At Boo, we've witnessed the profound connections that arise when personalities align, often in the most unexpected ways. Today, we'd like to share with you an inspiring tale that resonates with our mission – the extraordinary love story of Dakota (30 M) and Ren (29 F).

Not long ago, within the nurturing confines of Boo's universe, Dakota, an adventurous INFP, met Ren, a wise ISFJ who values trust and balance. On the surface, a cross-border relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines might seem fraught with challenges, but their story illustrates how embracing the unknown can lead to a rewarding adventure.

Dakota and Ren recently opened up to Boo about their beautiful journey over the last 8 months, a path marked by courage and a shared commitment. Through laughter, patience, and a deep emotional bond, they have navigated the complexities of distance, culture, and skepticism from those around them.

Their love story is not only a testament to their compatibility but a vibrant example for others who seek not just a connection but a soulmate in Boo's world. It's a story of two people who found each other against the odds, united by shared dreams and an unwavering belief in each other. Join us as we unfold their adventurous love tale that transcends miles and mindsets.

How They Found Boo

Before Boo, Ren felt a lot of pressure, being 28 and not yet married. “I have never been into dating,” she explained. “I'm like this stereotypical introverted Asian girl out there who's just chasing her career, focusing on her hobbies, expanding her skillset and tending to her family. I didn't have that much time or interest in dating before.” Her family told her to be patient and love would come in its own time. “Old people say dating is easier for us in our more advanced generation since we don’t have to rely on cassette tapes, handwritten letters and bear with the delays of sending and receiving responses anymore,” she said. “They’re right but, oh man, even with technology, it was still a struggle for me!”

Although she hadn’t been on dating apps before, Ren joined Boo because a friend of hers recommended it as a community that is friendly and welcoming to newcomers. “Things were a little lonely,” she said. “I thought to myself, hey, I’m getting old, and maybe it’s time to open new doors.” She particularly liked the social side, and forums with thought-provoking questions, like “What would you do if someone put 10 million dollars on your doorstep?” The universes became a stepping stone into more online social interactions and increased her confidence in talking to new people through the platform.

Before meeting Ren, Dakota was also feeling the pressure. “I have a very large family, and everybody is already married with kids,” he explained. “I've had relationships in the past, but they all ended for one reason or another.”

When it came to dating apps, Dakota had the full set and still hadn’t had any luck. Having seen Boo mentioned on Instagram, he thought he’d give it a go. From the start, he felt there was something different about Boo. To start with, his feeds on other dating apps were full of fake profiles and scammers. “I ran into a lot of bots on other dating sites. I got good at sifting them out,” he explained. But his experience with Boo was different. “Everyone that I matched with and unmatched with – it was all mutual,” he said. “A lot of people were very communicative, I wasn't ghosted outright. It did seem like there was a genuine stream of people that were looking for a real connection.”

Dakota decided to sign up for Boo Infinity for six months, with the plan to see what would happen in that time. “The big thing with Boo was that it was actually reasonably priced for premium services, like messaging someone before matching them,” he said. The other thing that stood out was the social platform on Boo, which allowed him to connect with like-minded people.

Before joining Boo, Ren and Dakota both knew a bit about personality types. Ren had tested her MBTI type before, and could see parallels between herself and her friends who were on the same introverted wavelength as her. Dakota, coming from a psychology background, had studied the theories behind the MBTI, as well as other factors that contribute to personality.

One Lucky Swipe

Ren and Dakota met through the match feature on Boo and first started talking in November 2022. From the get-go, they were very honest about their needs in a relationship and what they were looking for.

“Prior to my meeting with Dakota, it was a long arduous process,” explained Ren. “Trying to get to know somebody, putting all your time and effort only to then find out that there’s a red flag. You compromise over and over until you realize that the red flags have piled up and the last one you just discovered cannot be overcome by both parties. You pause and breathe. Then you move on to another match, but after some time you face the same red flag situation. Onward to the next match. And then to another. It was exhausting and frankly, a little frustrating. So when Dakota and I matched, we were pretty upfront about ourselves – our values, our stances, our desires and our goals in life. We did a ‘rapid fire Q-n-A’ regarding all of the hard topics people say never to bring up on the first date. Family, relationships, boundaries, opinion on current events, religion, and even politics. I knew it was a daring strategy and that I could have scared anyone away with my level of boldness. But it surprisingly turned out so well. It was very refreshing.”

