A nervous young Scottish voluntary worker who introduced Barack Obama at a major world event has told how the US President put her at ease by chatting about golf … and haggis.
Laura Hemmati, 26, from Marchmont, Edinburgh, announced Mr Obama's only planned speech during a European tour in Brussels.
In his talk, the President paid tribute to the work Ms Hemmati does with a group which encourages talented and ambitious women to view themselves as leaders.
Ms Hemmati's encounter took place at the Bozar Cultural Centre in Brussels last Wednesday in front of 2000 distinguished guests including including King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium.
Ms Hemmati said: "I told him I was from Scotland and he started asking me some questions … I said to him that I quite liked haggis, but he didn't believe me.
"He then said he was a big golf fan and began showing me his swing. It was incredible. He totally put me at ease.
"It was all very surreal,"
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