If you've strolled around the neighborhood and spotted a friendly cat walking side-by-side with its human, you've likely seen Alice or maybe Sango or Kolinga on one of their daily adventures. This international family of four (plus one adventurous feline named Kenai) has brought a joyful, multilingual spirit to Oakhill Brewster, and they’re making Petaluma feel a little more like home with every passing season.

Alice and Tshitoko Tshilenge Ballery, along with their two sons, Sango (6) and Kolinga (2½), are a blend of cultures, creativity, and curiosity. “We each speak three languages, but our kids speak four!” laughs Alice. At home, conversations seamlessly switch from French to Spanish, peppered with English and Lingala, a language from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Tshitoko was born. “Sometimes we start a sentence in French and end it in Spanish,” she says. “It’s chaotic but it’s us.”

Their love story began in Nantes, France, where both were living and studying. “We met on Tinder,” Alice shares. “I feel incredibly lucky, Tshitoko was my first and only Tinder date!” After two days of chatting non-stop, they met in person. A few years later, after getting married and armed with just two suitcases, the couple took a leap across the Atlantic when Tshitoko was offered a research opportunity in California. “Moving here was a bold move,” says Alice, “but we’ve always loved adventure.”

Alice was raised in Brittany on the northwest coast of France, and began her professional path in language education. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish and spent several years as a certified secondary school teacher before pivoting to interior design, a lifelong passion that now fuels her business, L’Atelier by ATB, based right here in Petaluma where she blends European sophistication with soulful design focused on sustainability and well-being. Her love for flea markets and storytelling comes alive in the homes she curates. “I can’t fall in love with an item unless I like the story that it tells,” she shares. This appreciation for stories and giving items new life extends into her community work; she even hosts local décor swap parties, like the upcoming one on August 2nd at Grand Central Petaluma Café, bringing neighbors together over pre-loved treasures.

Born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tshitoko moved to France at age 8, eventually earning a Ph.D. in translational medicine. His research journey brought him to prestigious institutions like Harvard and the University of Iowa before landing at the Buck Institute in Novato, where he studies brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s. “Working to understand how devastating diseases occur is the first step toward promoting life where those diseases can be cured,” he says.

Their sons are just as dynamic. Sango, whose name means “news” or “priest” in Lingala, is a budding explorer with a passion for poisonous creatures and fun facts about planet Earth. “He asks 10 questions a minute,” Alice says with a smile. “And somehow remembers every single answer.” He’s currently a blue belt in taekwondo and dreams of one day becoming a black belt. Little brother Kolinga Avel, whose name means “to love” in Lingala and “wind” in Breton, is full of spunk and rhythm. “He’s our tiny dancer,” says Alice. “If he hears a Congolese or Latin song, you can be sure he’s moving!”

Kenai, their loyal rescue cat, rounds out the household. Adopted from Rohnert Park, he often joins Alice on neighborhood walks, tailing behind like a little shadow. “He thinks he’s a dog,” she jokes.

The family celebrates life in vibrant ways, from Christmas menus printed and archived like keepsakes to their annual tree-cutting tradition at Little Hills Christmas Tree Farm. “Food is our love language,” says Alice, who delights in crafting personalized menus and serving meals on vintage dishes brought back from France.

Whether volunteering at local food distributions, hosting community events, or simply chatting with neighbors on afternoon strolls, the Tshilenge Ballerys radiate warmth and inclusivity. “Some neighbors became friends,” Alice says. “We really feel at home here now.”

Their story is one of crossing oceans, weaving cultures, and building community. As Tshitoko puts it best: “Laughter, food, and family time, those are the ingredients of a good day.”