Today I accompanied Fouad to the Algerian embassy, because he needed some official paper for one reason or another. He tried to explain it to me in what, I think, he believed to be English, but all of the big, important words were in French.

Fouad: "I need to get a certificate of [French word] for [French word]. You understand?"

Kate: "No."

Fouad: "The embassy of Algeria can give me my [French word] [French word] [French word] for [French word] [French word] so that I can [French word]."

Kate: "Ahh, well, when you put it that way..."

I was surprised that they actually let me inside the embassy, since I'm not Algerian, but they never asked me for my nationality or to see any papers. They just buzzed me on through the gate with Fouad, no questions asked!

This was quite different than my experience with the American embassy a month or so ago.

For starters, the American embassy isn't with all of the other embassies. It's off on its own, doing its own thing. Typical American, really.

And while all of the embassies are gated and their windows barred, the American embassy had a few security guards outside and a blockade on the street, which stopped and questioned every car that simply wanted to pass.

Then, I couldn't even go inside. Fouad obviously couldn't either, but even I, an American, couldn't enter. If I had an emergency, I would have been allowed inside. Likewise, if I had set up a meeting or stopped by during the ultra-convenient hours of 8:30 to 11:30, I would be admitted. But Americans in Prague can't just drop by at 2 in the afternoon to schmooze with the ambassador or have a Coke with their fellow countrymen, and I think that's a pity.

Anyway, I've got to tidy up my flat a bit before bed, because the landlord is stopping by tomorrow.