Shudder ~~~

Throughout my life, I have met many types of people, people from all walks of life. I have had wonderful experiences knowing, talking and interacting with nice and pleasant people. I have also had my fair share of coming across the worst 'sub-species' of my kind. Maybe it's not suitable to use 'worst' here. After all, I'm only 20-ehem-something. A long way to go and many more opportunities to come across worse people. 

I have met fierce, mean, intimidating people. I like to think of myself as someone not easily shaken when I come across fearsome figures. I react to such people, not by cowering in fear. I react to such people by stepping up to be more confident, even proud, rude sometimes, acting nonchalant and basically, just trying to beat them at their own game. I always believe the more vulnerable and timid you appear, the more they enjoy intimidating and scaring you. 

I remember when I was late for a lecture with an external lecturer, who has the reputation to be able to tear you to shreds when he 'acts up'. He walked out of the class because a student, namely me, was late (and a whole load of reasons as well). He asked that the student meet him in his office in the hospital. Believe me, I was scared at first, but then, my defense mechanism (the one I explained above) kicked in and boy, was I ready for the showdown! I was ready for him, for whatever that was going to be hurled my way! But of course, things didn't turn out as dramatic as I expected. He barely turned and literally 'hmmph-ed' when I apologized and I was out of his office in less than a minute.

But, in the past week, I have met this OBGYN specialist, who has achieved rank #1 in my List of Most Fearsome Figures. She was notorious throughout the hospital. All the doctors and nurses openly talked behind her back. I wouldn't call her a tigress or a lioness. She is more like a snake to me! She has the softest and gentlest voice, which will automatically make you perceive her as a nice and gentle person. BUT.... like a cobra or python, she can pounce on you so quick, so sudden and so deadly that there is no time for my said defense mechanism to kick in to protect my ego. The look on her face, that frown, that stare, that look....just think of a pouncing snake and you will understand. You all know how afraid I am of snakes. And to think that I should use 'snake' to describe her is enough to prove my point. Luckily she is not a paediatrician. All the children would wet their pants and those with persistent enuresis would definitely not recover if they were to be treated by her. 

*Shudder*  

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