My Summer Internship at the University of Cambridge

This story is based on a TRUE story that has taken place over this summer. I know that my readers who have stuck by my past written work might have many questions with regards to my professor, in short, we are taking some time apart (mutually agreed upon) and we are not on a bad note with one another. Once again, my writing style is expressive and detailed which connotates the feelings and emotions I have felt – this may seem strange when I put it in writing but I prefer my readers to get a full and immersive experience as they read. The speech and order of events are as accurate as I can remember them. This is a true story, so you may not find juicy sexual encounters straight away, I will be setting the premise first so you get the full picture. So please stay tuned for my summer internship at the University of Cambridge.

 

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Chapter 1: Meet

 My name is Jay, I am 25 years old and I have just finished my penultimate year of my undergraduate studies. I wish to continue through to my postgraduate studies in the social sciences and have a research question and field in mind, for a potential PhD. I am British south Asian, 5ft 10 and of average build. This summer I bleached my hair and toned it silver, which compliments my skin tone, I also liked the length of it (approximately 3-4 inches) as it sits below my eyes and the sides just above my ears. With my new look, I was ready to take on the summer season! I searched and searched for a few research internships to help build my understanding, confidence and CV before I take on further studies surrounding this world, for this year I came across one which is hosted and fully funded (with a stipend) by the University of Cambridge. It is aimed at underrepresented groups who wish to pursue postgraduate studies in the social sciences and the experience is over six weeks from 1st July 2023 to 11th August, you apply for a project which you will work on across the weeks alongside attending training sessions for postgraduate research and college socials the programme organises. I applied with no hope in getting a place, as it is only for 10 people and it is quite competitive but to my surprise, I was offered an interview in May and then offered a place on the programme! I was elated – no, ecstatic! I have always wanted to be an Oxbridge student; this is the closest experience I will gain whilst being in Cambridge across the summer. My family were of course happy for me and I spent the next few weeks preparing myself for my move from London. We had a zoom chat (organised by the intern programme) where we all introduced ourselves and gained further information about the programme and our arrival, many of the students had their cameras off. from the list of names and access to the participants via the Cambridge VLE page they setup for us, I could make out that 8 of the members were not male, whilst only me and another called Ethan seemed to be the only guys on the internship. They gave us more information on our accommodation, they said all the girls would be upstairs whist the two boys will be downstairs and two others who require accommodating for their disabilities have been housed in the student accommodation 5 minutes away from us.

 ***

 During move in day (Saturday) my brother drove me to Cambridge and helped me to unload my stuff. I made my way to the college porters lodge and was handed a key to my room and a university card – this card is only given to students and it had my name and picture on it, this moment for was very surreal. We drove to the house, which is not far from the main college site, and is situated between Darwin and Queens college. It is a two storey Victorian house, with a private drive and a large private garden, everything seemed to be highly maintained by the gardeners. I looked into the history of the house and found that members of the Darwin family lived here almost 200 years ago. My initials thoughts before arriving were how haunted it must be! On the zoom chat, one of last year’s interns told us about spider problems and that they are one of the biggest spiders you will see in comparison to the ones you find in the larger cities, I have the biggest fear and came prepared with bug nets, spider sprays and my brother who will do a sweep of my room. Upon entering I went through two doors and entered the main hallway; I was placed in room 3 which was at the bottom of the corridor next to room 4. The house was empty and I could not hear anyone. We made our way to the room and as I opened my door I was greeted by an upright piano and then invited to a room with a large floor to ceiling bay window, a square mahogany dining table in front of it with two black leather tub chairs, a chest, a single bed, a desk, wardrobe and a Chester drawer. The room was huge with high ceilings. There was also another large floor to ceiling window near my wardrobe at the foot of my bed (pics will be attached). I expected a small dorm room, but I was taken back by the sheer size and furnishings of my room, I knew I was clearly in Cambridge! The bay window overlooked the beautiful garden, centred with a tree and the side window faced a forestry of trees, it was like the garden of Eden. My brother began to look for spiders and got the hoover and started to hoover any he seen along with any webs; I then began to unpack. He left halfway. I went out to go and get my food shop to survive the first week, when I returned, I put all my dry foods into one of the drawers, I then heard movement outside my door. I opened the door and found my neighbour, Ethan.

 “Hi, I’m Jay” I said extending my hand for a shake.

 “Hey, I’m Ethan.” He grabbed my hand and gave me a firm handshake.

 Ethan is 6ft, slim, white, with semi-dark blonde hair and brown eyes. He didn’t have a clear face but had a few spot breakouts around his chin, top left temple and a little on his right cheek. He wore a hoodie, Nike sneakers and combat trousers. He had a London accent but sounded very common, like a lad.

 “I’m headed to find something to eat, wanna join me?” he asked.

 “Oh thanks, but I already came back from a food shop, plus I have lots to unpack.” I kindly refused. “Has anyone else moved in?”

 “I asked the porters and he said a few have, but they are probably in their rooms…” he replied.

 “Cool, then I guess I’ll see you around.”

 “See ya.”

