Two Different Childhoods in My African Childhood by David Sedaris

In “My African Childhood,” David Sedaris talks about his own childhood in comparison to his friend Hugh’s. From David’s perspectives, Hugh’s life was so fascinating and fulfilled, while his own seemed to be inane and dull. Besides, Hugh’s childhood stories were so adventurous that they made David’s life in North Carolina appeared ordinary and simple, even though,

David’s surroundings were just as normal and safe environments as any average American boy would have. Illustrating both childhood experiences, David favored Hugh’s one over his own by describing the differences in school activities, vacations, and even living properties.

The variance between two boyhoods was set by living in two different countries with a gap in cultural differences. What seems to be awkward and inappropriate for ones was quite permitted and acceptable for others. Such something small as having a pet monkey in Hugh’s family, and throwing stones at crocodiles, or seeing a fifteen-foot python wandered onto school’s property perhaps was very usual among African kids. Some of Hugh’s field trips...