Mandatory orientation on Shabbos--how to handle

My grad program has a mandatory Saturday orientation in a city where I don't live. I'm sure I can handle the hilchos Shabbos issue (I'll speak with the coordinator beforehand and let her know I can't write, etc.), but I'm wondering how to make sure I still have Shabbos, rather than just a melacha-free day, if you know what I mean. The orientation will be all day long.

It's going to be so weird being away from my family, surrounded by people who don't even know what Shabbos is.

Did anyone else ever have to do this? What worked for you?

Moderator Joined: Dec 04 2005 Posts: 6172 Location: israel

I had a couple of things that came up in grad school:

-the computer seminars or whatever they were - they just let me skip them

-grad library class with presentations on Shabbat, I was going to work out staying at chabad, but the chabad Rabbi managed to get me out of it completely so I just gave my presentation on a different day..

-Friday afternoon class in the fall- I left early almost every single week.. It was thesis presentations, I got to go first, and missed most of the others.

If you are firmer, and say you just can't go at all, they might get that more, than you can come but not write.

I'm nervous to say I can't go because they're making this orientation into a big deal. People are traveling from all over the state to attend. My program is an online one, and this is the only opportunity we'll have to meet with our professors and classmates in person.

Maybe you're right, though. I will look into it more and see how necessary it is to be there.

bump

Anyone else? Would love to hear your experiences.