Dakota agreed. “We were just done with the games,” he said. “You definitely reach a point in your life when there’s no point lying on your profile. You’re not out to impress people, you’re just wanting to be yourself.” He explained that rather than following the old advice to steer clear of money, religion, and politics, he and Ren discussed those issues first, to talk about their values and understand each other’s opinions on certain topics.

Yet beyond these heavy topics, their personalities played an interesting role. Ren shared, “He's a Gemini. I knew that he could be a bit of a talker, and me being an introverted Capricorn, I’ll be the one who does the listening a lot – which is my comfort zone.” This awareness of each other's personalities gave them clarity and set the tone for their interactions, ensuring they both embraced their roles wholeheartedly.

When they delved deeper into the personality type feature of Boo, both felt it was quite accurate in portraying them. Ren thoughtfully mentioned, "To me, the personality insights on Boo is 80 to 85% accurate, which is a large number." Dakota quickly added, "I kind of got it pretty spot on with her."

When the couple exchanged a list of questions and answers to those questions, they were surprised to find how similar their responses were. “If you’d asked those ten questions to anybody, maybe you’d both agree with two of them, or maybe four if you were lucky,” Dakota reflected. “Hers was 10.” He admits being worried that Ren might think he was creepy because his responses were too similar, but the result was the same on questions Ren revealed first and ones that Dakota revealed first.

Ren felt like she was in a dream, the way they were both so upfront about giving and taking, and not having to compromise on their core values. “It was so surreal,” she said. “I was like, who is this guy, is he serious? He ticks all of my boxes!”

Their shared love of gaming shone through in their first phone call. “We were talking about the Game Awards,” Dakota explained. “We were only supposed to have an hour-long phone call but we ended up talking for three hours about that one topic. Having those chats, being easy to talk to and rolling with the conversations – it was scary, refreshing, but it was so nice!”

Dakota and Ren's connection began to flourish in a way that felt genuine and meaningful. Both were tired of having to compromise their standards, beliefs and hobbies in their previous relationships or relationship attempts. But in each other, they found their authentic selves.

Despite some external signs indicating their match might be "challenging," they discovered compatibility and real connection. They found that their personalities complement one another, with Ren playing the listener to Dakota's talker. "It's a perfect sync of give and take,” explained Ren. “He does a lot of giving, I do too sometimes, but most of it, it's him. And then I'm just here listening, supplementing some things when it's necessary, to which he listens attentively. It may be a trivial matter to anyone else, but to us, it’s huge."

Dakota found solace in Ren's personality and absence of drama, observing, "She wasn't explosive. She wasn't quick to drama, not super quick to anger or anything. So she didn't throw off any red flags from me in the beginning and even now."

After a week, Dakota decided to speed things along. He asked Ren to be his girlfriend. That felt like a big step for her, so she declined out of panic. She wanted to have more ample time at the “talking stage” as one week was a little too fast for her. So he suggested they beta-test it for two weeks, and then the ball will be in Ren’s court – if she didn’t feel it went well, they’d go back to being friends, and if she wanted to be his girlfriend, then she would have to ask him out. She did, and their official together-date is 20 December 2022.

Ren's Perspective

Ren opened up with heartfelt emotion, expressing her gratitude for Boo, the platform that helped her find Dakota. What she adores about him is his openness and clarity, saying, "He is upfront about what he expects and fortunately, those things are things that I can give."

She finds comfort in aligning with his expectations, from hobbies to family values and political issues. “Even things like gaming, turning your mic on!” she laughed. Even with the physical distance that separates them, Ren explains that being online with Dakota and taking chill time with him enables them to feel close.

Being an introvert, Ren appreciates this space to chill and prefers texts over phone calls. But this is something new to her, as she's never been in an actual relationship before. Dakota's gentle approach helps her learn about giving and taking. "He doesn't explicitly say that to me, but he shows it in a gentle way. And I appreciate that from him so much." Ren's past attempts at connection had never brought her this much joy. With Dakota, "it was a journey that I enjoyed from start to – well, there's no finish line yet for us!"

