We asked the university for permission to live together so no one would think anything dodgy was going on

How we live together: the teacher and the student

Raja Al Majzoub, 24

I’m studying for an MBA in northern Cyprus. My flatmate moved out and I needed someone to help pay the rent; someone easy to live with. Karen, my tutor at the time, said, “Why don’t you ask me?” I thought she was joking. Her son had moved abroad and she needed new accommodation. I asked my mum for advice. She said, “That sounds lovely.”

Domestically, I’m the leader. I like to organise the kitchen and to know where everything is. Mostly people are totally accepting of us flat-sharing, but some do ask what we do in the evenings. We drink tea, we chat, we eat together. She’s a great listener and gives me so much advice. I talk to her about the girls I fall in love with.

She gives me space, but is such a support. We trust each other.

Karen Howells, 55

We have big differences – cultural, generational, gender – but we’re both human. We already knew each other quite well, but asked the university for permission to live together so no one would think anything dodgy was going on. I’m a lecturer, and although he’s been my student in the past, he’s not now.

Raja does pretty much all the housework – apart from a bit of washing up. I’m vegetarian and he and his friends kindly include me in their feasts. That feels special.

I’ve learned a lot about Islam from Raja. We share friendship, companionship, comfort. I don’t have my children here, and he doesn’t have his parents.

He once said, “You’ve made my life so different. I’m learning so much.” I thought, “What’s he talking about, quantitative analysis?”

“No,” he said. “Now I know what shiraz is.”

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