In return for a spot the back yard of a resident of Manchester, England, 25-year-old Evan Eames tutored her in math and science for three hours a week. The deal worked out well for Charley Mantack who has received A’s in her high school classes and is expecting to graduate.
Tuition cost more than expected
Eames originally thought his tuition at the University of Manchester would cost about the same as it would in Canada, since he has British citizenship because of his father. But as it turned out, one has to have lived in England for three years or else international rates apply.
Eames could not afford the more than $30,000 in tuition and tried to come up with creative solutions to the problem. As a student he had travelled and slept in a tent, so the idea of camping out over a longer period did not seem preposterous.
Landlord liked ‘weird ideas’
Replies were negative when he first posted an internet request to use someone’s back yard and included a request for an extension cord for electricity and space in a refrigerator.
He scaled back his request and tried again. Mantack responded saying she liked “weird ideas” and the two negotiated their agreement over a beer at a nearby pub.
Student weathered -10C
Eames cooked, showered and stored many of his possessions at his campus office, but spent nights in the yard, even when temperatures dipped to -10 Celsius and Mantack said he could use her couch indoors. He said he mostly enjoyed being out in the fresh air and doing something out of the ordinary.
After completing his master’s studies, Eames move on to more conventional accommodation as the Paris Observatory will cover most of the cost of his PhD program. And Mantack, who as a youth sacrificed her education to care for siblings, now says she plans go on to university.
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.