A Trip to the Getty Villa

By: Bao Yi Lei (‘19)

At the end the month of January, YPI hosted a field trip to the Getty Villa. Although the amount of students that went was minimal, the field trip was a success. Of the nine students that attended, all said it was a ton of fun. At the Getty Villa, students got to saw artifacts that dated back to the Ancient Greeks and Romans. The highlight of the museum was seeing an actual mummy. Not only were there great exhibits, the view of the Pacific Ocean from the second story of the mansion was spectacular. Many students used the Getty Villa as opportunities to take photos with great sceneries and lighting. There were many fountains, statues and greenery located throughout the museum to take pictures around.

While many may believe that walking around a museum can be quite boring, this field trip in particular was memorable for many of the students since they just enjoyed themselves. Whether it be walking through the gardens and looking at the koi pond to posing with statues, it was not strictly educational. Although you should definitely learn at museums, museums are also a great place to explore and hang out with friends. If you are a person who does not like walking around, many areas for lounging are located throughout the museum to simply relax. Visitors were seen with books or sat admiring statues in the shade. The weather was nice to walk around as it wasn’t terribly hot or cold.

The food at the Villa was expensive, but that is the case with most museums. However, the baked goods served there were worth the price. The Getty Villa had a miniature set-up outside its main restaurant that sold drinks and desserts. Many students opted for these sweets, but many other visitors were trying the Italian dishes that were served on the menu. Stern MASS ate outside in the sun for some time before moving inside the restaurant to take a break from walking. While inside the restaurant, students played their music out loud and chatted away.

Since the field trip ended at five, there was still some time left before the students headed back onto the bus. They went back into the museum to look at more exhibits or simply wander around. Then, they strolled through the garden. Many were occupied with the koi fish that swam in the small pond. Since the field trip occurred towards the end of winter, many fruits and vegetables were beginning to sprout. After the garden, Stern MASS took pictures with the statue of Venus and headed to the store. There were stuffed animals, glassware, jewelry, puzzle games, Getty Villa merchandise and books on Greek/Roman civilization. The best part of the store was a pun book that had cheesy pick-up lines.

Overall, the field trip to the Getty Villa was considered to be one of the best. Many took it as an opportunity to de-stress from school. The trip to the Villa would have not be possible with YPI and Jordan, one of their staff members. Stern MASS is grateful to have such a program and will look forward to future events held by YPI.