Public ridicule, Irish slang and American Hatin'!

It's not that Barcelona is a dangerous place by any means. But like all big cities, and especially ones with millions of ignorant tourists roaming around (sidenote: please stop wearing sombreros here, that is Mexico people!) it's natural that there is a crowd who is looking to take advantage of these sitting ducks. Enter the pickpockets. Now, I have read in every tourist guide, and heard from all my friends, that when in especially touristy areas (like La Rambla, where this particular story takes place,) to keep a close eye on your bag. So, with this in mind, i've gotten into the habit of wearing my bag/purse across my chest and having it in front of my body, so it's always in view and not leaving my body. But, the other night, after paying for my meal in a restaurant, and hastily shoving my wallet back into my bag to await my food, I let the purse slip to a, "behind the back" position, and (GASP) left it unzipped, and so it began. A old man with a heavy scowl on his face walked up to be and started babbling at lightning speed in spanish. Needless to say, I didn't understand the first 12 times he tried to tell me something. I though maybe I was in the way, so I moved. Then I thought maybe I was supposed to sit while waiting (all these guesses were promoted by his mad hang gesturing.) Finally, I realized he was telling me that I was stupid. Hmm, a little blunt, and forward. So I asked him why. And he merely glanced down at my purse, and then went into a rant about how i'm just begging to be robbed, with my wallet sitting right there, and me already looking like a tourist (even though I try so hard not to.) By this point my cheeks were scarlet red, the entire restaurant had a grin on there face as the watched this episode take place, and worst yet, I had to eat my meal amongst all of them. I mumbled a bashful "thank you" to the old man, because granted, public shame is still better then being robbed. And needless to say, I now, triple check that my purse is zipped and securely in front of me before stepping foot outside.
I've also began to pick up the subtle (yet intense) hatred for American here. Make note, no one hates me because i'm American, but they just dislike my country. So I don't really take any of it personal, and I actually enjoy seeing and hearing peoples perception of the USA. Similarly to the US, Bush isn't popular here by any means. If I ever bring up his name, people use choice words in describing him. One person I talked to even went as far on explaining his theory how 9/11 was really instigated by Bush. That statement kind of floored me, because they truly believed that. And further more, this wasn't just the lone opinion of a crazy guy, that theory resinates with a lot of the people here. Other people have told me how they find it annoying how the USA seems to have a superiority complex, and how we're beyond being "proud" of our country, to a level where we think we are better then any other country. Someone else asked me if most houses really had American Flags in front of them, like portrayed in a lot of the movies. After seeing one of these said movies, I decided that we're not quite as intense as portrayed, however we do have a good amount of stores and business that have a flag waving, where as here, I've only seen them in front of gov't buildings. I guess I just find it interesting how to me, waving a flag on the fourth of July seems patriotic and supportive of my country, where as here, it seems arrogant.
On a lighter note, there is a girl from Ireland who is living in my town and is also 18. She's here teaching English to a elementary school, but knows absolutely NO spanish, so I've been showing here around and trying to introduce her to more english speakers. But my favorite part is the Irish sayings that she uses, although I usually understand them, and sometimes they're similar to ones we have in the US, there is something about the words she uses and her Irish accent that just cracks me up. So now, I'm going to "put my skates on" so i don't miss my bus into Barcelona!