Raul Yzaguirre’s lasting impression of Dominicans

Santo Domingo.- While buying ice cream at a store outgoing U.S. ambassador Raul Yzaguirre didn’t notice that several 1,000 peso bills had fallen out of his pocket, when a Dominican waiting in the line picked up the money and handed it to him, without realizing who benefited from his good will.

Yzaguirre, who said it was just one of many gestures etched in his memory as ambassador of the world’s most powerful nation, calls the Dominican idiosyncrasy "a strong human spirit.”

"To me, that human spirit makes the Dominican Republic a unique place…just one example of the kinds of things that happen here all the time."

Yzaguirre, interviewed by listin.com.do in the U.S. Ambassador’s residence, said Dominicans are "people who care for others and try to do the right thing."

His praise also reaches Dominicans living in the United States, more than one million, according to his information, who are "an American success story."

"It really is an impressive group," Yzaguirre adds.

The diplomat is credited with being one of the very few U.S. Ambassadors who, according to Colorvision TV producer Dany Alcanta, “didn’t offend Dominicans by interfering in our internal affairs.”