Mini Countries Abroad: How Embassies Work

Or, text, “wendover” to 500 500

Animation by Josh Sherrington
Thumbnail by Simon Buckmaster

Special thanks to Patreon supporters Adam Chelminski, Arkadiy Kulev, Charles Zilinski, Chris Allen, Connor J Smith, Daddy Donald, Etienne Dechamps, Eyal Matsliah, Hank Green, John & Becki Johnston, Kyle, MyNameIsKir, Plinio Correa, Qui Le, Remi_Scarlet, Tom Dooner, Tyler Hamm, and Vaughn Mudrick

Select footage courtesy the AP Archive

References:

[MeisterYodarkus]

If Wendover Productions designed an embassy it would be a plane flying in circles constantly being refuelled in the air from time to time.

[connorvinnicombe]

0:20 The British Embassy is the building to the west of the one you highlighted. The one you highlighted is a chicken restaurant, which coincidentally has more staff than the embassy 😂

[untruelie]

There is an even more important reason why embassies are necessary: They are a person's official link to their own country if they are abroad. Like a bureaucratic safehaven where you can get help if you are in some sort of trouble (like loosing your passport for example). This task is VERY important; some times even more important than representation or relationship building.

[vampyfawn]

Should mention how the American ambassador to Denmark became a reality tv star there to promote the US.

[atticusbrown]

As a person in the foreign service community, this makes me happy.

[JDB-tcrs]

*Wendover:* "The embassy also represents its homeland through its actual building"
*Me:* Looks at the USA embassy which is actually a fortified base with 5m walls
Yep, pretty accurate.

[B-enjoyer]

In DC, we have embassy day, the embassies put on party/tours for the DMV, it is one of the best things about living in DC, it is also always put on a weekend and free food and crafts are always there

[chrisbove]

When you said "Palau", you highlighted some random spot off the coast of Brunei and Malaysia. Palau is in the Pacific, on the other side of the Philippines.

[nicholaskotlarczyk]

I love how the image of the embassy buildings represent that country
Britain - a country manor
China - a grand modern building
Abu Dabi - a middle eastern architecture
USA - A prison complex

[highnoon]

RIP I.M. Pei... one of the greatest architects to ever live. he died at age 102 the day after this video came out.

[RedHair]

As to the usefulness of embassies, I can tell you they are still very handy if you are living abroad you need to vote/be repatriated/get protection/renew your passport or ID card/and so forth

[peteydog]

8:36 me an australian realising we have a quite unique US embassy

[flick]

I really enjoy the way you structure your paragraphs. It has an essay style to it which im currently trying copy because it's so effective at making points efficiently. Thank you

[aleksanderthorstensen]

I know you don't have time for everything, but one important aspect embassies and consulates still have today is to provide support for their citizens living in foreign nations and for citizens of their host nations to immigrate to their nation.

[de_cre_vi]

Embassies are also very valuable for when you want to travel internationally or if you move abroad. You can apply for and obtain visas through them, and go to them if you lose your passport, etc.

[MrSomeDonkus]

Being a diplomat seems like the most intresting, fulfilling, and fun job imaginable. I also have noticed that it seems that some of the coolest people are usually the children of diplomats.
That being said i dont think i got what it takes. Im just not all that sociable.

[runarandersen]

The embassy also serves the inhabitants of their country who live i in the country. Mostly for work or studies. They usally help with passports, elections and sometimes when they get arrested.

[WHT_NoSE]

Poland also has North Korean Embassy as well as North Korea has Polish Embassy in Pyongyang.

[a-a-ronbrowser]

I was a Marine Security Guard in Dakar, São Paulo, and Bangkok 03-07. It was such a great experience! Great video!! You really did a great job with the research.

[matthieugauthier]

The US Ambassy in Ottawa is nicknamed the ”submarine” as it’s half underground & super well protected so it looks like it’s peaking out