Vivek Puppala grew up in the Bay Area, attended UC Berkeley, and then moved to the East Coast to attend medical school. That is where he met New York native Amrita Jayagopal. Vivek messaged Amrita online and “despite taking two months to get back to him, we eventually went on a first date.” The sparks flew and soon they were making plans to marry.
Both are working in healthcare. Amrita is a Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Educator. She received her undergraduate degree in dietetics from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree in Community Health Education at Adelphi University in New York. She was working as an inpatient dietitian at a hospital in Queens when she met Vivek. She now works for Safeway filming Facebook Live videos and creating healthy recipes for various companies and products. She also is a dietitian for Diablo Clinical Research providing nutrition education and support to patients in weight loss and diabetic trials. In her free time, she is an avid baker with a love for making cakes and a foodie who enjoys exploring the culinary scene in Walnut Creek.
Vivek is an Emergency Room Physician. He attended medical school at New York Medical College and spent a one-year residency at the Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston before returning to New York to complete a residency at the Lincoln Medical Center in the South Bronx. The opportunity to have an impact on an underserved population there was a life-changing experience for him. After his residency he always knew that he wanted to return to the Bay Area, so he convinced Amrita to come to California where he now works with a similar population. He enjoys movies, cooking, and playing games with their three daughters. When time allows, he has a passion for creative writing. As an avid Golden State Warriors fan, Vivek waited 30 years to see a Warriors Championship (and then he got 4 in 8 years!). Amrita says she brought her New York sports luck with her when they moved here in 2009!
Even though Vivek grew up in the Bay Area and attended UC Berkeley, he had never been east of the Caldecott Tunnel. It was when Amrita researched cities in the Bay Area that they discovered Walnut Creek. “After just one visit, we fell in love with the lively downtown, abundance of family friendly parks, and outdoor activities for kids and pets,” says Amrita. Even more than baking, she loves animals, especially their French Bulldog Munster (and her twin brother Stewie who recently passed). They found a Frenchie meet-up group that they take Munster to. Amrita shares, “It’s absolutely adorable to see 30+ French Bulldogs running around the dog park, snorting and drooling to the point of exhaustion.”
Munster shares a birthday with their youngest child Janavi (6). Janavi says she wants to be a “skater girl,” but mom and dad are hoping that’s just a phase. Jayna (9) has shown an affinity for soccer and basketball, while the oldest, Sarika (11), has taken an interest in tennis. All three girls participate in swimming at the American Swim Academy at the Shadelands Sports Mall and Taekwondo at Sparta. They are working hard towards their goal of getting their black belts someday. They also attend Indian School on Saturdays to help them connect with both sets of grandparents and learn the history and culture of India.
The family loves living in Rancho Paraiso because they have great neighbors and an abundance of wildlife. Last summer they hosted a movie night on their driveway for their neighbors and plan to do it again this summer. “We make every effort to keep the wildlife safe,” says Amrita. “Several months ago we found a mother cow in distress in the field behind our home, and our neighbor was able to contact the rancher to get the help her calf needed. Just last week a fawn got separated from its mother and sibling and got stuck in a neighbor’s gate. We were able to call Lindsey Wildlife, who provided us with assistance, and we were able to get the fawn reunited with its family.”
The Puppalas also love Halloween and creating family themed costumes. So far, their favorite was during the pandemic when they dressed as “Limited Edition Barbie with Healthcare Ken” (Tired at home Barbie, Zoom Barbie, Voting Barbie, Grocery Shopping/Hoarding Barbie, and the dogs as chicken and flour (two products you couldn’t find in stores for a while during the pandemic). They also enjoy searching for dogfriendly vacation spots that allow them to explore California, recently discovering Pismo Beach and Dillon Beach.
Hopefully you will get a chance to meet this fun family or see them out at Halloween in another fun, family-themed costume! If you see Munster out taking a walk, be sure to stop and say hello.
By Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991 Photos provided by the Puppala family
Do you know a neighbor who has a story to share? Nominate your neighbor to be featured in one of our upcoming issues! Contact us at knavolio@bestversionmedia.com.