance to understand how I think and feel. It’s been one of the biggest challenges of my life, and it’s far from finished, but I suppose it’s “Cool” to see the progress I’ve made.

2 months of traveling are staring me straight in the face and I can hardly wait. I’m meeting my amazingly wonderful family (as in MY-United-States-of-America-Gainesville-Florida-I’ve-missed-them-more-than-I-can-explain-in-this-journal-entry-Family) at the Frankfurt airport on Friday morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess you could say I’m moderately excited about it. We’re going to Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and some major cities in Germany before coming back to my city. It’s going to be a whirlwind two weeks. And then, as if I could stand any more excitement, comes ….. The Most Anticipated Adventure of my exchange year… my EuropaTour! I think I might be able to scrape up a few good stories for next time : )

Much love from the land of Deutsch…

Tschau,

Julie

April 14 Journal

Hey everyone,

You’re talking to a girl who’s seen Prague, Munich, Dachau, Berlin, Engelberg, Budapest, Vienna, Milan, Verona, Lake Guarda, South Tirol, Venice, Florence, Rome, Pisa, Nice, Monaco, Lyon, Paris, Gent, and Brussels in the past couple weeks. She can hardly believe it herself ; )

Seeing my family was ... amazing. It was crazy to be together again ... we went from being thousands of miles away to inches apart on cramped overnight trains. I remembered what it was like to be a physical member of my family, and it made me so happy. I enjoyed their visit so much. It was great getting to show them Germany, my city, and my host family. I think it gave them a much better idea of my experience here. My parents took us to the church they were engaged in in Italy 22 years ago. That was really special. My sister and I are going to own an Italian Gelato shop together when we get older on the streets of Lake Guarda. Free ice cream for anyone from Gainesville : ) Snowboarding the Alps was unreal. It was one of those days that when you wake up the next morning, you’re like, “Wait a second, I know that didn’t actually happen.”

The week in between leaving and the EuroTour was really difficult. I said goodbye to the Hundersmarck family (for a while) and my host family. My new host family is really great too, but having to start all over again is always a challenge. It was difficult coming back to school after I’d been gone for so long too. School is definitely one of the hardest parts about this year. It’s really intensive, really unlike school at home, and it’s been really hard for me to adjust, even now. I’m sort of just trying to get through it though, focusing on all my weekend plans, trying to make it the best that I can.

OK. This is the part where I tell you that the last 23 days of my life were some of the most wonderful I’ve ever had. 46 of us from all over the world experienced Europe together. We had mass with the Pope in Rome, went up to the top of the Eiffel Tower, heard a presentation about the European Union in Brussels - its capital, walked the streets of Monaco, went swimming in La Cote D’Azur, took a nap on the green grass outside the Louvre, etc etc etc. But these are the clichés. The most amazing moments were in the long conversations, bus rides, crazy nights, and beautiful views, with some of the most incredible people I’ve ever met in my life. We became so close. I laughed so so so much. I spent months building it up. By the end, I was a little worried it wouldn’t exceed my expectations. Yea…it did…X 100000. I never got tired of having not one single minute to myself, of sleeping for 4 hours a night, of the high quality (not) youth hostels we stayed in. I found out the Gators won the National Championship in Louis XIV’s palace in Versailles 4 days after the fact!!!! I added to my European travels in such a big way. Waking up every day since I got home just hasn’t been the same. There’s no more, “Hast du gut geschlafen?” or beautiful cities to be explored. I’m so grateful for the experience though. These past two months have been the best of my year. I never want to forget any of it.

Now, it’s crunch time. I’m in the process of writing a 15 page paper (in English thank heavens) for my multi-culturalism class, trying to graduate from high school on time, starting to work on my speech for my Rotary club here, getting back into the swing of things as well.

So. Outbounds, I hope each and every one of your last couple months are the best they can be. Inbounds, same goes for you. Everyone else, enjoy that Florida sun for me ; ) I'll be back soon enough.

I’ll leave you with a quote I really like: “Daring to live means daring to die at any moment but It also means daring to be born, crossing great stages of life in which the person we have dies, and is replaced by another with a renewed vision of the world, and at the same time realizing that there will be many obstacles to overcome before we reach the final stage of enlightenment.” – Arnaud Desjardins

Tschüß, Julie

July 4 Journal

I did it.

A week ago, I said goodbye to Germany. To a life that I grew to love, to people who became my family, and to a country that became a part of me.

I never thought the time would come for me to go home. As I packed my bags, I wasn't particularly sad or excited, I felt like I was just putting some clothes in a suitcase. It didn't hit me until I had to say goodbye. It hit me when I had to hug ten exchange students and my host family goodbye at the airport. When we had to look into each other's eyes and promise we'll do all we can to see each other again. A couple of weekends ago, I had to say goodbye to the 70 other exchange students in my district. All I could do was hug them tightly, wish them all the luck in the world for the rest of their lives, and tell them they'd always have a bed in Florida and a friend who'd be so glad to have them.

There's so much I want to say. But I can't. I can't possibly explain what this crazy, difficult, wonderful, messed up, challenging, beautiful year did for me. I, myself, don't have the perspective yet to know all that it's changed for me.

Saying goodbye to my host family was unheimlich hard. On the ride to the airport, no one said much. It was raining, just like it was when I arrived in August. My host dad said it was a fitting send-off, that the sky was crying because I was leaving.. and when my host mom commented on all the red lights we were catching, he replied, "That's because Germany doesn't want Julie to leave." We cried at the airport together. I could never thank them for all they did for me, for all the ways they helped and loved me.

I should tell you about these last two months. How finally, at the very end, my life come together. School, friends, family. May and June were filled with so much traveling, with fun, with long days in my favorite park with good friends as we wondered what we'd do without each other in a couple weeks.

I won the "Miss Austauschschulerin 2006-2007" Contest (Miss Exchange Student) at our last Rotex weekend. I'll never tell you what I had to do to win though : ) I reached a level of fluency in German that I didn't think was possible in the beginning of the year. I don't know how it happened, and I don't exactly know when, but I got there. Now, of course, I'm scared to lose it. Before, I wanted to learn German so I could communicate, understand, survive. But now I want to speak it perfectly, without mistakes. I want to be able to say that I'm bilingual for the rest of my life.. and mean it. I never want to have to talk with my host family in English again, or stop being able to have long conversations with my best friend from Argentina. I never want to lose what I worked so hard this year to acquire.

One week ago, I stepped on American soil for the first time in 10 months. My family was waiting for me at the airport and my friends were waiting for me at home, having decorated my house and themselves completely in red, white and blue. We all stayed up until 4 in the morning talking, sitting on my kitchen counters like we'd done so many nights before. Every second that I've been home has been incredible. This new stage in my life, this summer, a real real summer, has started off so wonderfully.

I want to thank anyone that gave me one ounce of strength this year. One smile, one word of encouragement. Rotary, my friends, and my families on both sides of the Atlantic.

I'm so happy and I'm so proud.

I think about all I've experienced and seen of this world at 18 years old.. and I honestly don't know what to say..

other than..

Thank you.

Danke Schoen.

I wish you all the very best. Aufwiedersehen, Julie