Think about the last time you visited friends or family who live in another city or state. Did they show you around their town? Maybe you were the special guest at a party.

The United States has friends around the world, too. But you can imagine that it would be hard for Americans to invite a whole country to visit and see our favorite things about our country. So instead, we have embassies in most other countries, and we deliver American pride and hospitality to them.

An embassy is an official government office for an ambassador and other diplomats. An ambassador is a representative of a country (or another group). The U.S. has 173 embassies and consulates around the world. The foreign service is part of the U.S. Department of State.

This week, The Mini Page finds out more about what U.S. ambassadors and embassy staff do in foreign countries.

What is diplomacy?

Diplomacy is the art and practice of managing relations with other countries.

Diplomacy is also a profession and a career in public service and in foreign service.

U.S. diplomats serve in different countries and at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. They represent the United States to other countries and to international organizations such as the United Nations.

Diplomats need to know history and understand current issues and concerns in American life. They also need to be knowledgeable about other countries and available to serve throughout the world.

U.S. diplomats promote peace and democracy, bring nations together to address global problems such as trade, and protect and help American businesses and citizens overseas.

Learning the lingo

It helps diplomats to know the language of the country they’re working in. Before they move to a new country, diplomats get language training at the Foreign Service Institute outside of Washington, D.C., which is like a college campus.

Sharing our values

Ambassadors and embassies hold events and sponsor visitors to share American culture. The embassy might host U.S. musicians, artists, authors and others, as well as scientists and representatives from Congress.

Programs such as Art in Embassies bring the work of American artists to embassies so it can be experienced by people around the world.

Mini Fact:

The U.S. Embassy in Mozambique moved into a new building in 2021.