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When Tropical Storm Nate hit Costa Rica in October 2017, recipient Kathryn McConnell (IAFS ‘20) was taken by surprise while studying abroad in San Jose. The day of the storm was chaotic—power outages, flooding, and rain storms cancelled classes and hindered communications. In the following days, landslides and other damage left over 400,000 Costa Ricans without running water or shelter. She recalls the experience: “We filled water bottles and buckets as our water supply was rerouted from our area to aid neighboring towns with damaged pipes.” ��

Studying abroad in another country during a natural disaster gave McConnell an opportunity to witness disaster relief in another country. She saw workers heading to the coasts. National campaigns were raising funds, and international organizations collected��clothes, toiletries, food, and cleaning supplies.

McConnell considers herself lucky because the damages from tropical storm Nate in other areas of Costa Rica and Central America were more severe than in her area. Classmates that travelled from other cities to her school had to miss multiple weeks because roads and bridges were washed out. A few weeks later, McConnell settled back into her normal routine, finishing midterm exams, volunteering at a local elementary school, and enjoying native cuisine dishes at local eateries. Tropical Storm Nate’s devastation in Costa Rica was an eye-opening experience for McConnell, and she continues to watch ongoing rehabilitation efforts carefully.

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