This morning, I was originally to serve on two komisionoj, but Prof. Quednau's wife Alicja was poorly and asked if I would serve on a third komisiono so she could stay in the room and rest. Whereas the previous day's students were all magistraj the three today were bakalauxraj. The essential difference between the two is that for the former you have to conduct some form of original research, whereas for the bakalauxra you need only to summarize the research of others -- it is, therefore, much like in the US system. The three students we saw were both somewhat less nervous and had better mastery of Esperanto. They sailed through the proceedings with relatively few panics or tears.
Afterwards, I was exhausted. I didn't sleep particularly well last night and, as usual, was awakened at 4am by the crowing of the roosters that live in the neighborhood adjacent to the dormitory. But I walked back, exchanged money, bought lunch, and paid for my lodging. It was 300 kronoj per night for 9 nights, or 2700 kronoj total -- about $83. Pretty reasonable. Then, I stopped in a spoke with Alicja, who I knew would be interested in how the Polish students had done. She had served as an informal advisor and advocate -- the students were in her room at all hours prepared and asking who the various people were who were on their committees. A day or two ago, I had come in and was sitting there when one of the students asked who this "Professor Brewer" was. In any case, I was pleased to be able to tell her that the students had all passed with honors. Finally, I went back to my room and took a nap for a few hours.
In the evening, I had been under the impression that there would be some kind of meeting, but in fact once the diplomas and atestiloj were ready, everyone simply retired to the Banderium restaurant for dinner and beer. What a marvelous and friendly atmosphere exists among Esperantists! We told stories and jokes, laughed, and exchanged interesting perspectives on everything from religion to politics to history to modern culture. Finally, it got to be late and a few of us walked back together to the dormitory.