During my 2015 sabbatical, I taught in the Village Program in Pontlevoy, France, located in the Loire Valley about 2.5 hours southwest of Paris by train.   My duties consisted of teaching a course in Social Psychology, contributing to many Village Lab excursions (e.g., Amboise, Tours), and participating in Leadership and Communication Seminar Dinners.  The experience was remarkable.  The students were interesting and curious.  The village of Pontlevoy was beautiful, as were the residents and shop owners.  The pace of life was refreshing.  We enjoyed many simple pleasures which consisted of eating local food, drinking local wines, reading, walking, and regular conversations with other faculty and students in the program.  These conversartions were a wonderful learning experience and covered a wide range of topics such as history, geography, literature, art, and science.  As a result, lots of lasting friendships were made. 

In 2017, I returned to teach in the Village Program in the town of Montrichard -- about a 10 minute drive from Pontlevoy. We all stayed in an old manor house (La Chancellerie, built in the 15th century) located in the middle of the city.  There was more to do in Montrichard, lots of shop, food stores, and restaurants. There was also the beautiful view of the Loire river. All classes were taught within the confines of La Chancellerie, so it was quite convenient for both students and faculty.

For more information on the Village Program, please click here.