First World Vs. Third World - Bananas

We all know that First world and Third world are different in almost all aspects, except geography maybe. Here is an example. Let’s discuss the uses of bananas and banana plants in the two worlds.

In the First world, bananas are used for two things –

1. Eating; and

2. Playing juvenile pranks on people who walk with their heads 'held high' - literally.

And banana plants are used for nothing.

In the Third world, bananas are also used for exactly the same reasons that they are used for in the First world. However, that is where the similarity ends. The differences in use of the banana plants can be used to demonstrate the difference between the two worlds.

Some uses of banana plants exclusive to the Third world are:

1. Bananas, when they are still raw, are used for making curries and soups;

2. The banana flower and the inside of the trunk are used to make curries; and

3. The banana leaves are used by the poor as plates for serving their everyday meals, and by the rich as plates on outdoor picnics.

Obviously, differences like these can help us see why first world and third world problems are different. First world problem - I am out of bananas. My breakfast smoothie will not be as tasty as always, because it will now have only strawberries, blueberries, milk, nuts, and 37 other things. Third world problem - I am out of banana trees. How will I serve food?