We never did figure out how our hotel reservations got screwed up. Fortunately we will not be living in cardboard boxes on Tiananmen Square as we initially feared. The conference folks are putting Kevin up in the original RuYi hotel for free for a couple of nights since he's one of the session chairs. James and I signed on for a couple more nights at the hotel down the street. The plan is to move into a more tourist-friendly hotel downtown for the last few days when the conference is over.

We spent a good part of the morning straightening out the hotel situation, then a long walk in the rain not finding a "nearby" coffee shop someone recommended, then a longer walk in the rain (pouring rain, I want to emphasize) trying to find the University that is hosting the conference. We eventually stumbled upon it, drifting aimlessly until we found the registration desk, where we were informed that James and I had yet to pay the registration fee. We sent them credit card information months ago as requested, but they waited until today (when we were in our wet clothes and well into the morning without coffee) to tell us that they can't accept credit card payments. Cash Only! We had already given all our cash to the hotel because they, too, don't take credit cards. What kind of capitalistic communist country is this that doesn't take credit cards? So you, China, think you can be #2 in the world economy? A very kind woman offers to take us to a nearby bank where they don't take MasterCard but do have an ATM that acknowledges 5/3 bank cards. Success! Sadly I wondered whether this might not be the same person who should have told us months ago that they don't accept credit card payments; okay, at the time I wanted to ring someone's neck, but she was so sweet and helpful and apologetic I decided to have her stuffed and brought back to the US as a souvenir. She'll look so cute next to the wooden tortoise I brought back from the Galapagos last summer--provided I can get her through customs. NOTE: On second thought, while having her stuffed would preserve her cuteness, it would destroy her autonomy, and I can't be responsible for that.

Now for a post-lunch nap (it's 2:30 am in KY) and then off to a reception that I expect to resemble something from a Marx Brothers movie.