(Federal Way, WA.) As I reflect upon my first full year out of the high school classroom, I revel in the fact that at age 57, I’ve still plenty of energy to devote to other passions. Ironically, it was my migrant students that provided me with the push to go in a different tangent.
Armed with a small handheld camera, I originally travelled to Guatemala in 2019 and filmed small segments, uploading them to YouTube and sharing with my non-migrant students on life in Central America. In the ensuing years, during Spring break or Summers, I would spend a week in Guatemala, Honduras or El Salvador and film, each time, uploading them for my students-at-large to view.
You see, way back in 1985 (shortly after electricity was invented and color came to television), I took several courses at my local college that helped prepare me to transfer to a regional university. While attending Centralia College, several of those classes were in film and television editing; I eventually received what we today would call a Direct Transfer Agreement, still referenced as an Associate of Arts degree. I enjoyed learning from many of my professors and really took to the visual arts field of film and television editing. However, I continued with my post-secondary college education, eventually receiving my bachelor’s and eventually, my master’s degree. I commenced with a career of teaching in metropolitan Seattle.
Thirty-two years later and having exited the field of public high school teaching, I’ve rediscovered that passion for film editing and am now producing hour-long travel documentaries that focus on the best of the Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras and in this case, El Salvador.
I returned to El Salvador in the Fall of 2024 with both funding and a locally based camera crew to film. When the new administration inaugurated in January 2025, this small country has increasingly been in the American news cycle and yet, my camera crew and I discovered a country that embraces tourism, is exceptionally safe and welcoming. In this film, Secrets of El Salvador’s Success, I maintain that “….I feel safer here than in any American city….” something that I hope to impart on those who are looking for an alternative vacation that promotes this beautiful country and best of all, doesn’t break your wallet.
Secrets of El Salvador’s Success is the second of a four-part, hour-long travel documentary that reflects my experiences. I’m appreciative of Seattle-based Amazon Prime Video being the first to collaborate for distribution. Although it is presently only available stateside, it will eventually be distributed to additional countries, especially since the film comes with Spanish subtitles, in addition to English.
Perhaps it may inspire you to discover a beautiful region of our world so close to the United States. As I say, “Discover the Mayan World. Travel with purpose and experience the best of Central America. Life begins outside your comfort zone.”
Salud (Cheer)
Ron