SOUTH America, the continent that seemed so out of reach, but yet so exotic and appealing, was finally within my reach.

You see, I live in New York City with my fiancé now, and when it was time to take my first real vacation in a year, there was only one place I wanted to go. After all, I reasoned: “I’m already on this side of the world, if I don’t make a trip there now, I probably never will.”

So plans were made, Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil): Ready or not, here I come.

As vacation time got nearer, I got excited. Off to Borders to buy the latest Lonely Planet. 

"Señor, un cerveza por favor," I learnt some useful Spanish phrases like how to order a beer.

The day finally arrived. I was excited. I was really looking forward to this. Just before my fiancé and I left the apartment, out of habit, I had to go online to check the news one more time… And what did I find blasted over every major news website?

SWINE FLU OUTBREAK IN MEXICO, 80 KILLED

Right there and then, I thought my dream vacation would be in tatters. Knowing how fast the flu could spread across borders and Central America, being just on top of South America, I didn’t know what kind of holiday I was getting into.

That was about three weeks ago. By the time you read this, I would have down loaded my vacation pictures from my camera to my computer’s hard-drive.

Let me show you some:

Staying away from pork.
ST Photo: Eugene Leow

That’s me enjoying a big, juicy steak in Buenos Aires. Argentineans love to eat beef, and for good reason. Personally, I think its better than wagu or kobe beef. Best of all, that slab of steak there costs only US$8 (S$12). A bottle of Argentine wine costs US$3 a bottle in a grocery store.

Determined to have fun.
ST Photo: Eugene Leow

Joyce (my fiancé) and I at Iguazu Falls in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina. A 82-meter-high waterfall which legend has it, according to the Lonely Planet, the "negative ions generated by the waterfalls make people happier."

With my girl in Ipanema.
ST Photo: Eugene Leow

The famous Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - jammed packed with beautiful people on a sunny Saturday.

Why am I showing you some of my vacation pictures? Because I want to show that life goes on.

At the time, the H1N1 flu virus had not made its way into Argentina or Brazil. But being close to Ground Zero (Mexico) with the constant barrage of images of people wearing facemasks from affected areas on television, the threat or fear of an epidemic was very real. 

Throughout my travels in South America, people were aware of the flu pandemic, but they just got on with it.

When I asked Sergio, the owner of the hostel I stayed in at Buenos Aires, whether there were any room cancellations or if people were afraid, his response was somewhat blasé: "Winter is coming, I’m more concerned about the common flu. I think there’s a lot of media hype, it’s nothing, just the common flu."

Well, I’m glad my fiancé and I did not give in to the fear of catching the H1N1 flu either. 

Why take the risk? Well, we felt the risk was low, and we did not want to over-react and deprive ourselves what would have been a vacation of a lifetime.

But all too soon, the vacation came to an end and it was back to the USA - and more bad news.

In New York City, a school assistant principal who was sick for several days with H1N1 flu became the city's first death linked to the virus on Sunday.

Family, relatives and friends, whenever we’re in touch with them, always ask us about the situation here.

Are New Yorkers fearful of the H1N1 flu?

I would say no. It’s nothing like Singapore when Sars more or less paralysed the country. 

Businesses are still buzzing like always in downtown Manhattan, roads are congested, streets and subways still crowded with people. 

Check out the next picture. 

The turnout at New York University’s graduation ceremony held at baseball’s Yankee Stadium last week was huge – about 40,000 people.

So it seems for now - life goes on.

It’s not that New Yorkers aren’t concerned about H1N1 flu – precautions are taken. 

For example, the University did send out this advisory before the ceremony:

"Keeping our community well — our responsibility to one another: NYU has had no cases of swine flu; nonetheless, we have a responsibility to one another to keep each other safe and well.

So, if you are feeling ill with flu-like symptoms — fever accompanied by at least one or more symptoms such as cough, muscle aches, headache, nausea, or sort throat — or if any of your guests are ill, please DO NOT ATTEND THE ALL-UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT OR YOUR SCHOOL CEREMONY."

People here are aware and conscious of the flu; and the dangers it poses. But for now, there’s no propensity to over-react.

Perhaps it’s because the city has seen worse. Think back to the terrorist attack of Sept 11. Or the drama of an emergency landing of a passenger jet on the Hudson river, right next to residences and offices of Manhattan. 

New Yorkers, I find, are not easily fazed. 

For me, I’m going to read up as much as I can about the H1N1 virus. Just in case.