english: When I was a kid, growing up in New York, I was smitten by snakes, the same way most kids are smitten by tops, marbles, cars, trains, cricket balls.
non_english: Toen ik opgroeide in New York, was ik geobsedeerd door slangen, zoals de meeste kinderen bezeten zijn door tollen, knikkers, auto's, treinen, cricketballen.