Sabbatical Homes

Blog | Stories & Spotlights

Discover the people and stories behind SabbaticalHomes.com. Explore member spotlights, founder updates, academic journeys, travel experiences, and community connections that bring our global network to life.

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  • Photo of Damrak, Amsterdam: this stretch (rak) of water was once a part of the Amstel River in central Amsterdam; it was dammed and the water plus the adjacent street are called Damrak.

    Member Spotlight: Professor Nigel Smith and Jane Boyd

    Writing Retreat in Amsterdam, Netherlands Finding inspiration while writing can be elusive.  With all of the interruptions of daily life, many successful writers dedicate a physical space in their home or office to be able to focus and encourage the flow of ideas. But what…

    • Stories & Spotlights
  • Photo of a sunset and sky looking out over a beautiful landscape view from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver campus.

    Founder on the Move: UBC, Vancouver

    Founder Nadege Conger visited the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus for an industry conference. As always, she loved immersing herself in a university setting and connecting with local SabbaticalHomes members. Here is what the trip brought.

    • Stories & Spotlights
  • Michael Stromme with Angie in Rwanda

    Member Spotlight: Michael Stromme, Social Entrepreneur in Uganda

    Michael Stromme found trustworthy tenants for his home while living abroad, turning his place into a sabbatical home for others. A social entrepreneur based in Uganda, he works with a range of charitable organizations, and he shares how it all fits together.

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  • Founder on the Move: FemmeQ Summit

    Sometimes you just know an experience will inspire you. Founder Nadege Conger listened to that instinct and took two days away from work to attend the FemmeQ Summit in Los Angeles. She shares what the event stirred up.

    • Stories & Spotlights

  • Founder on the Move: The Gift of New Friends Through SH

    One of the most satisfying things members tell us is how often a housing arrangement turns into a lasting friendship. Founder Nadege Conger shares the story of Barbara, whose email nearly a decade ago began exactly that kind of connection.

    • Stories & Spotlights

  • Member Spotlight: Pat Caplan

    We are proud to feature University of London professor Pat Caplan, a longtime SabbaticalHomes member. Pat and her family recently hosted a refugee from the Middle East through CARA, and she shares more about that work and her years in the community.

    • Stories & Spotlights

  • Guest Blogger Tina Baumgartner: The Traveling Family

    Germany calls up images of beer steins, the Autobahn, and a handful of famous cities, but there is far more to discover. Guest blogger Tina Baumgartner takes her traveling family through southern Germany and shares what most visitors miss.

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  • Guest Blogger: Tina Baumgartner’s SabbaticalHomes.com Story

    After almost 20 years in California, Tina Baumgartner and her Austrian-born husband wondered how it would feel to return to Europe. Would they still fit in? She shares her SabbaticalHomes story, starting with the search for the perfect renter.

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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.

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Morgan O’Hara in her New York City Studio.

Member Spotlight: Morgan O’Hara

We first profiled artist Morgan O’Hara in 2017, and she has kept expanding her work since. She catches us up on her activist and experiential art, including the ongoing Handwriting the Constitution project that continues to draw people in.

  • Stories & Spotlights
Alex Carballo-Dieguez at the Teatro Colón Opera House in Buenos Aires Argentina.

Member Spotlight: Alex Carballo-Diéguez

Alex Carballo-Diéguez, PhD, spent an active academic career at Columbia and used SabbaticalHomes to find apartments while traveling for conferences and lectures. Now retired, he reflects on his research, his travels, and the stays that supported them.

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Katherine K. Merseth headshot.

Member Spotlight: Harvard Educator Katherine Merseth

Harvard educator Katherine Merseth has been called an academic entrepreneur for the inventive research and teaching that shaped her 40-plus-year career. A longtime SabbaticalHomes member and Harvard Professor of the Year, she shares what has kept her work fresh.

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Fulbright Scholars: Interviews & Advice

Each year scholars travel to new universities as visiting researchers, and Fulbright awards remain among the most sought-after honors. Fulbright alumni share their experiences and advice, offering a window into the work and the journeys behind the fellowship.

  • Stories & Spotlights
NadegeConger_ToniDevreaux_HuntingtonLibrary_Pasadena

Founder on the Move: Helping Find Homes for Huntington Scholars

On a bright and beautiful spring day, I had the pleasure of meeting with one of our wonderful members, Toni Devreaux, at the Huntington Library, Art Collection, and Botanical Gardens in Pasadena, California. We were surrounded by lush plants and creatures that seamlessly existed among…

  • Stories & Spotlights