Meet the Shopp Family: World Travelers

Photo by Julie Cheshire Photography

Story by Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991

www.NorthgateLivingCA.com

Although new to the neighborhood, the Shopp family has jumped right in and made Northgate home.

Ryan and Kristin met in 2005 while they were both working in Austin, Texas. Both had gone to school in Texas: Ryan at Texas A&M and Kristin at the University of Texas.

After one year of dating, Ryan proposed in front of the Eiffel Tower. “He told me to turn around and point at the Eiffel Tower,” says Kristin, “then when I turned back he was on his knee and he proposed in French. Unfortunately I didn’t understand his French and said ‘What?’ So he had to do it again in English.”

The couple had often vacationed in Napa Valley and chose that location for their wedding in 2007. Since they both were laid off from their jobs before their wedding, they decided to take their honeymoon before their wedding. They spent six weeks in Europe and were then able to find new jobs after their wedding. Their first child, Travis, was born on their 1-year anniversary. Their daughter, Savannah, arrived two years later.

Vevey, Switzerland

Kristin, after also receiving a Master’s Degree in Education in Counseling, worked as a recruitment manager while Ryan put his electrical engineering degree to good use working in marketing for different technology companies. His work took them on two extended moves to Europe. From 2013 to 2014 they lived in Vevey, Switzerland with views of Lake Geneva and the French Alps. The kids spent half their day in English classrooms and half in French classrooms. They then moved to Walnut Creek for two years and went back to Europe for a year in London. While there Kristin attended the KLC School of Design, receiving a certificate in Interior Design.

England

These expat assignments created a rich world of travel experiences. The Shopp children, at the young ages of 10 and 8, have already visited 24 countries. Some of their favorite memories include seeing the northern lights in Iceland, shopping for Venetian glass, smelling lavender growing in Provence, and boating around the Isle of Capri, Italy. Kristin learned French during this time and became an expert at moving and traveling with young ones.

Travis, a 5th grader at Walnut Acres, has his father’s skills with technology. “He regularly fixes our friends’ computers. He wants to be a computer engineer when he grows up,” says Kristin. He also participates in Parkour at Apex Gym and is learning golf and piano.

Savannah is in 2nd grade at Walnut Acres and is interested in the arts and animals. She sings and dances, plays soccer and loves art projects. Savannah wants to be a zoologist so she can study animals.

Georgie the Siberian cat rounds out the family. He became part of the family while they lived in London and chose the name George because it fit his British heritage. His favorite activity is sleeping in the sun on his back.

Kristin is currently a homemaker and serves on Walnut Acres PFC’s executive board. Both Ryan and Kristin enjoy working on home improvement projects together. Kristin is actively involved in overseeing a kitchen remodel and other renovations. Ryan jokes, “Kristin paints every room in a new house within one year of living there.” She also enjoys tennis, gardening, cooking and decorating for the holidays; she has a huge wreath for every holiday that she hangs on her front door. She is starting a Bunco group with other moms from the neighborhood.

Germany 2015

Ryan is VP of Marketing for AppDynamics, which was recently acquired by Cisco. He loves watching college football on his outside TV while using his smoker to make a good brisket. He also is the assistant coach for Savannah’s soccer team and enjoys Texas country music.

Austria

The family also enjoys traveling within the US, especially skiing in Lake Tahoe. Last summer they went to Park City, Utah with extended family where they rafted, rode horses and went fly fishing.

Even after traveling all over Europe, the Shopps are happy to call Northgate home. “We like that our street has a lovely view of the hills,” says Kristin. “We love the proximity to San Francisco, wine country, and Lake Tahoe.”

The touching going away party thrown by friends and neighbors before they left for London in 2016 also reinforced for them that this was home. They feel very grateful for being so warmly welcomed to Northgate twice, in 2014 and again in 2017.