Friday at Tivnu

This blog post was written by Sebastian A., a participant in Tivnu’s 11th cohort. He is from the Bay Area, and interns at Tivnu construction and the Oregon Innocence Project. In his free time, Sebastian enjoys reading, studying, and hanging with other Tivnuniks.

Come along with me on a fun Friday, and get a peek into what my everyday life is like!

7:00 am —  I wake up to my roommate Jesse’s alarm. I go back to sleep for a few minutes while Jesse uses our shared restroom.

7:30 am —  I’m pulled from sleep again but this time by my own alarm.   

7:45 am —  I get dressed for the day. It hasn’t gotten cold yet so I don a T-shirt and pants.

7:45 am —  I prepare my breakfast of cereal, fruit, and yogurt then sit down at the table and eat with the other Tivnuniks.

8:15 am — After cleaning up from breakfast and preparing my lunch, I slip out the front door and walk to the nearby bus stop.

8:35 am — I get on the bus using my HOP card and ride through a handful of stops, passing over the Willamette River and into Portland’s business district.

8:52 am — I get off the bus and walk a short while to my internship at the Oregon Innocence Project. 

9:00 am — I arrive at my internship office, greet the other interns and settle in at my desk.

9:30 am — I meet with my internship supervisor and discuss what I will be doing today.

10:00 am —  I begin work on an intake memo. The intake memo summarizes new cases and helps to save time for the attorneys. I was taught how to write one during my onboarding by a more senior intern.

12:30 pm — Finished with my memo, I take my lunch in the break room with views of downtown Portland.

12:55 pm —  I clean up from lunch and return to my work station.

1:00 —  I read and take notes from a handbook interpreting the ethics code of the Oregon State Bar in the attorney-client privilege section and the attorney fees section.

2:00 pm — I organize files into our filing system alphabetically, making space for new client folders.

2:15 pm —  I leave the office and walk to a nearby bus stop. On my walk I pass by a musician playing the electric guitar.

3:00 pm — Made it back home!

3:10 pm — I take some time to clean my room in preparation for Shabbat. This week I don’t have to cook and instead my task is to take photos of everyone and document our experience here at Tivnu.  

3:30 pm — The Shabbat cooks are preparing dinner for everyone. This week it is a pasta primavera dish, salad, and homemade challah. 

3:45 pm — The other Tivnuniks who aren’t preparing Shabbat work on their Toranut tasks. Toranut is everyone’s chores and responsibilities that contribute to a clean and functioning house.

4:00 pm —  My roommate and I go to the rec center and we get some exercise. 

5:30 pm — Back at the house I relax and read a book for a while before Shabbat services begin.

6:00 pm — Shabbat services start, everyone sings together and we say the Shabbat blessings.

6:30 pm — Everyone listens to the D’var Torah, a writing by a Tivnu scholar about this week’s Torah portion. After listening, we discuss our interpretations.

6:40 — Dinner time! All the Tivnuniks eat together and share our favorite moments from the week and our plans for the weekend. Another Tivnunik makes some delicious scones.

7:30 pm — Shabbat dishes are cleaned and everyone returns home.

8:30 pm — For some of us, watching a movie together is the perfect way to relax on Shabbat. House movie night begins and we watch Almost Famous. We eat ice cream during the movie and it is a great time. Other Tivnuniks prefer a low-tech or no-tech experience. Our house fosters a relaxed atmosphere where everyone is free to practice Shabbat in a personal and meaningful way.

10:30 pm — After finishing the movie I return to my room and get ready for bed. Another great ‘Erev Shabbat concludes.

11:00 pm – Bed time!