Yet, the relationship is not without challenges. Ren describes Dakota as a talker, saying, "I love him for that, but he can be really chatty and very needy, and at some point, I feel like I need some time for something else – my full-time and freelance jobs, my artistic hobbies, tending to my own family, or just downright having ‘me’ time." She acknowledges the challenges of long-distance and being a first-timer in a relationship, but she's learned to adjust and compromise. The key, she's found, is communication.

Dakota's Perspective

Dakota dived into his view of the relationship with genuine enthusiasm. Elaborating on what attracted him to Ren, he said, "One of the things with Ren that I absolutely love is the fact that we do have so many commonalities, the fact that we've seen eye to eye on many issues, whether it's political, religious, or even video gaming."

Being a self-proclaimed nerd for a long time, Dakota admitted that he’d given up on finding a nerdy girl to match him. He was delighted to find someone who shares his interests and values. He describes this commonality as more than just important - it's the foundation for their relationship.

Dakota isn't shy about expressing his admiration for Ren, describing her as beautiful, fun to talk to, and very driven, particularly in her field of game development. But it's not just her career that impresses him. Dakota emphasizes Ren's ambition and timely, organized approach to life. He credits her with motivating him to aim higher in his own career, admitting that she was a catalyst for his growth. "Me being a Gemini, sometimes we get a little complacent with ourselves,” he explains. “I had a very boring job, just kind of show up, clock in, do the job, go home, repeat type situation.” But, with Ren's encouragement, he became an assistant supervisor, something he never would have envisioned three years prior.

Dakota continues to praise her persistence and drive, such as her determination to beat a challenging video game, Elden Ring. "The more I see stuff like that, the more I’m reminded how lucky I am to have such a driven, beautiful, successful woman,” he says.

The compatibility they share is clear to Dakota, and he talks about the harmony in their relationship, their ability to give and take, and how they find the middle ground. "And I live for middle ground," he says. His words reflect a profound appreciation for the deep connection they've established and the mutual encouragement they offer each other.

From Screens to Real Life

Ren and Dakota's story is a testament to how shared passions and genuine connection can turn an online relationship into something more tangible. It all began with Dakota's interest in a YouTuber's concert in Singapore, where an unexpected layover in Manila sparked an idea for an adventure.

Dakota recalled the moment, "I was like, 'Oh, maybe we can hang out! Maybe I can meet your mom and your family. We can have like lunch and dinner and then I can go on my flight and be on my way.'"

The idea quickly transformed into something even more exciting. Ren's bold proposal made it clear that they were on the same wavelength. "Well, I proposed the idea of meeting him in Singapore because I was like, okay, Singapore is just four, six hours away from me."

They planned a four-day trip to Singapore, not just a mere layover. Their mutual enthusiasm for the concert and a chance to meet each other in person gave them a unique experience that solidified their relationship.

The excitement was not without its apprehensions, though. "My mom was worried she was going to sell my kidneys,” said Dakota, light-heartedly. “She was a little skeptical, mostly because of the speed at which we went to Singapore. And then she started watching Dateline and that didn’t help anybody!” His blend of humor and honesty adds depth to their connection, portraying it with authenticity. “And her mom was probably just as afraid of me being just a mega creep."

However, what stood out during their trip was not just the shared interests but the profound bond they felt despite having known each other for just two months.

"I have to be honest, some of my relatives are still hesitant about Dakota,” Ren said. “That's because they haven't met him." Her words touch on the natural uncertainty that often surrounds relationships, especially when cultural expectations and unknown factors are in the mix. Yet, the courage and trust she demonstrates are both touching and inspiring.

Once back home, the challenges of distance reemerged, but they remained determined. Although Ren’s visa application to the States was rejected, they remain hopeful for her to visit Dakota and his family in the future. They are also exploring different options for meeting again, from a tropical vacation in Costa Rica to revisiting Singapore or exploring Japan and the Philippines.

Despite the setbacks, they approached each obstacle with shared patience, humor, and an unwavering commitment to one another. Through collaboration and a willingness to take on challenges together, Ren and Dakota's story continues to unfold.

Advice for Other People Looking for Their Soulmates

The journey of finding a soulmate can be a mystifying and emotional path. For some, it means stepping into the unknown, pushing boundaries, and finding courage in unexpected places. Dakota and Ren, a couple who found each other through unexpected twists and turns, share insights and valuable guidance for those still searching for their significant other.

