Thuwal...

KAUST is located in the town of Thuwal, which I learned today means "blinded" in arabic. People use it to signify dumb or "despistado" when someone does something stupid like fall or walk into something. I wonder if there is any significance to the fact that this very expensive institution has been placed in a town of 'blind fools.'
The town of Thuwal got its namesake because of the 'blinding sandstorms' that affect it in the winter. Today was one such sand storm. It was nuts! It wasn't quite like the movies with clouds of sands but you feel the sand in the back of your throat and a light coating of sand on everything else. The winds were so strong they were literally tearing pieces of the roof off (now that might also be because they haven't finished building the roof and according to my sources are not doing a very good job with it anyway).

Random Fact of Day: There are basically no coins in KSA (with the exception of the very rare 50cent coin). Most things are rounded in the nearest riyal and if there is change to be given it usually given to you as a pack of gum.