ambassadors and consuls

     You have probably heard the term "ambassador"  on a newscast. An ambassador is the official representative of a country's  government, but in a foreign country. For example, the French ambassador to the United States works for the government of France, which sent him to the United States to represent France's interests here. If there are treaties or trade deals to be discussed, the ambassador is already here, in the French embassy in Washington.  The American ambassador to France is an American who works for the American government--but in the American embassy, in France. This can become confusing if you watch international news programs. When an American says "the French ambassador", he means ( or should mean ) the French person who works in America. If the newscaster says "the ambassador to France", or the "U.S. ambassador to France" he means ( or should mean ) the American who works in France. Newscasters are usually careful about this, to avoid confusion, but it sometimes happens anyway.
     "Embassy" can also be problematic. The French Embassy, to an American, is a building in Washington. French people work there. The American Embassy, to an American, is the building where our ambassador and his staff work--in a foreign country.
    American ambassadors work for the State Department, headed by the Secretary of State. In some countries this department is called the Foreign Ministry, and is headed by the Foreign Minister. This is the name of a secular government position, and not necessarily a religious term.
    One more--a consul is a representative from a foreign country assigned to work in a city other than the capitol. The consul works for the ambassador, and helps with trade deals, and with visas for travelers. A city that imports a lot of goods from a particular country may have a consulate--an office with a foreign representative, or consul, working for a foreign government. Philadelphia has a few consulates. New York has a lot of them. If your firm manufactures something, and wants to sell it in another country, you might want to speak to a consul about regulations or laws you need to be aware of, as well as taxes, customs ( a kind of  tax ) and duties ( another kind of tax ).