Qallunaat 101: Perspective on American Lifestyle

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The article, “Qallunaat 101”, gives a different perspective on how the lifestyle in America is viewed today as it was written from an Inuit’s point of view. Inuit’s refer to American’s as Qallunaat because “life” as we know it is more like a state of mind rather than a culture. I liked the point the author made regarding Qallunaat life being all about “keeping up with the Joneses.” That couldn’t be truer. People in America are in constant competition against one another to gain “status”. It’s all about who has what and how many, where it’s located, and how much it cost. American’s are out for number one. They will cut your throat in a minute to achieve personal gain. The author also pointed out Qallunaat life isn’t communal and rarely do they share things even with the less fortunate ones in need. Inuit find Qallunaat lifestyle humorous because their lifestyle is based upon culture and heritage. Inuit people barely have enough money to survive but yet they are happier than most wealthy Americans. They live very simple lives and don’t complicate it with things like proper dinner etiquette, dinner parties, or dating rituals. “The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction” illustrates two story types and shows the differences between the two. The main idea behind each story is the same…Learning isn’t always easy. It’s a continuous, lifelong process which allows us to obtain new knowledge while acquiring new skills. At times, it can be very challenging and require a lot of effort, tolerance, patience, and understanding towards other people and their differences. Not everyone learns the same way or in the same amount of time. The author shows you with these two types of story there is more than one way to learn something. But, one has to be dedicated and willing to continuously try their critical thinking skills until they’ve gathered enough information to make certain decisions.
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