Living with Local Celebrities: The Ballumbrosio Family

My name is Iliana Gutierrez and this past summer I went to Peru. I visited four cities while in Peru, but none would compare to the experience I had in El Carmen, Chincha, where I met the Ballumbrosio family.

Some things to know about the Ballumbrosios:

• The family's patriarch, Amador Ballumbrosio, is considered a legend in Afro-Peruvian music and zapateo (a style of dance that involves stomping of the feet, demonstrated in the video below by Amador's son Miguel Ballumbrosio)

• They are internationally recognized and family members have performed all over the world

• Their dedication to preserving Amador's legacy and continuing the art of Afro-Peruvian music and dance is a part of their lives' work

• They are an incredibly kind, welcoming family that open their doors to strangers (such as myself) interested in learning more about their culture

As soon as my study abroad group and I walked inside the Ballumbrosio home, we were greeted like family and put to work. We were ushered into the kitchen and all 9 students began helping prepare the food for that afternoon's meal. It was a welcome that perfectly demonstrates how willing the Ballumbrosios are to integrate complete strangers into their home, and this was only the beginning.

The next day, Miguel Ballumbrosio (the 12th child of Amador Ballumbrosio) would take us on a tour around the small town and the family's land. This would go on to be my favorite day of the whole program. Miguel walked us through the fields of his family's plot, where he told us stories of how he and his brothers used to run around when they were young. He took us to the place where his father, Amador, was buried and recounted tales of how his dad caught a graveyard thief. He shared his dreams of one day opening a cultural center, where more people could learn about Afro-Peruvian culture and have the freedom to play and record their own music. Throughout that day, I remember feeling surprised how Miguel was willing to share specifics about intimate memories that are probably very special and dear to him. I encountered a type of vulnerability that not many people are willing to share. Although the rest of my stay with the Ballumbrosio family was just as memorable, eventful, and enlightening as that second day, I look back at this experience and feel privileged to have had the opportunity to encounter and briefly live with the Ballumbrosios.

Walk with Miguel

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Four days, three nights. Thats the total duration of my stay in El Carmen, Peru. Yet, when it was time to leave, the whole study abroad group and I had trouble saying goodbye. This family allowed us to live in their homes, they cooked delicious meals for us, and taught us how to dance. They shared stories and memories with us, introduced us to extended family, and they willingly welcomed us into their lives. When I first applied to study abroad, I had no idea that I would have this type of experience. Before I left to Peru, I was feeling a bit nervous about leaving my comfort zone, but I had no idea that I would be abandoning it like I did. However, this doesn't have to be a bad thing. Leaving familiarity and comfort behind can lead to a truly life-changing experience. There's opportunity to grow and learn when you're in a totally new situation. It's scary and it's uncomfortable, but I am truly grateful for my time abroad. I've learned so much about myself, about others, about how to be a mindful tourist and guest.

My time in Peru and with the Ballumbrosio family has greatly impacted my life and changed who I am and how I perceive others. However, the greatest takeaway from my study abroad is that I learned more about how to interact with peers and strangers. Always remember to be respectful, always recognize that other's experiences are different from your own, and remember to be kind, just as the Ballumbrosios were infinitely kind to me.