Pillar #4: Romans like things that are miniature

It's been a pretty calm week after a busy few days last weekend, which has left me focused mainly on school work and other day to day things, like going to the store, doing laundry, etc. These nearly daily tasks have taken some adjustment, not because things are all that different here, but because things are so much smaller. The washer/dryer combo holds on average 6 shirts or 2 pairs of jeans with some small stuff, so we do laundry basically every other day. The dryer doesn't really dry, so we hang up everything. (At least I'm not having to hand wash things in the sink like my last visit.) It's somewhat logical to have smaller appliances because apartments are typically smaller in general. (Four of us are living in an apartment that is maybe 1000-1100 square feet, and I'm told that is big by Roman standards.) I've also been surprised to learn that I would wear shirts that are XL or XXL over here.

We obviously can't drive anywhere (and those that do drive much smaller cars or mopeds), so running daily errands is interesting as well. The nearly every other day process of grocery shopping has become especially annoying. On the one hand, it's nice because everything is fresher, and we can go to the outdoor markets to get better and cheaper produce. On the other hand, walking this much causes me to eat even more than ever, so it's hard to keep a stocked pantry when, for example, a loaf of bread is half the length, and a slice is two-thirds the size of your typical American loaf. If you know me you know I like to drink a lot of milk, so a liter doesn't last very long either. (No gallons here.) Pretty much everything you can think of (produce and meat aside) is slightly smaller than we're used to in the U.S. Hotdogs come in packs of 3 (yes, they sell hotdogs). Yogurt comes in tiny cups. Juice is a liter. Beer comes in 3-packs or individually. Paper towel rolls are an inch or two shorter. Everything just seems much smaller.

Everything, that is, except for bottles of vino. Those are still standard size (or larger, in some cases).

This is interesting to think about because it really shows that Roman society is geared towards people who walk to and from the store, typically, as we do, on the way home from school or work (as long as we can make it before 8:30 when they all close. Where is the 24-hour Kroger or Super Walmart?) rather than people who drive.


The preference for the miniature ends when it comes to churches, however, as you can see in the picture I took today at Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, or the Church of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, the oldest of the four main papal basilicas in Rome (the others being St. Peter's, Santa Maria Maggiore..."big Mary," and St. Paul Outside the Walls). The Lateran has ancient Roman connections, and it is a Cathedral because it is the seat of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. Although it is on the opposite side of the city from the Vatican, there is still a strong connection between the two churches.