Johanna, my exchange partner, came to Black Creek from Bremen, Germany, in grade 11.

One thing I remember is that she woke up at six to run across the road and swim in the black ocean in before the sun had even risen. Before we showered and dressed and stomped up the steps into the school bus that would wheeze 40 minutes down country roads to deliver us to the high school.

Now, at 39, I understand the appeal. I too have the desire to expose my whole self to some blisteringly vivid, breathtaking life and to catch each beautiful and unique opportunity for living as it drops from the sky or splashes me in the face in the sunrise light.

But she was just 16.