Banana Observation Essay

During the process of scrutinizing a banana, involuntary recurrent memories and repressed thoughts and emotions were consciously recalled. Banana is an ordinary nutritional intake that if one devotes time to observe and analyze, he or she might discover that not only does it associate with monkeys, but also within his or her inner values. With that being said, my observations of the banana directed my consciousness towards the sensation, perception, and thoughts of my inner process.

What’s memorable about a banana is its discernable color, followed by its shape and taste. Before I sensed the taste of the banana, this yellow, long, curved cylindrical fruit directed my attention to the parts that still remain green. The stem that emerges from
the body was a fading, green color, and appeared at the end was a wooden-like stalk. On the other end, the banana narrows into a rough, circular point surrounded with a green coloration. My next observation was a sticker that states “Chiquita #4011 Guatemala” on the surface area of the product.
I carefully probed along the length of the banana and noticed that the fruit not only had one shade of yellow, but it also originated with streaks of different shades of yellow. I ran my middle finger through the streaks, and distinctly detected the smooth and rubbery skin. The banana has four vertical ridges that run down its length. As I looked at the banana more efficiently, I noticed small brown dots around the banana. The dots looked almost like they were moles. Consequently, I picked up the firm, yet squishy fruit to my ear and to no surprise, no sound production. Moving forward with my observation, I sniffed the outside of the banana and detected a plant fertilizer scent. After eight to ten minutes of leaving the banana in my hand, I started seeing shades of brown patches. The scratches that were initially on the banana were changing from light yellow to light brown. The banana was becoming warmer and stickier in my hand. The ridges were also getting dark and the surface area was showing light brown patches. I touched it and it felt soft. Then, I decided to observe the taste of the banana. “Crack, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk” I hear
as I peel from the stem. I quickly took note of the how soft and sticky the inside of the skin was. More importantly, light yellow strings called phloem were striping down along the peel as well as the soft, squishy, cream-yellow flesh. While this all happened, I involuntarily inhaled an acidic scent. I took one small bite and the starchy outer texture of the flesh immediately stuck to the back of my teeth. The banana tasted chunky and mashy. It left a sweet, starchy taste in my mouth. A little less than halfway through the banana, I noticed black seeds in the center of the banana. When I finished digesting the banana, I noticed a creamy, black piece at the end of the banana. I took a bite and it was bitter. Although the redundant peel remains thick, the peel became shapeless, sticker, and black. Nonetheless, I sufficiently used my sensation to observed the unique features of the banana.

The point of thinking during my observation is to understand what I sensed and perceived.
As I came across this seed-bearing product, I found myself feeling nostalgic. Staring at the banana reminded me of the time when I played Super Mario as a little girl. However, it was Mario who I thought of rather it was Donkey Kong the gorilla who collected saturated yellow bananas during his adventure. I associated the banana with my memory. Even more, my remembrance was associated with monkeys. Eventually, I found myself thinking about Harambe, the gorilla who was shot and killed after a three year old boy fell into his enclosure. Shortly, I felt sorrowful. But as sorrowful as I felt even now and then when it happened, I was glad to hear that the boy was safe. When I directed my attention back to the banana, the fading green stem reminded of how monkeys don’t peel their bananas the way I do (by peeling from the stem downward). I entered a state of curiosity. I told myself I’ve never really seen a monkey eaten its banana the other way, have only heard people speak of it. I reminisced on the time when whenever I peel my banana in front of others, people say I do it wrong. As the process of observing continues, I realized that as I observe the banana, I relate most of my observations with my experiences. For instance, when I sniffed the banana, I quickly identified the smell to the very moment I walked into Stein’s Gardens and Gifts. Then, I couldn’t determine the smell of the banana
without thinking about all the flowers and plant fertilizer. I smelt it again and couldn’t help but state that the banana smells like plant fertilizer. However, if I asked someone else, they might say the banana has no sense. When I perceived that the banana seemed to be getting bruises. I was greatly reminded of the bruises we as human beings get. While entered a state of curiosity. While observing the sound of the banana, I peeled the banana hoping to see no black patches on it because I knew I would have just tossed that part out. Luckily, I did not encounter any. I analogized the banana with people. A person may look secure and tough on the outside, but that does not conclude that he or she is as tough on the inside. Throughout this process, I didn’t find myself to be bored. Although it took some time for me to perceive my mood, thought, and reactions, it wasn’t hard comprehending my inner feelings and thoughts after observing this fruit.
A banana’s unique features bring a person to think a lot about what banana associates with when observing it. I began thinking a lot about monkeys but later to find myself relating what I observe about the banana to my experiences. This fruit has obvious features that are sometimes overlooked. But the slightest feature of anything can provide you with something to think about.