Taking a leap of faith

The first step was for Dakota to step out of his comfort zone, as he said, "I had to kind of step out of my comfort zone." His fear of coming off too strong or being perceived as creepy almost held him back, but his earnest desire to connect with Ren over shared interests led him to take a huge leap of faith.

His genuine approach, coupled with vulnerability, set the stage for an authentic connection. Even though doubts and fears surfaced, Dakota emphasized the importance of taking risks. "But it paid off and it pays off to take those kinds of risks because you never know," he said, underscoring the significance of being courageous and open.

Branching out and embracing adventure

Embarking on a cross-border relationship might seem intimidating for many, but for Dakota, it turned into a beautiful adventure. His openness to explore new cultures, learn from others, and take the journey with Ren was filled with excitement and discovery. Dakota's belief in embracing uncertainty and seeing every experience as an opportunity for growth was palpable. He encouraged others, saying,

For Dakota, even if the adventure feels scary, it's still worth taking, for the learning and connection that come from it are invaluable.

Finding balance and keeping faith

Ren's wisdom complements Dakota's adventurous spirit by underscoring the importance of patience, faith, openness, and balance in relationships.

Ren stressed the importance of evaluating things both logically and emotionally, assuring that with positive thinking and a balanced approach, everything can work out. Her insight resonates with a philosophy that honors both self-awareness and empathy, reminding us that "Positive thinking brings about positive outcomes." Her words serve as a gentle guide for those navigating their own relationships, infusing them with hope and encouragement.

Cultivating connection

Their story is a testament to the power of communication, trust, and the willingness to leap into the unknown, embracing love without borders or limitations. It illustrates the role that platforms like Boo can play in connecting souls and breaking barriers, making deep, meaningful connections possible, no matter the distance or differences.

Both of them express their wishes, dreams, and the challenges they face, painting a picture that's both realistic and tinged with the magic of love.

These words capture their commitment and the determination to prove to themselves and others that what they have is real and lasting.

Final Words from Boo

When we talk about love, it's easy to get lost in idealistic notions or the fleeting spark of attraction. What Ren and Dakota's experience shows us is that the journey to deep, meaningful connections isn't a fairy tale—it's a venture into the raw, complex landscape of the human soul. But it's within this intricate web of emotions, vulnerabilities, and idiosyncrasies that we find our most precious moments.

When Ren and Dakota first met through Boo, they were probably both nervous, skeptical even. That's human. We live in a world that often douses our hopes and dreams with the cold water of reality. But the courage to take that first step, to reach out, and to dig deep into one's own character and desires—that's where the magic begins. It's not about finding someone who's perfect; it's about discovering that soul who mirrors your imperfections in such a way that you both become better.

Both had to brave skepticism, even from those closest to them. But hey, if finding someone who truly gets you was easy, we'd all be paired up by now, wouldn't we? They faced the challenges that come with opening up your life to another human being. The stakes are high when you let someone into your world, and that can be scary. It's a gamble of the heart. But the payoff? A truly symbiotic relationship that empowers both to be their authentic selves.

Communication is another cornerstone they built their relationship on. We've all heard it a thousand times: "Communication is key." But how often do we really practice it, especially when it involves laying our vulnerabilities bare? Ren and Dakota managed to cross that bridge. Through open dialogue, they were able to turn misunderstandings into moments of learning, disagreements into avenues for deeper connection.

Their journey aligns so closely with what we aim to accomplish here at Boo. We're not just about quick fixes or surface-level connections. We strive to create a platform where people feel encouraged to explore those deeper layers, to ask the tough questions, and to look for partners or friends who aren't just "good on paper," but resonate on a far more meaningful level.

Ren and Dakota are a testament to the idea that there truly is someone for everyone—a person who complements you in ways you never even thought to consider. If you're reading this and haven't found that person yet, take heart. The journey is long, the path not always clear, but the destination—oh, the destination makes every trial along the way worth it. Keep looking, keep discovering, and above all, keep being you. Because somewhere out there is someone who will love you for it.

Curious about other love stories? You can check out these interviews as well! ENTJ - INFP Love Story // INFJ - ISTP Love Story // ENFP - INFJ Love Story // INFP - ISFP Love Story // ESFJ - ESFJ Love Story // ENFJ - INFP Love Story // ENFJ - ENTJ Love Story // ENTP - INFJ Love Story // ENFJ - ISTJ Love Story