 I didn’t know what to expect, before coming here I stalked everyone’s social media. However, on this occasion I was unsuccessful with locating some of them, in particular Ethan. I came across three profiles which matched his university and area of interest (that he shared on the zoom meeting) but standing in front of me was someone completely different. I was a little disappointed because I normally don’t get along with guys; they either don’t understand my interests or I am too boring for them. They would much prefer talking about girls, sports, cars or enjoy a drink; whereas I prefer photography, aviation, travel, museums, galleries, movies and good food. I don’t think me and Ethan will get on too well. Still there is the interest of academics I suppose… 

 ***

The first week was going very well. I got along with my intern colleague, Beatrice, who is on the same research project as me and the rest of the group also seem quite chilled. They are all between the ages of 20-21 and I am the only senior. I learned that some of them come from different disciplines such as history, psychology and sociology. On Thursday we had a social event organised by our mentors, who are PhD students from the college we are with. They organised a BBQ in our garden which was nice and intimate. The day before, Ethan told me that he was meeting a girl. I teased him about it and he said ‘it’s not like that!’ but he proceeded to tell me that this girl is his friends ex. The groups asked where Ethan is and I told them that he is meeting a friend. One of the other girls said “not just only a friend, it’s his friends ex” – everyone was of course interested now. The topic unfortunately became hot gossip, as its not normal to do such a thing, we agreed to tease him when he returns and find out if him and this “friend” had a nice time or if he likes her. After an hour we see him walk up through the driveway and into the house. I decide to go in after him.

 “Yo, how did it go?”

 “How did what go?”

 “Your secret hook-up – I mean, your catch up with your friend.” I teased.

 Ethan rolled his eyes and sighed “Errghh it’s not a hook-up, she’s genuinely my friend, I mean she’s hot, don’t get me wrong but –”

 “OH, so she’s hot, is she??” I said again sarcastically, “Hahaha, I’m only teasing you, you know that right? Come on, come out and grab a drink and some food!”

 “Alright, let me put my bag away and I will be right out.” 

When Ethan came out the other girls teased. I told them before he came out that I believe it’s a genuine friend but they still wished to wind him up for fun. As they did, I joined back into the rhythm and said “he said she is hot, you know?” but what he responded with was hurtful.

 “I just realised something about you.”

 “Oh yeah, what?”

 “You are a shit stirrer.”

 “Excuse me?” my smile faded slowly.

 “You are a shit stirrer.” He said once again.

 “No, I’m not, that’s the last thing I am!”

 “But you clearly are...” he said.

 “You don’t know me at all, so don’t insinuate something about me like that. If you can’t take a joke then I’m sorry, but don’t say that about me.”

 Things were not as awkward as I had imagined they would be from here on. But me and Ethan did not speak too much after this. One of the girls from the main college accommodation invited me and four others to come and play cards as I mentioned that I got a deck. Ethan asked if he could join us, which of course he was welcome to.

 **

We sat around her bed and I taught them how to play a card game which me and my family grew up calling chase the ace (which I recently learned is a whole different game). As we took turns taking cards clockwise from one another, we had conversations in-between. The evening was full of laughter and we were learning more about one another, from our home lives to our sexuality.

“Ethan, when I met you, I was surprised by your name.” Brooks said.

 “Oh my god me too!” Chloe added. “Hahaha yeah me too” I added.

 “Wait what!!? why??”

 “You just, you don’t look like an Ethan.”

 “What does that even mean??” Ok what do I look like then? He asks.

 Everyone looked at him closely and were thinking.

 “He looks like a Rudds, short for Ruddiger.” I said confidently.

Everyone burst out laughing. “What?? Why Rudds??” Ethan asked, smiling now.

 “Well, I say this in a sweet way, not in a way to offend you but when I look at you, I think of a cartoon animation, a cross between Doug, Caillou, Flat Stanley with a hint of Bart Simpson, and if I had to name you, you would be Rudds.”

 “Whaat the fuck – BWAHAHAAH!” Chloe burst out laughing.

 “NO, Jay is right, I see it!!” Brooklyn says.

 “Me too.” Beatrice adds.

 Ethan stares at me, smiling with a squint to his eyes, he begins to shake his head side to side in disapproval. We stick with the name Rudds throughout the evening which he surprisingly does not protest, but shows his annoyance at.

 *

 “Jay, if you don’t mind me asking what’s your sexuality?” Beatrice asks.

 “Well, I’m gay. But I don’t really speak about it much, and only a handful of people know. So, I’m telling you all in confidence.” I respond.

 “Of course, thank you for sharing with us.”

 Everyone else begin to share their sexuality, they have boyfriends but they are bisexual. They all turn to Ethan. 

“I’m straight!! that’s all” he says plainly.

 “Oh, come on Ethan! Surely there’s more? Beatrice adds.

 “No. it’s as simple as that. Like me and my friends would act gay sometimes, but that is just banter...” he added.

 The girls laughed and did not understand and were now not convinced about his sexuality.

 “No, seriously it’s only jokes, ask Jay, he went to an all-boys school.”

 They all looked at me.

“Yes, sometimes locker room banter and jokes are normal amongst straight boys without any sexual feelings believe it or not, It happened a lot in school. But if Rudd’s says he’s straight then he’s straight, we should believe him, he is clearly comfortable with his own sexuality. This is exactly what straight people do to us when we tell them we are bi or gay, they don’t believe us and expect us to say the opposite answer.”

 “Thank you, Jay! Exactly! Do you believe me now?” they all agree and move on.

 *

 Throughout the evening we learn about each other’s disciplines, Ethan is an archaeology student. He tells us passionately about his subject and interest.

 “So do you prefer field archaeology or the data side to it all?” Eliza asks.

 “Field Archaeology! I like to get down and dirty…” he says as he shoots me a direct look, smiling deviously. This turns me on for some reason.

 To be continued…