Your MC has given you excellent advice. Why are you dependent on her? What can you do to change this behavior?
Thank you for your thoughtful response Cadet. I will try to provide more insight.
In some respects, my Sit is unique: My wife and and I are living in Panama. She is completely fluent in Spanish and I am not. My communication skills in Spanish are fairly basic and this often causes misunderstandings with people. Many of our mutual friends don't speak any English at all, which prevents me from sharing in the depths of conversation.
I rely too much on my wife to help me translate. In many cases, the language barrier has caused us to reverse our traditional roles: In business, for instance, I have always held the more assertive role, while she prefers to be passive. Left to her own, she would avoid confrontation at all cost. Unfortunately, there are time when confrontation is unavoidable and necessary. In many instances, I have had to push her into an assertive role to protect our interests. It makes her uncomfortable and she resents me for it, but I don't feel like I have many options.
At the time of the bomb, she said that she was done helping me; she wanted no part in our business. I have since hired a bilingual assistant, which has helped some, but things are far from perfect.
Spanish language classes are offered at several of the Universities, but the next trimester doesn't start until after the new year. Language hasn't come easy to me and I'm afraid it will take years of study. If this is necessary for me to turn things around, I fear that it will take too long.
For the same reasons, detachment will be more difficult. I will need to find English speaking support groups in a Spanish speaking country. No doubt, it can be done, but I will have fewer options.
Perhaps my best option would be to move back to the States. She might follow me once she understands her loss. I just don't know--it's a gamble.
