Chapter 5: Impressing a Girl (5/23/25)

Feeling isolated from the Isle of Man project and my PhD, my friend suggested I read "The Game" and try its dating strategies. We ventured into Boston's nightlife for several weekends with little success, eventually finding a jazz club more our style. To further shake things up, I moved into my own apartment in Boston's South End and began a more serious search for a long-term relationship, including attending church and trying online dating. Just as my free trial was expiring, I connected with Jenn, a doctor in Vermont, and after a successful first meeting, we began dating. My close call during a solo motorcycle trip in Malaysia from my work in Singapore, where I was helping to establish a new university, made me realize how important it was to be with Jenn. Upon my return to Boston, Jenn surprised me at the airport and revealed she was interviewing at a hospital there. I finally confessed my Isle of Man project to Jenn, and to my surprise, she was incredibly supportive. Her support motivated me to fully commit to the Isle of Man race.