Why was I so easily intimidated?  At a dinner not too long after I arrived in Kelantan, a Mak Cik came up to me, and with absolutely no provocation said, 'You'd be pretty if you didn't have eyes like a goat.'  And I said, 'Thank you.'  

This interchange speaks to two things, I think.  The first, is that I was cowed and didn't know what to say, and very anxious to please.  The second is, even if I had not been, and was ready to give as good as I got, what do you say to that anyway?  I wanted to tell her that where I came from blue eyes were considered pretty nice, but she would have just snorted in disbelief and walked away.  It's hard to go from thinking your coloring is hot stuff to finding it elicits more pity than praise.

See?   Not easily to be confused.   Besides, my eyes are blue.

And at the time, I was really easy to shut up.  Of course, having just arrived and wanting to be accepted you have to look perky and happy and try not to take offense, but perhaps I took it too far, and remained smiling when I should have narrowed my goat's eyes and lowered my horns.