BattyBattyBats said - "The decision is not and cannot be anyones but the TSs! The Family hane no say in it ever! For them to be expected to have a say in that choice goes against the human rights of the TS and the legal principles of personal autonomy."
Ultimately I agree that it's only one person's decision. But I'd also say that if that person is in a relationship with someone and they want that relationship to continue then they need to involve and inform the other person. As time goes on, it's possible that a fork in the road will appear and the SO may feel they're unable to continue further down the same path. Because they've been fully involved and informed, then everything will more likely remain amicable. But to arbitrarily take a decision and then thrust the result in the SO's face is not really likely to allow the SO to gradually accept the situation and decide if they want to continue to be part of it.
Regardless of how this story may or may not appear to us, it certainly got me thinking and made me realise just how vitally important it is to keep our SO's in the loop regarding such things. They're not just people we know - they're our partners and that means that they're part of the process, even if ultimately the decision rests with us. But while the decisions rest with us, so too do the outcomes and consequences of those decisions.
I'd also agree with whoever it was above that said that it's possible that this person acted out of sheer desperation. But sheer desperation to me is a fairly spur of the moment decision. It's not sheer desperation if someone plans a trip to teach abroad as a cover for their actual plans.
