The United States currently has approximately 150 embassies located in foreign countries. Embassies facilitate relations between foreign powers and the United States by providing official points of contact between foreign powers and the US. The Ambassador functions more or less like a direct personal representative of the head of government, the president in this case. The Ambassador, by living in the foreign nation, helps the US gain a deeper understanding of the nation's culture and standard procedures, thus facilitating the interaction between the US and said foreign nations such like treaties, negotiations and visits.