Sabbatical Homes

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Explore articles on academic travel, scholar housing, conferences, sabbaticals, and member stories from the SabbaticalHomes community.

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  • Mom on Sabbatical

    The Chronicle of Higher Education: Mom on Sabbatical

    Seton Hill professor Lee Tobin McClain documented her sabbatical in a candid four-part series for The Chronicle of Higher Education, covering everything from early preparations to balancing writing with motherhood and the eventual return to teaching.

    • Stories & Spotlights
  • Home Exchange with Kids

    Home Exchange with Infants and Toddlers

    Nicole Feist reflects on completing home exchanges with her infant son and baby daughter, offering practical advice on routines, familiar gear, and why swapping homes beats a hotel when traveling with little ones.

    • Stories & Spotlights
  • House Rental California

    Going Green—and It’s Not the Paint

    Architect and USC professor Jennifer Siegal shares the story behind her self-designed green home in Venice, CA, a sustainable rental featuring durable materials, energy-efficient fixtures, and an indoor/outdoor California feel.

    • Stories & Spotlights
  • House Share London England

    House Sharing Option a Hit with London Traveler

    Sam Hickey recounts his first trip to London using SabbaticalHomes’ new House Share feature, landing a budget-friendly central flat and welcoming housemates who made him feel at home.

    • Stories & Spotlights
  • Home Rental France

    French Dream Home Created by Bicontinental Couple

    Ian Johnson and Ien Ang split life between Sydney and France’s Perigord region, renting out whichever home they leave behind to fund the adventure at the other. They share how they renovated an 18th-century property, one building at a time, and their tips for a dual-continent lifestyle.

    • Stories & Spotlights
  • lacressonniere

    DesignMom.com: Finding the perfect home in France

    Gabrielle Blair runs DesignMom.com, a favorite at the intersection of motherhood and design. This year she is moving her whole family to France, where she found the perfect home in the beautiful Normandy region. She shares how it came together.

    • Stories & Spotlights
  • Deike Peters

    Notable Member: Bicontinental Professor Deike Peters

    Professor Deike Peters splits life between Berlin and Los Angeles, renting her Berlin home to academic families for the school year. On her fifth successful rental, she shares how to find the right renters, set clear expectations, and protect yourself with the right paperwork.

    • Stories & Spotlights
  • Benjamin Franklin's House

    Would Benjamin Franklin have used SabbaticalHomes.com?

    Touring Benjamin Franklin’s former London home, now a museum, SabbaticalHomes founder Nadege Conger imagines the great mind as a modern member. His planned 8-month sabbatical stretched to nearly 16 years, a reminder of how scholarly journeys can leave a lasting legacy.

    • Stories & Spotlights
  • Notable Members

    Notable Members: Professors Konrad and Hannelore Jarausch

    UNC-Chapel Hill professors Konrad and Hannelore Jarausch have rented their Berlin condo to academics for years, and this time they searched for a place of their own. They talk about vetting renters, juggling calendars, and the value of dealing with a fellow academic rather than an agency.

    • Stories & Spotlights
  • Notable Member: Debra Deliso

    Notable Member: Actor, Teacher, Director Debra Deliso

    Actor and teacher Debra Deliso found more than a quiet place to write when she took a SabbaticalHomes home sitting opportunity. Her connection with member Michele Druon grew into a friendship rooted in a shared love of theater.

    • Stories & Spotlights

Member Spotlights

Brian Thompson

Notable Member: Earthen Vessels Founder Brian Thompson

Founded in 1980 by SabbaticalHomes member Brian Thompson and Marie-Claude Thompson, EVkids has grown into a thriving Boston nonprofit supporting young people through tutoring, mentoring, college guidance and summer camp.

  • Stories & Spotlights