A day in the life of a Fort McMurray fire evacuee: An inside glimpse from a 13-year-old

Amrita Mosale, 13, has faced a lot of emotions since the wildfire forced her family to flee Fort McMurray along with tens of thousands of others. Fear that her family's home in the Timberlea neighbourhood had been destroyed. Relief that they made it out alive.Sadness that she might never see some of her best friends again. Joy at the support and generosity shown to evacuees from her new classmates and other Albertans. Even boredom, when she doesn't have enough homework to keep her busy.

Eight days ago, onMay 7, Amrita and her family joined the hundreds of evacuees who have found temporary housing at the University of Calgary residences. Her mother, Rajani Lingadahally, has already flown back to a CNRLsite in the Fort McMurray area to resume her work as a lab analyst with MaxxamAnalytics. Her father, NateshMosalewho works atthe Municipality of Wood Buffalo'swater treatment planthas stayed in Calgary with Amrita and her sister Apoorva, 8. Here, Amrita takes us behind the scenes to share A Day in the Life of an Evacuee:

When my family and Iheard on May 3that we were under mandatory evacuation, I was panicstruck. I had no idea what to expect. I was at school. I was hoping that we would be able to go back and retrieve everything that I had left behind, as did the rest of my family. I packed a fewthings, thinking I would be able to retrieve more later. I took some clothing, toiletries, a Polaroid photo of my friends, a Rubik's Cube (I solve it whenever I'm bored), a notebook, and my sketchbook and art supplies. I also tucked away some books, includingthe first Harry Potter andmy favourite book from Grade 6, Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer.

Then I began to worry about something else. I began to worry about how we would even be able to leave the city safely. The sky had been drenched and devoured by smoke.

The television was on and all I could see was fire all over town. We've lived here since 2009, but itseemed as if everything I had known for yearswas gone within seconds. I had been receiving messages about how the south exit to the city had been closed. Then we found outthe north exit was closed. Then we discovered most hotels outside of town were full alsonot the most comforting news.

Things began to look up slightlywhen my mother told me that aCNRLsite had saved us rooms so we would have a place to go. We also received news that both exits were open again.

It took us five hours to drive to the CNRL site. The next day, they were able to fly us here to Calgary, where we first stayed with a family friend. On Saturday, May 7, we came to the University of Calgary residence. Honestly, we were one of the fortunate families. Others were not as fortunate, as some people had a harder time to get to safety.

There aren't any students staying at the university residences we're in, just evacuees. We see quite a few people we know from Fort McMurray, even a girl from my Grade 6 class that I hadn't seen in two years. But all of my closest friends are in Edmonton.

My family has a suite at the residences with a kitchen, a dining table, a bathroom, twobedrooms with closets, drawers, a storage/display shelf and a desk. The university also supplied pillows and blankets.

During the days that I have school, I try wake up at around 6:30 a.m. so I can get ready and be down in timefor breakfast in the cafeteria across from the building we are staying in by 7:00 a.m.We usually sit together as a family but we have gotten to knowmany other evacuees.

For breakfast, I usually choose to eat hash browns and eggs amongst the other food choices. My family are vegetarians, so our food options tend to be slightly limited, but nonetheless, the food that we receive is always delicious. They also serve lunch and dinner, which are just as enjoyable.

My sister, Apoorva, and I have just enrolled at a school here in Calgary called St. Vincent de Paul. We take a school bus that arrives at around7:35 a.m. We're the only evacuees on the bus.

Classes begin at 8:20 a.m., but my sister and I arrive at 8:10 and stay outside for a bit before the school bell rings. We have two breaks every day, one to eat a snack before third period and one to eat lunch. At 12p.m., we go outside for a while and then come back inside for the last three periods. After a week of staying at my new, but temporary, school, I think I finally have a slight grasp on the schedule.

Although the school has about 10 or 12 evacuees from Fort McMurray, I'm the only one in my classroom.People have beenvery friendly. As soon as I came into my homeroom, I was very nervous but some other students were welcoming and immediately made small talk with me. Now I have good friendshere.

The school has been very understanding in terms where I am in the curriculum. In some subjects such as social, the textbook is exactly the same as the one we were using in Fort McMurray but they're ahead by one or two chapters. In math, they're doing the same things I studied up north but in a different order. And in science, the textbook is similar to the one we used in Fort McMurray. So overall, it has been easy for me to catch up. They don't expect me to do much homework but I kindof want to.

During the days that we do not have school, I simply try to do things to keep me occupied.

For example, I enjoy art very much. I brought my sketchbook, sketch pencils and pencil crayons, and other supplies when I left my home. So during my freetime, I try to draw whenever I can. It was a shame that I had to leave some of my favourite pieces of artwork behind.

I've been to Calgary a number of times before, but we have plans to explore it a bit more while here such as going to the zoo.

In the picture at the top of this story, you can see my father, my sister,Apoorva, and I. You may notice that my mother is not there. This is because my mother,RajaniLingadahally, had been called back to work. She left on Saturdayand will be coming back onWednesday. She works one week on and one week off.

It will be like this until we move back to Fort McMurray. Before my mother left, I asked her how she felt about leaving her family behind and going back to work.

"Everything seems to have settled and calmed down so even though it is a bit hard leaving my family, it definitely isn't as hard to leave."

After we first reached Calgary, we decided to go to Edmonton for a day. To my surprise, in thehotel that we were staying at, theRamada, there was a huge room of donated things such as toiletries, food, water, toys and so much more for anyone from Fort McMurray. We were free to help ourselves and take anything and as much as we wanted. We took toiletries such as hand lotion, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, food and water, among other supplies.

As we drove around Edmonton and Calgary, we could see so many huge signs and posters that were supporting the cause! Thank you to everyone who is donating:you are truly helping many people.

"The support is great, and the people are so generous and understanding.The transition from our old routine to our new routine was made so easy by the help of Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), Red Cross, the University of Calgary, the generous donors and all the helpful volunteers," saysmy father,NateshMosale.

I asked my sister,Apoorva,how she felt about the whole situation. She replied with this:"I felt sad and scared, and actually angry. I thought it would only be a small fire and we would be able to go back the next day. Why did it have to happen to us? But even though I am scared, I think that everything will be okay soon."

We've been told to expect we might be here in Calgary for another month. We are very sure now that our house is OK. We're not sure about smoke damage or water damage but we know it's still standing so that's good.

The thing that I'm most looking forward to is seeing my friends again. That's Number1. I know some of them are moving, maybe even my best friend, although it's comforting to know some of them are coming back.

In the meantime, Calgary is an amazing place. The generosity and kindness that my family and I are receiving is overwhelming and I feel very welcome here.

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